Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-23
p misguided
-~-Dalentine.

|
fore approaching the former, and he
| himself had never been able to harmon
! lie his thoughts with his looks. He
! lodged over the laboratory at West
Aberdeen in rooms so cosy that they
repaid at once. by the cheer of their
greeting, the difficulties of a visit. And
! indeed. Il TheSeuS, without a string.
would not have dared attempt to find
! them; a circumstance which led to
! Peters choice, for solitude was a haven
to him from the storms of society.
Just why a man of his ability should
| become as awkward as 4 newly separ-
ated Siamese twin, and as fatuOus of
speech as a missing link in the presence
Of the opposite sex was a problem which
he himself had @ravely considered, 1t
was doubtless an Inherited influence,
! but whether his father had been a leap
year victim or his maternal grand
mother had gained Il son instead of
losing Il daughter, Peter could never
determine.
p. Bristol. as he always designated
himself in natural self-abnegation, was
tall and lean and angular. What he had
lost in cheeks he had acquired in ears,
and if his shoulders were shrunken his
feet were not StIlbbs used to say that
nature might dare stand up and assert
that Bristol was a man. but she'd have
to admit all the same that the elements
were decidedly mixed in him.
Now, George Stubs was the business
manager of the electrical works where
Il
and was his intimate friend. AS may
be predicted from this alliance, Stubs
-raS little and natty and frivolous and
bold. He never regretted what he
might have said. for he always had
said it, nor kicked himself for what he
should have done. for he always had
done it. In the sight of the ladies of
the Memorial Chapel. who were the
ladies of West Aberdeen. Stubs was a
felictious union Of Narcissus, Mercury
and Beau Brummell.
The Rev. Charles Foster was rector
of the West Aberdeen Memorial Chapel
The memory thus pelpetuated was that
Of his deceased wife: for her people
were wealthy and ostentatious and
to life. The Rev. Charles mourned as
one without hope, hence with a certain
contentment, and repaired with the
cement of comfort His sister Abigail
a maiden Of uncertain age but settled
temper, presided over his household
His daughter Abigail, her namesake, a
violet under the shade Of this dahlia
! presided over his heart
And a violet truly she seemed to P
Bristol as he watched her Sunday after
Sunday from his seat in the gallery
The sweetest, the tenderest of flowers
All. that he might pluck it and press
it away between the leaves in his
book of life! A beautiful thought; vet
it is possible that the flower might have
Shrunk from such narrow fate. But
the flower never admitted that she sus
pected tho wish. She and her aunt had
noticed the feryor of Peters g1ances
to be sure; and the younger Abigail
had joked the elder Abigail about them
and the elder Abigail with a toss of he1
head had protested that it was not fol-
lack of prettier men she had waited sc
long. And indeed, any men must have
been prettier men.
George Stubs knew of his passion
too. and had tossed it with his wit fol
the qualification of the fair youns
men, and must be encouraged. l know
he is trying to muster up courage tc
send you a valentine. Suppose you
should also send him one?"
He has such a splendid face!'
Eyes, he is head and front of his pro
fession.''
: ''St Valentines day falls ON Sunday
Yes. but you could send to his
: rooms
| If l only dared. how delightfully."-
romantic to leave one myself while he
was at supper"
IF you only dared. My dear crea
ture, no one would know"-and here
Mr.. Stubs entered into a minute ex
PLANTATION how easy it would be to pas:
through the side entrance at the works
up the rear staircase. through the soutf
; and southeast corridors. down the pri
vate staircase, and so over the covered
bridge into the north building; to all o,
which the Spinster demurred with man,
wave of mitts and cackling eiacula
tons, but to all of which she attentive
ly listened.
Il will see what that eventful Sab
bath brings FORTH she concluded
; Perhaps your friend may repent O
his purpose. But. oh, Mr.. Stubs yol
have been most kind, treating such {
delicate matter in such delicate man
: ner. l shall never forget it-never
And if I have been unjust in the past
> I will make amends in the near future.
Perhaps there will be double wed
, ding said the wicked Stubs.
"Oh, you wicked, wicked man. Ant
the blushing spinster futtered into tn,
. house.
I This interesting conversation wa.
duly detailed by Stubs to the younge
Miss Abigail the following evenin:
when he was permitted to make hi
call without any inquisitoria1 Interrupt
!, tion. And this decidedly wrong mind
I ed pair wasted many hours of ensuin;
evenings in wondering what P Bris
: tolls scheme was, and how their ow1
machinations would terminate. I
: was not until the Wednesday preceding
the 14th that Stubs was able to sal
= isfy his Abigairs curiosity by reveal
Ing the following conversation, mos