Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-11-22


ahead of me. And such a track. 4
woman's? II must be child's, it is
50 tiny and perfect Yet something
told me it was a woman's, and felt n
sudden mysterious interest in II. With
head down and eyes following this
track, | reached my own gate. and.
behold. the waller turned in there,
Having settled into bachclorhood,
was not sure that wished to meet a
strange woman. aud ! knew there was
no foot in my own family that. even
with tight squeezing. could be reduced
to the size of that track. So | made a
sudden dart to the side door, entered.
and, meeting my mother, inquired:
WHO'S hereT
who's here?" she repeated How
do YOU know any one is here?"
why, haven't followed woman's
tracks all the way from town, mother?
And never saw such beautiful
foot.'
Its notsany prettier than the owner"
my mother replied nut | suppose
you'll object TO meeting her, you care
SO. little for ladies, so I've ordered n
small table laid in the breakfast room.
and you can take Jour supper alone, If
you wish.
Well, finding myself so coldly and
easily dipsosed Of l felt uncertain as
10 whether It pleased me. But asked,
with woman-hating nonchalance, "who
is the beauty with such perfect foot?'
''She is Miss Enid Gloriana Brand, a
school friend OF your sisters"
How does she happen to be here,
mother:"
''She is going to visit her aunt in
Fairville. and stopped over to spend
the night with Felicia. AS she lives In
the city and does not often see the
snow in its purity, she preferred to
walk up from the TRAIN. She's lovely
creature. I'm so sorry you won't make
her acquaintance, Morley!"
Il don't know but / will. mother.
If she's as pretty as her foot, why
Mother laughed and said in tone
that piqued me, "Ha, she's so charm
ing and so stylish she'd never look at
country town beau like YOU"
Now, people may lay themselves on
the shelf and be willing to be over
locked, but they are not SO ready to
have other people consign them TO OBJ
liyion as unworthy, and, then, to think
OF a woman looking upon me as a
country beaui | determined TO meet
Miss Enid Gloriana Brand cher name
WAS longer than her FOOT. Twas
wonderful with what hasty, spas
modic zeal dashed TO my room and
got into the best of well-stocked
wardrobe. Miss Gloriana could not
say the suit was a country cut, for it
came from her ewn city.
| rushed into the parlor with some
little diftidence, 1t must be said, de-
termined, however, to impress the
visitor, If possible, and escape the in.
difference which my mother predicted
she would feel toward me. My saluta.
ton / accompanied with compliment.
Il knew some beautiful Cinderella
had entered my home, Miss Brand.
did not find her slipper, but | saw the
imprint Of her delicate foot In the
snow and felt that was fortunate in
being able to follow her step"
Well, now, If you had seen that
sweet, girlish face blush, look down
to her feet which We're
peepins from under handsome dark
blue skirt. and then break into Il ripple
of confused laughter. would would I'M
detstand how it was that in an instant
i repentcd Of all the unkind things
had ever said about girls, even about
those that had Tilted me She was so
modest she hardly knew how to an
swer me, while / sat half-dazed as she
me for my gallantry, looking
first at her face and then at her feet. |
! did not take my supper in the !
room. and SO completely
Miss Enid Gloriana
the meal and the evening !
my sister Felicia got jealous and
pouted Off upstairs. That suited me
exactly. Knowing that fair Enid Glor.
lana would be under that roof but a
few hours. and fe.iNng that Providence
had not only taken me mysteriously by
the and. but was pulling me vigorously
in a certain direction, said with great
holiness:
miss Brand, may tell you what !
said as l followed your tracks from
the yillagei"
"You may she said. "if it was
nlpasant"
Gods, but her smile was winning and
you may judge Of that" I replied.
81 said If the woman is as pretty as
her foot, she can have me. She is!
She is beautiful, and I'll stick to It."
Sister Felicia, the wretch, came In at
that instant, and Enid Gloriana could
give me no reply.
When we parted that night, / slipped
| followed her to Fairville and found
! was on the right track from the be-
ginning.
Enid Gloriana is my wife, and all
have to say is that l believe there Ii d
sweet woman In the world for every
man, If he will only get on the right
. Il - L. III ~