Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-08-30

r
Of nod, as awkwardly enough he
poured her some medicine from a big
labeled bottle, which, with an old jar
| filed with da1fodils, shared the uneven
surface OF the very rickety table in
the center OF the very small room.
Thorpe remained a moment gazing
at the flowers, his hands IN his peck
cts, his head bent.
He seemed to form an Inference
from their presence there, for he
presently said:
80 Lady Mary has been here today,
see What time was she here? Never
mind. DENT speak he added quickly
as the child endeavored TO frame q
word. and thereby commenced cough
| ing.
Lady Mary was one Of the many
| daughters of an Irish earl. Dis
traught by her daily readings OF the
sutferings OF the poor, she determined
! to see on her own account what could
be done, and her seeing ended in a
/ large amount OF doing.
In arranging some little matters of
comfort for Matte, when the child
| first came under her notice, she found
it necessary to consult Mr.. Thorpe,
| During the interview look of keen
/ inquiry shone in the blue-grey depths
Of Lady Mary's Irish eyes, and more
than once the dark lashes fell and
yelled their perplexity, for her quick
1 sense told her the unmistakable gen
tleman was there, through all the dis
I guise OF shabby clothes and so poor
a dwelling.
AS for Matte, his name was always
J on her lips.
( 1t was in the child's room Lady
| Mary from time to time encountered
MIN. He and Toddles had long had
the habit of betaking themselves
there, and making for Matte her hap
| piest hour in the day.
Lady Mary's racy manner gradual
! ~ thawed the reserve of her new ac-
Quaintance.
70 talk intimately, even with those
| few old friends who valued his per-
sonality among their dearest posses
| sions, was rare with Thorpe, but this
new friend, with the charm of her
womanly tact, gradually drew from
him the story of his life, made up for
the most part of the sadness of mega
| tive, of the things he had not done,
| happiness which, for conscience sake,
he had not found.
One day, after visit of Lady
Mary's, Matte announced "a piece of
news. Il am going" said she, her
eyes shining and the bright blush
coming into her cheek, ito the sea-
| side. Lady Mary says she will take
mo. What are waves like, MIR.
Thorpe and will there be big fishes
and real boatsY
| Thorpe walked to the WINDOW and
| looked out over the chimney-pots,
! where cat pr0wled in the smut
blackened air. The sordidness of the
view was, however, just then not up
| permost in his mental vision. He
turned round with sigh.
"Ah,' he said, Its grand for you,
little girl, but it's sad for us, Ell,
| ToddlesT'
! The dog jumped down from his post
on the child's bed where he had been
lying, looking absurdly ugly as he
| blinked away at the bead eyes Of
| Mattie's rag doll. He then proceeded
to set up a howl of impatience for
! his supper, thereby compelling his
master to accompany him back to their
own almost barer apartment.
Among Lady Mary's charitable I'M
dertakings was now included the de-
sire to convert John Thorpe's irratlon-
| pleased TO term rational sense. She
informed him that his attitude with
regard tc old Anthony's money was OF
an inconsistency quite unique; that to
bear out his theory he ought to re-
fuse TO wear clothes or to eat food
unless he knew the people who sup
piled him to be gaining their live
lihood by honest means.
She smiled with certain derision
at his favorite formula, Equality,
fraternity and liberty" though she
FASTENED to explain she was on the
side Of fraternity and liberty" but
equality was surely contrary to the
laws Of God, for in the fitting out OF
the temperaments and talents of hui
mainly could anything be more I'M
equal than Nature herselfy'
Lady Mary was conscious Of think
ing, as she made the statement, how
poorly equipped in temperament and
talents for the battle Of life was this
eccentric new friend, whom she occa-
sionally dared to deride. AT later
date in their friendship she, with
woman's privilege, changed her mind,
and II she surrounded the sterling
worth Of John Thorpe with the halo
almost of heroism, was she not amply
atoning for her former detection, even
though, womanlike, she weighed down
the favoring balance too heavily
Thorpe's Mentor, unavailing though
she feared were the attacks on his
theories, was unconsciously the cause
Of an undermining process.
The week after Matte had been
whisked off to sea breezes a tall, lanky
nOitra followAd nv fha cha hhip9t of