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

sacred and cOnhQenual OF nature, had
the night before with his trustful
friend, P. Bristol.
''Stubbs,' at last blurted the electri-
clan, as the ale coursed courag through
his ,dttenuity: II have composed
some verses declaring my love, and
and / have constructed a most sensi-
tive photograph which enunciates them
in my tenderest tones And / want
your advice as to how 1 shall send it to
my dear little Abigail
Stubs pondered and said, LET me
see it,, to gain more time for ponder
ing
oh 1 cannot. It is for her ears
alone
well, how large is it,"
Here it is said P. Bristol, taking i
small, square package from his breast.
How would it do to arrange it in u
photograph album so that the act of
opening would set the machinery in
operation?"
splendid. 1t couldn't be better
Will you select one for ne? You have
such refined taste. VIII you do this
for me, old friend?"
Yes the 'old friend" would do it,
! and he did. The next day he procur-
ed a large red bound album, much re-
sembling the Hymnal which he had
picked from the dust for the palpitat-
ing elder Miss Abigail. The very
thingr' shouted z. Bristol, with tears
Of gratitude; and so, indeed, it proved.
The photograph fitted to a nicely in a
recess within the cover.
But how shall I send it?' he con-
tinued
ooh! let young Ralph deliver the
package Sunday morning to the Young
lady herself, and simply say, let me see
simply say that it is for Miss Abigail"
''How considerate you have beenv'
sighed the lover.
'Tm arranging a future for you. old
fellow" And so he was, and for him
self also.
Meanwhile the respectable maiden
aunt was nursing into white heat the
fame of love kindled within her chaste
if restricted bosom by the words of the
adroit Mr.. Stubbs Her Peter! Her
great, manly Peter. No wonder he was
SO modest, all noble souls shrunk back
from scrutiny into the sanctuary of
themselves. Besides, he appreciated
her position and worth; and every
qualm was an admission of her superb
GRITTY and a tribute to her charms.
! Would he muster the courage to send
her the Hateful valentine? ALI. that
! she might inspire him With a 1.-THE of
her intrepid spirit, then there could be
no question. And, if he did what
Should she return? For some token she
would return, and that speedily. Some
thing that she had worn, something of
her very self. A flower, Il kerchief-
no d watchguard of her shining tresSes.
! That was it. How he would cherish
such a binding tie of affection and press
it to his dear, tremulous lips! Her
shining tresses. The spinster unplait-
! ed them and ruefully scanned their
meagerness. Could she serve as APP
! prentice to Time, the barber? Dare she
make such Il sacrifice of such an un-
certainty? She could and she dared.
The remorSelesS shears clipped. and q
/ little white spot beneath the left ear
cleaned like a tablet to heroic act
] ton.
Sunday morning came, and little Miss
f! Abigail, the niece, was watching at the
+, garden gate bright and early. Her
vigilance was rewarded. Ralph, the
! messenger, was prompt in his delivery,
and she received from him Il square
package which on being opened, re-
vealed a red-bound book, a fac simile
of dear Auntie's" Hymnal. So struck
was little Miss Abigail with the identi-
ty that she tripped to the house and
substituted it for it's original in the
case on the hall stand.
Up stairs dear Auntie," the spinster,
was performing the sacred rites of tot
let, half stifled by the fumes of jeal-
Gus rage. Where, oh! where, was the
valentine? 1T cometh not she said.
ooh, if I had that rascally Stubs here,
( could scratch his eyes out" And yet,
with the hopeful hypocrisy of her sex,
she arrayed and composed herself, plac-
! ed the Watchguard in her pocket, de
scended demurely, and taking the case
containing Prayer Book and Hymnal
from the hall stand proceeded with her
brother and niece to the Memorial
Chapel.
Within. the scant congregation, if
anything Scanter. was assembled.
The Dobbes, the Perrys, the Cuylers
were present, and 50 was Mr.. Stubs,
lurking in a rear pew. And there, too,
was the faithful P Bristol in the eyrie,
awaiting with unusual twitchings the
commingling of souls. How his goodly
countenance beamed, to be sure as the
little party proceeded down the aisle.
One Parthian glance did the spinster
direct against him, a glance Of reproa CHI
yet Of trust, and then, as she Smoothed
down her skirts within the pew, she
complacently patted the watchguard in
assured her that he had not changed.
The Rev. Charles appeared and the
service decorously advanced. At the
proper moment the spinster took her
Hymna1 from the case. There was a
slight delay, as the rector fumbled in
finding the selected hymn. There was
silence. In the gallery p. Bristol was
concentrating his soul on the little
violets that NODDED on his beloved's best
hat. In the rear pew Mr.. Stubs was
pinching himself and then folding his
arms with Napoleonic aplomb.
Little Miss Abigail felt school-day
rouiyo yrifbi1, bar. Sho