Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-10-03
Lefty Leigh.
Continued.

course, aud put them safely by in the
pearl aud ebony box where her few
treasures were stored; among the rest
a certain drab satin shoe that had 10
very pleasant memories linked to II,
and the reason fol keeping which she
could hardly have given, even y her.
self,
Now that lie was 50 long away, and
no letters were coming, she began AZ
first to wonder and then 70 fret; and
finally she grew angry AZ what she
looked upon as sighting indifference
on his part. She did moi love him well
enough to make excuses for him, ana
SO she went her long walks alone, and
brooded over this new phase In her en-
gagenent
one fair SunShiny afternoon, when
the sky was i1ore settled than usual,
Lefty put on her hat and jacket and
went down to the shore. She sat
down and buried her hands in the soft
warm sand. and thought of Paul Lcr-
nard, lovingly, yearningly, as She, the
betrothed wife Of another man should
not have thought Of him. She knew
chat very well, but she cOnld not help
It; 50 she sat still In the warm sun
light. and dreamed her dream, lulled
by the drOwsy murmur aud roll Of
the sea
a hasty step coming over the sands,
heavy hand laid on her shoulder
and Lefty started to her feet, and
turning suddenly, faced Ernest Dover
eux.
"What has kept You away ~ long,
Ernest?' she asked "IIaye you been
M"
"nlln he repeated mo- but
might have been. Your father is ill,
Lefty. He can fret and moan, but |
"an not do even that VIII you walk
With me now. and / will tell You the
news ! have come out after you tot
tell"
His voice was low and hard, and
Lefty shiyered as she listened to it;
still She would not shrink from hear
Ing whatever it was he might have to
tell 1t was story that many had |
listened to before, with only the diff !
ference of few patry details. II was
a story thl. had been told, with /
deadly effect, by many a hearthstone, /
aHd ii, many blnking-houSe, 4 tale +
that many poor creatures had shivered E
and moaned over before her, bur ii
fell none the less heavily and suddenly /
on poor Lefty on that account II
was all comprised Ia one word-ruinl
II meant hardship, and poverty and
humiliation; but they were hiddel rs
yet III tho bleak folds u that one
umiBous word Of four letters
Mr., Leigh had sunk all hts duush
ters fortune In a great Tdniant bib :
bic Schrme all his gaudg air-caStles
Lad the well-being of this scheme for
their foundation; but now the false
sands had siftcd, and the cardboard
anSiors were Strewn in the dust
Ernest DevcreuX had no fortune to
stake. but he stake1 his m ne and his
prospects, and all the ready cash he
could muster. and the end was ruin
for him also; more dire, more complete.
than lad even fallen upon Mr.. Leigh
Not a very pleasant story TO tell to
any enc, much less to a young girl
who had grown accustomed to all the
joys and Injuries which money brings
to It's posseSSar. And Ernest Dever.
cuX remembering the dealhly faint Of
the past New Years eve, felt no little
uncaSincSS as to how It would he re-
cclyed But Lefty did not faint now.
She heard him TO the end quite calmly I
and patiently and then her words dill
not express sorrow for herself Or for
him, only for her father
'My father" She said, her eyes full
of tears, her voice broken: "my poor
father! how VIII he bear it2 What
can 40 10 make him able 10 bear it?' !
Ernest Devcreux looked At her aud I
wondered. This was SO different from !
all llr had expected, ana half dreaded
To see when the hard news was I
broken TO her )
"lf | could endure life Of poverty q
with any woman that woman would i
be Lefty" he thought she would
never grow into a shrew under her /
troubles"
H. TOO, am ruined man, Lefty,
he said aloud. AFTER a pause; shut for
all that. the bond between us need
never be broken, unless You will Il
II do VIII that tt should be broken
Ernest" she replied "hut not for my
sake only, You aN not one who could
make your way IN The world Il yau
had poor wife to drag YOU down,
Some men could bit you could not
aud I dare MT marry any man e be
4 burden upon him ! dare not a. Al
Mn lon't' She said. putting her hand
W hlS arm "a stop him when hc would
haya answered her. don't say amy
timing ! know vou are honorable and
true Snaw WON would marry mo
tomorrow N wished N though yeu
would hayo ia liye ana ale poor man
fin CONSEQUENCE. lint dn nDt wish HI