Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-10-31


winds had been blowing when she ar
rived; capricious April showers were
falling now. How slow. how tedi,
ously slow III coming. thought Alicia,
restleSsly, were the golden summer
weather and the sweet summer
flowers.
Looking back, there were but Two
events worthy Of remembrance III that
long, quiet month which was gone
two bright, rose-colored days out Of
upward eigtt-and-tweDty gray ones.
First there was that memorable
morning on which Herman Merry
weather had come to 0ldfriars with
his books. papers, leases, and goodness
knows what beside In order to assist
Miss Penrith in eomprehenling the
full extent Of her rich inheritance
when he had been 50 patient with her,
so wondrous kind and gentle for a
man like him, 50 willing to explain
away things hard to understand, 80
clever ia making her poor little
muddied head seem as clear and
business-like as his own quick brains
land when, too, the bewildering work
of the morning was ut an end, he had
stayed to lunch with her grandmother
and herself, among the dust and
shadows Of the ditn-lighted library.
Secondly there was that day,
equally memorable III Alieia's caler-
dar, when she had walked into Gath
with worthy Mrs. Ounce to call on
Herman at his own house. Her
grandmother herself could not he per-
ruaded to accompany Alicia, but gave
the girl a message TO convey TO MIR.
Merry weather as an excuse for the
walk into the village.
Had he not repeatedly begged her
to come and see him in his own home
and might he not without impro-
prlety, without breach Of etiquette. do
So well enough, remembering his
years and Alicla's youth? 50 chat
Miss Penrith, ruled unconsciously by
inclination, argued within herself
that 1t would he rude not to go
How welcome lie had made them,
>.
objected. with a dreamy little smile;
how pleased he had been to see her
how pleased, in truth, even Herman
himself was scarcely aware thou h
she was but the bearer Of message
from her grandmother
Then nothing would do but that
they must have their luncheon with
him in his rambling. old-fashioned
parlor, the smoke dried ceiling Of
which was supported by beams, In
order to fortify themselves, Herman
declared, grayely, for their muddy
trudge back TO Oidfriars. Mrs. Ounce.
who loved Herman we'll was le
lighted at the notion. and did not
hesitate to show that she was -,
Alicia quiet ard shy, aid, gently,
that he WAS very kind"
# was a pleasant holr--too pleas
ant perhaps. to BE- prudent, and
Alicia Penrith while IT lasted was
vaguely, strangely nappN, And no
one could have Been prander than
good old Mrs. Ounce in her su
premely conscious dignity Of duenna
for the occasion.
Alicia was charmed with the old
rcd-gabled house where the Merry
weathers Of Garth had lived for many
generations. and naively said 50 TO
Herman, He told hen that his Offices
were over the way, and that the beat
heads she could just soc through that
row of dingy wire blinds opposite
were the heads Of his clerks who We're
busy al their work. Alicia was quite
sorry when Mrs. Ounce began 70
fidges On her chair, ard to hint with
il respectable cough that she had
shopping" to do in Garth.
We'll all 90 together then"
promptly declared Herman, and
while Mrs. Ounce is collecting her
parcels, you and /, Miss Penrith, viii
take Il stroll into the chumhyard and
can show You the old monks grave
with that quaint inscription | told
you about God bless the monks Of
OdfriaFs. Have yon forgotten?"
No. Alicia had not forgotten. Her
dark eyes shone.
oh. thank yonl'' she cried speak
ing straight from her heart. Il
should like III 80 much
So accordingly they all three set
out. and the clerks over the way.
hearing the opening Of the door Of the
old red-gahled house Of the master.
looked mp eagerly from their dry-as
dust copying. eaeh one as curious as
the other TO catch glimpse Of Miss
penrith.
what child she is.' Merry
weather unused, looking down very
wistfully upon the slender figure at
Ills side. Mrs. Ounce IN her big poke
bonnet and blanket shawl, tr6tting
eontentedly il the rear, and staring
affeetionafely at Herman's broad
back; "and land am thirty five
Many nj inquiSDtive face peered
above tile mindoulhIinds ~ over the
low half-doors II the gabled houses
down the village StrepF-thnSe Stf9@g-