Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-09-05

The wild, bright eyes were brlmned
with tears as she repeated over and
over again that mournful plalnt-"I
did 50 love him. i did so love himr'
Heaven help me-" thought the doc
tor. as he turned away from the visit
full eyes, sis love Of me always to
bring a blghtT
He drew the shoe tenderly from her
clinging fingers, end lay her head back
upon the pillow, strcve to soothe her
into quiet. But still her cry was the
heavy curse that lay on her, stopping
her breath. crushing out her life, kill
ing her.
ut is heavy on us both" said the
doctor, softly, as lie stopped and
kissed her hot cheek, and then went
out to seek her father
Thanks to that interview the poor
girl was no longer neglected. Dr..
Leonard was not one whose word,
when he gave it. might be tightly dis
regarded, and he now spoke out more
freely than was his wont. The conse-
quence was Mrs Atherton bestiTed
herself and became an anxious
watcher on the instant; but trusting
very little In her. The doctor sent down
old Judith. and made shift himself
! with her niece. Perhaps he thought
that faithful servant close-mouthed
and cautious, the fittest to listen to
such words as he had listened to that
day. Perhaps he knew that though
their meaning might be penetrated
for he by no means moderated the old
womans shrewdness-they would be
as safe with her as with himself.
Miss Leigh recovered but slowly,
and DIR. Leonard still continued his
visits. He came as a friend now-as
more than a friend; the bright and
sudden flushing Of Letty's cheek
limited he was welcome; but then the
doctor was not bound to see that. He
read poems to her; he took her out on
sunny afternoons to look at the sea
from seat in her little garden. He
bent over her and watched over her
like a mother might over an ailinS
child, but he never forgot that she was
the heiress of his dead wife.
DR. Lennard did not dream that it
was anything but friendship that
drew him so often to that quiet little
cottage, but its shy young mistress
did; still, as she seemed, she knew il
was love.
While the young girl dreamed and
sighed, and the strong man played
with the fire, Mr. Leigh was looking
out for a husband for his daughter.
10 find one that suited him proved
rather difficult. Those who might
have sought the hand Of the heress, Ii
time and opportunity had been
granted them, the old man looked upon
with the utmost contempt. He was no
miser. lie did not want to mate with
gold. He wanted a gentleman for his
London. That city was the universe
in the eyes of Leigh. His brilliant
youth and doubtful manhood had been
passed among it's glories; and in his
age, its charm was rs great rs ever
for him. SO he went, and Mrs. Ather-
1T
The corn was rpching for The sickle;
the low, marshy grounds were putting
on their autumn CARDS of purple and
deep rank greenery, and the little cot
tage was In glowing tangle Of
blooms when its master returned. He
came alone, and he looked haggard
and anxious; but he would be cheer.
full, and he told them that he en-
pected company following him.
| Mrs Atherton was all complacency
She was overioyed at her dear mas
ter's safe return; she was pleasantly
excited over the coming guest, and de-
lighted with everything.
Not SO Lefty the girl was tired out;
the new hats, and dresses, and sum
mer nantes had been worn again
and again; the gushing young lady
friends had sunk from patronizng
celestials into positive bores. Tie
novelty of being an heiress had Worn
/ off and she sickened AT its monotony'
and that the life of an heiress, be II
/ lived III town or country, is monoton-
Gus, let no one deny. Her money had
opened for her the gates Of many long
coveted pleasures, but 1t had barred
the only one she cared very much for
/ entering. II found for her many new
] friends; II lost FOR her one old one
and with the tenacity of a woman
i and the waywardneSs Of Il child she
! turned her back to them all, 10 grieye
and cry out for the unattainable,
I DR. Leonard was everything rich
lady patient could expect Of desire
but something what she could not tell
had changed her al once and com
( pletely. He never called her Miss
/ Lefty now, he had ceased 10 come In
when the delicious twilight was drop
/ ping down over the heat and hurry OF
/ the long summer day; he never
walked out with her; he never sat IN
the shady little parlor and read favor
+ lite authors, as he had done in those
/ first npver-to-he-f forgotten DAYS OF her