Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-04-25


groups, and were talking and laugh
Ing together: and a stranger, ON pas
sing through, would have heard such
scraps from the women ms white
satinw And her jewels, Mary Ann
--Lor they wor sight to be seem
But they worn't the diamonds, No.
they do say as my lady won't never
wear them more, though they wor
fetched down from London yester-I
day"
And Miss Dora" said bright
country-woman, in all the bravery of
rustic finery-"Mrs. Trevclyn as is
didn't she look pretty now, and Mr..
Nilfredy There never see a pref
tier wedding"
Not any grander than the masters,
four. five, nigh on six years ago,
chimed in another So they discussed,
and wondered, and enjoyed the re-
membranes of the day; and thus the
presence of all the flags and bunting
was explained. Up at the Castle there
was Il ball and the bridesmaids were
deep in toilet mysteries. Lady stan
hopes dressing-room was ablaze with
the waX-candles, aud she herself was
standing In "sheen of satin" by the
toilet-tablc dressed. save for her jew
els, her hair glittering like virgin
gold. waving in rich eurls over her
shoulders. She looked scarcely older
than when she had stood. a girl bride,
at the altar There was the same
slender, graceful form-pride still was
to he seen on the brow, on the curved
lips: but in the beautiful eyes lay a
tender softer shade-something that
spread veil of sadness over the
whole face. Yet there was no pain,
no bitterness now, in the sadness: 1t
was the shadow of memories that ever
laid gentle, subduing hand on her
heart nothing more.
There was half smile on her lips
now; she was thinking of Wilfred and
his bride, who went away that day
to begin new life. She was Il ink
ing OF little Dora, who had sobbed
and wept in her arms when she was
saving goodbye, but who had been
all sunshine when Wilfred came TO
find her-thlnking Of her brothers
tender farewell, of his look when she
had said softly:
MAY Heaven make your life and
hers happy, as mine is
You did not say that always, sis
ter" he had returned wistfully.
NO; did not say ii always she
had answered. but | say 1t now
Presently the smile on her lips grew
brighter; for she heard a silyery
voice. the patter of tiny feet. the
handle of the door shaken, and there
bounded to her side her boy, her
beautiful boy, who was slenderly
made and ethereal in all the childish
beauty of golden locks and great dark
eyes-his mothers hair, people said,
and the Stanhope eyes.
'You said | might come ana see
you dressed like the picture in the
gallery" said the childish voice--the
clear deliberate accumulation of four
years. MY beautiful mammal" And
he laid his soft cheek against hers
as she knelt by him, and cooed over
him softly.
"But you aren't finished, mamma,
he presently asserted. looking with
critical eye. and with all the air Of
eonnoisseur. over her dress. You
haven't any iewels--mustn't youy'
Eyes. my boy: but have not
chosen them yet" Clare said smiling
at the infant worshiper. II think You
must choose for me tonight, Wilfred.
What shall they be? Here are n great
many green. and blue, and red, and
white"
The small fingers daintily touched
the rare gems shining in their cas-
kets; but they did not seem TO satisfy
him. and at last he looked up with
a bright glance, and half sprung
away.
II know-I know mamma" he cried
delighndly. Those pretty stones
thu fash-ohl -like-like the
stars Papa showed them to me to-
day-oh, do wear them, mamma"
The girl stood quite still; she had
grown pale, and had set her lips
closely together, as though she were
crushing something back she would I
not reveal to him; but, without wait
ing for an answer, the child bounded +
TO cabinet, and opened drawer
in which the key had been left, bring !,
ing forth in triumph the easket she
knew so well, and raising the lid |
placed 1t in her hands.
There, mamma he said, with
great satisfaction beaming in his
large eyes, you shall wear those, and
everyone will look at you; and you'll
be the loveliest, beautlfulest lady
won't you, mammal"
Il don't know, dear"
With wistful sadness of pain in
her face she held the jewels In her
hand, running the glittering string Of
stones through her fingers. She look
ed round the room with half-curious
glance. 1t was the same room -those
jewels had laid upon the table six
years before What an agony of pain
she had lived through since then, and
what wOndrous, glorious 10y had also