Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-03-12

life? She said: Not very long"
rather confusedly, and was glad 10 find
that Mrs. Gervase hardly seemed to ex-
pect a reply.
well, dear, he admires you very
much" said this injudicious woman,
taking a tress Of Madeline's hair and
letting the golden strands slip through
her fingers as she spoke, Dear me,
what lovely hair you have. TO be sure,
and how long and thick. What will
you do with 1t when you have TO put
II up? You are so tall now that | am
sure you would look very nice with 1t
in knot behind. | shall call Marie
and let her try when you dress for
dinner"
Madeline was rather pleased at the
idea. She had begun to be little
ashamed of her long shining name, as
she was pleased to term 1t and she
was longing with all her heart for the
/ time when she might coil II up and
put 1t, she thought, out of sight. She
did not realize that her hair would
always be remarkable for its beauty,
4
room to lie down and the two young
people were left alone to amuse each
other They did ii in way which
would have somewhat scandalized Miss
Joyce For as soon as they were left
\ together, Lanoelot came quietly up to
the girl, as she bent her head over
book, laid his hand on her shoulder,
stooped down and kissed her.
"Oh. Lancelot," said Madeline, and
coored scarlet.
+ why OH he asked. "You don't
mind, do you?"
Il don't know think | do"
i you promised to think of me as
a friend, you know. Perhaps ought
not to have done it without asking
you but you looked so sweet Won't
YOU forgive me, Madeline?''
She was only a child, but there was
something more than a childish spirit
looking out of those gray eyes as she
raised them for a moment to his face.
7 Lancelot sat down on the sofa beside
her and took her hand in his own.
Madeline, don't be afraid of me,
dear. | want to know-~won't you
promise to love me- Won't you think
of being my wife one day, when we
are older? We are rather young just
now to arrange it, he said, with rather
a shy laugh, but | think we know
our own minds"
Perhaps we ought not to talk of
such things said Madeline, more
shyly STILL
Don't you think you know whether
you like me or not2"
"Oh, yes; | know that"
You know that you do?"
Yes"
/ well, then, I'll put it in this way.
In four years we shall be quite old
enough to know our own minds shall
we not? In four years from now,
Madeline, l shall ask you again; and
then-if you care for me as much as
you do now, you will be my wife, will
you not?"
She smiled rather TREMENDOUSLY and
whispered her answer If you re-
member-if you have not forgotten"
Il forget. | shall never forget said
Laneelot, the impetuous. 81 think of
you constantly-nigh and day, Made
line, because | am so unhappy about
you. | don't like your being here, |
don't like your being subject to that
old Miss Joyce's tyranny. RI | could,
| should take you away from this place
at once and put you with my friends.
But you see, | have no power as yet
to do anything | care for"
you must not be unhappy about
me" said Madeline. Indeed, | shah
be very happy
Darling. Give me kiss, Madeline
just one. Just as sign that you
care for me. viii you not?"
She raised her lips to his and they
kissed each other-tenderly, almost
reverently with the gravity and delic
acy of first love, true and pure as
that of angels To Lancelot it meant
much more than it did to Madeline
I just then but perhaps 1t was in Made
lines heart that the memory of tLat
kiss would live longest and grow most
deep.
"And now that that Is settled" said
i Lancelot, presently, as he sat with her
\ hand in his, Il can tell you all about
myself and what ] have been doing
lately Perhaps you have heard some
of II from Lady Frances"
"She did not tell me much. She
seemed-you don't mind my saying SO,
do you?-as If she were angry with
YOU"
Il believe she Is have heard 80
from two or three sources" said Lance
lot, with a laugh that showed him very
however, | think her mother has shut
her mouth for her, for she has ceased
to express herself about my conduct"
But what have you been doing,
! Lancelot?"
only what I told you | thought of
4 doing. have left Aldersleigh" and
his face suddenly grew graye-"and !
am living at my mothers house in
London
( "You have not quarreled with your
father, have your"