Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-09-16

upon his finger many times before re-
plying.
well, the fact is he said at last, 4
an compelled to 20 away-to leave Ma
pies for a time"
Ny neart gave an expectant throb OF
satisfaction. Going overwhelming
Na1les.-turn.ng away from the field
OF battle and allowing him to gain the
victory, Fortune surely favored me.
But / answered with feigned concern:
Going away, Surely you cannot
mean it. Why?-what for? AMI
wheTe?"
IAN uncle of mine is dying in Rome"
he answered, GROSSLY. He has made
me his heir, and | IN bound for the
sake of decency to attend his last mo-
ments. Rather p~rotracted last mo-
ments they threaten TO be too, but the
lawyers say | had better be present, as
the old man may take 1t into his head
to disinherit me at the final gasp. ]
suppose | shall not be absent Tonga
fortnight at most-and in the mean
while"
iltIb nc utSiGdltd anu jOOhti at mt
auxiously.
Continue, caro- milo, continue"
said with some Impotence. If ! can
do anything in your absence, you have
only to command me-"
He arose from his chair, and ap-
preaching the window where / sat in
C. half-reclIning position, he drew a
small chair opposite mine, and sitting
down, laid one hand confidently on my
wrist.
You can do much!" he replied, earn
e5tly, ana | feel that | can thoroughly
depend upon you. Watch over her!
She will have no other protector, and
she is SO beautiful and carel, IS, You
lean guard her-your age, your rank
and position, the fact of your being an
old friend of the family-aIl these
things warrant your censorship and
vigilance OYER her, and you can prevent
any other man from mtruding himself
upon her notice"
If he does" ! exclaimed, starting up
from my seat with a mock tragic air,
Il will not rest till his body serves my
sword as a sheath"
And laughed loudly, clapping him
on the shoulder as | spoke. The words
were the very same he had himself Ut
tered when | had witnessed his inter
view with my wife in the avenue. He
seemed to find something familiar in
the phrase. for he looked confused aut
puzzled. Seeing this, / fastened tc
turn the current of his reflections
stopping abruptly in my mirth, | as.
sumed a serious gravity Of demeanor
ard said:
Nay, nay! | see the subject is toC
sacred to be TESTED wIth-pardon my
leFlty' | assure you, my good For.
f3rI, viii watch over the lady with
the Jealous SCRUTINY Of 2 brother-af
elderly brother too, and therefore ont
more likely to be a model Of ~rropriety
though frankly admit it is a task
am NIT specially fitted for. and on,
mat Us rather distasteful to me. stiIl
] would do much to please YOU. and On
'ble you to leave Naples With an eas,
mind. ] promise You here / toal
his hand and shook it warmly-tha
viii be worthy Of your trust an,
true to it, with exactly the same fin
loyalty and fidelity you yourself s,
nohly showed to your dead frieDt
Pablo! History can rot furnish m
with a better example,"
lie started as if be had been stuna
and every drop Of blood receded frar
ms face, leaving it almost vivid. II,
= turned his eyes in a kind of wonderin
doubt upon me, but | counttrfeited Al
air OF such good faith and frankness
That he checked some hasty utteranc
that rose to his lips. arc masterin
; himself by a strong effort, saii
briefly:
q thank you' l know | can rel
upon your honor"
You cant | answered, decisiyely-
, "as positively as YOU rely upon you
: cwnt' Again he WINGED. as thong.
whipped smartly by an invisible lash
Releasing his hand, | asked, in a ton
Of affected regret:
. And when must you Leave us, car
ino?"
Most u~nheppily, at once" he an
swered, Il start by the early train &c
morrow morning"
Wei. | am glad ! knew of this i
time" l said, glancing at my writing
table. which was strewn with unsea
invitation cards, and estimates froI
! decorators and ball furnishers. Il sha
not think of starting any more gazette
till you return"
lie looked gratefully at me. Really
II Is very kind Of you, but | should b
sorry to interfere with any of you
plans
2 Say no more about it, AMIGO" | II
corrupted hlm lightly. "Eyerythin
can wait till you come back. Beside
am sure you will prefer to think {
u madame as living in some sort Of s,
%clusion during your enforced al
sencc-'
Tc be Continued.