Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-11-25

N
to Mile. She wrote and told George
/ about il, saying, as she had no faith
/ in banks, she would keep it in the
/ box he used 10 call Aunt Miles
! bank and some day it would be his.
The girls were very well to do, and
/ she thought it would please Kate if
| she knew that the farm and money
/ we're left to George. He answered
! that letter without delay, and urged
| dear Aunt Mile to put the money in
| a bank. Letters came quite frequent
| ly after that; and the last one con-
tanned the announcement that he and
| his wife were coming to visit Aunt
Mile
| He often wanted to come, he sai6,
| but never found time before; and he
was anxious to have his aunt see his
wife He talked so much OF Aunt
| Mile that she wanted to know her.
Strange" said Aunt Mile. that it
| only just occurred to Nellie that she
would like to see Georges aunt, and
| the home of his childhood; but | am
| glad they are coming; perhaps George
has changed. | shall try to like his
wife. Kite would want me to love her
for Georges sake.
! II was past four O'Clock now and
! they would arrive at five so Aunt
| Mile put away her knitting, gave
| few finishing touches to the table, and
| sat down to wait for them.
had ho
click OF the gate caused her to look
out. But that could not be George
! that tall handsome man-yes, and that
was his wife.
Aunt Mile went out on the porch
TO meet them George kissed her and
told her how delighted he was to be
back to the old place again. Then he
| introduced his wife. Aunt Mile Just
| stared at her for a moment where had
| she seen those eyes before? Her smile
| too. recalled some one whom Mile
| had surely seen before. "She was so
| pleased to meet dear Aunt Mile, she
was sure she would love her"
| But Aunt Mile was not quite so
sure, and she didn't think she was
! Very glad they came after all
After supper they told Aunt Mile
of their home in California. George
had been quite prosperous, but he was
not rich by any means
Several times he approached the
subject of the money, but Aunt Mile
avoided it. She was sure now that 1t
was not love for her that had brought
Geo. So, tuuusn ne Crleu 20 make her
believe that he was so happy to be
10y No~ r"a'n ora o"nn "ni1 thrv
wanted her to go to California and
make her home with them.
When they had gone to their room,
| aunt Mile thought it all over. No,
! George had not changed and his wife,
what was there about her that recalled
the past? She did not think Nellie
locked over pleased when George
spoke of her going back with them.
well, she need not be afraid. ] shall
not go" Ard '.--,4 'riIlie fell asleep
end dreamed that she was standing
beside Hates bed again. and Fred
DeTrin and George were there. She
was awakened by the sound OF hurry
ing feet and George rushed into the
room. Shaking her by the arm, he
said; aunt Mile, wake up; the
house is on fire; where is the money?
Tell me, quick"
But she was dazed and he could not
make her understand.
Leaving her he rushed from room
TO room but could not find the box
and finally had to give it up.
The old house burned like shavings;
and in less than three hours Aunt
Mile was standing beside the smoul-
dering pile, which was all that was left
o her home.
When George went to the hotel
(where his wife had gone as soon as
the fire was discoveredD, he was greet
ed with: We'll, don't you think you
were a little too soon with your in
vitation? Now your dear Aunt Mile
will expect to come home with us.
Are you sure she did not get the box?"
mo, she didn't get 1t, and the
money I counted on to set my business
up again, is gone up in smoke. | can't
imagine where it was; l looked in
every room"
Yes. heard some one say that you
left Aunt Mile TO burn, If she could
not get out, and tried to save some
thing of your own; they didn't know
it was the precious box, though"
Aunt Mile had gone to the house
Of @ I.s.Chro where she waited in the
morning to see If George would come
10 her
Thanksgiving day! what could she
be tnankful for?
Georso AZ not come; OF course he !
was tired after the work and excite |
II ent of the night, so she went to the
hotel
Well, Aunt Mile" said George,
why in the world didn't you tell me
where the money was might have
saved IT,"
Yes, George; you tried hard to save
II, and think am glad the old house
1.