Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-12-29

Apart frcm or rather in addition TO
her general fondness for a Irritation,
Fanny pownce had something Of a
special liking for Adolphus, and see
ing that he was in q sentimental hui
NOR. encouraged him Il was a bad
day for him to meet such temptation.
The adec,ionate emotion stirred by
Miss Dutton still secthed a0d bubbled
in his soul Repre- scd for 4 time by
recollection of his resolution and the
old maids adevntl,ious aid his ardent
nature had made strenuous efforts TO
reassert ITSELF II was not fickleness
or fatthlessness to his real love-Miily
that prompted his proposals "a Miss
Craesop and the widow Wintergreen.
but the tenderness she had inspired
betrayed by inebriation and momen-
t2vy temptatiCa. Each Of those w0-
men seemed 70 him sort of tempor
AIRY substitute for Milly DuttoO whose
image was all the while somewhere IN
the background Of his consciousness.
The sacrifices he laid upon their altars
were really meant as offerings to her
Women particularly those Of Jealous
temper, may reprehend his conduct
but men will understand the natural
ness of It, Add that inaocent per-
version Of good intent continued to in
splre him when with Fanny Pownce,
so that he not only seemed 70 make
love 70 her-.hough really to the
absent Milly, as already explained
but was so earnest that he took her In
his arms aad kissed her. She, Of
course could not know that his pas
scnate kisses were given in magma
ton to another girl OF whom she had
never heard Perhaps she would not
have cared much If she had known
way, without bothering oneself over
possible mental Instructions lying far
back Of the osculatory pleasure, and
though Fanny was a good girl she was
not a wooden one All was innocent
ana would have been harmless enough
but for the misfortune that the young
couple were caught What an infinite
deal Of sadness Is caused by being
caught!
Colonel pownce came home from his
round of calls and let himself in with
his latch key His footballs made no
sound in the softly carpeted hail as he
approached the back parlor Intending
TO pass through II 30 his quarters"
i'm the rear, and when he opened the
door upon the tableaux presented by
Adolphus and his daughter Fanny he
stood for a moment unobserved In
sDechless surprise and growing wrath.
II he had not been samplIng other fell
lows punches as potent as his owa
perhaps he would have taken a more
lerien' view OF the proceeding, for
there are few parents who do not eX-
pect their daughters, If they have Any,
to be sometimes kissed But the colo
mel was never so strict in his ideas 81
decorum as when he had been drink
ing. And upon rogaining his power Of
speech he used 1t In a fashion that
quite overwhelmed Adolphus
TO Ne called down from the Elysium
of ki sing a very pretty and willing
girl in order 70 hear ones self ad.
dressed as scoundrel. lib
ertin1 and serpent lis an
experience THAI may well con
found a young mantle first time
II occurs, at least The cdlprits had
not a word to say for themselves. The
couple in the front parlor listened.
shuddered and thanked heaven he had
not happened 10 come in there.
The colonels peroration was COM
mand that Adolphus should marry
Fanny promptly as the only repara-
fiao possible for the damage he had
done to the Pownce family honor As
Adolphus was entirely unconscious OF
having, SO far as he could see inflicted
The slightest hurt upgn toe family
honor he was ioclined TO demlr upon
that ground but, as he beaitated Fan
ny whispered 20 him
SAY yes Papa VIII forge. all
about fl tomorrow"
50 the young snau said yes
That scene effectually sobered him
as soon as he could get away which
was not until Colonel Povnce hal
ordered him 70 appear for marriage
the next day Eat 3 O'Clock p. m
sharp he went straight home ANA
there. In the solitude 81 his room. sat
himself 20 agOnized contemplation 81
his horrible ENHANCEMENT Ne was
not one Of those enviable persons who
upon becoming sober. have no recOl-
lection Of what had transpired while
they were not 20. On The contrary. he
had vivid and even intensified ron
seriousness OF the stupendous follles
he had perpeira'ed and lively appre-