Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-11-01

Violet said TO her lover that sane
evening:
Randolph, did you tell me one day
that you liked the blue dress | wcg
better than any you have ever seem"
Yves, a thousand times better" he
replied" better than the royal robe
OF a queen, or the court dress OF q
DUCHESS"
what do you know of queens o.,
duchesses?" she asked laughingly
He checked himself just in time
at least, Violet, | like it better than
any dress l have seen worn by royal
and stately danes in picture"
Il am so glad" she said Then,
looking at him with sweet, panied
eyes, she whispered, Randolph, i
want to speak to you about something
very important"
He was delighted, charmed.
What is it, my darling?" he asked.
you make me the happiest man in
the world. What do you wish to speak
to me about?'
Il wonder if you will mind it very
much" she said, clasping her white
hands around his arm-the nearest
approach to q caress that she had ever
given him.
She looked up with such anxious,
wistfuI eyes into his face that ne
thought she must surely have some
great favor to ask him He gave a
sudden start of alarm.
"Oh Violet" he cried, you are not
surely going to ask me to let Miss Ath.
crton live with us?"
She laughed so heartily that her
hands fell from his arm. and all the
pathos died from her face.
1T is not one-half so dreadful as
that Oh, Randolph, what an idea!
Why, Randolph, Aunt Alice would no
more live in the same house with d
man than she would fly! You can not
dread her more than she breads you;
but it was not of her | wished to speak.
Randolph, l am so dreadfully ashamed
to tell you
you can surely say anything you
like to me-" he replied. Take cour-
age, my darling. If it be the half of my
kingdom that you desire, you shall
have it,"
what kingdom have you except in
the realms of fancy?" she said. with u
laugh. Randolph, it is about my we'd
ding-dress | want to speak to you
Once more she clasped her white
hands round his arm, and gazed with
o., 4 ;r,tA
Randolph, now tell me the absolute
truth Should you mind very much if
| We're married in my old blue dress?"
Not one whit, he answered, stanch-
ly. "To my mind, no other dress could
suit you so we'll"
ut seems a very shabby thing to be
married in an old dress" she said;
but | have no money of my own. and
my aunt is so angry with me that am
afraid shall have no more dresses un-
til
Until ! buy you some" he inter
rupted That win be delightful"
Violcts mind was greatly relieved;
she felt more blithe and happy than
ever. Very likely she thought to her
self, when she married. if Randolph
were really successful with a picture,
she might have even three dresses at
once almost as many as she had ever
dared contemplate in her whole life
The next day was a duh one for her.
Randolph said that he had business to
attend to i'm town; he must run up for
o day or two, he wanted some fresh
materials for painting and the trades
people made such mistakes, it would
be better for him to go himself
Violet was very unwilling to leave
him. 1t would be duh, she said. Her
aunt was so cross with her, and, If he
went away, what was she to do? Still
it was only for two days; and they
parted with kisses and tears. 1t was
the first time she had shed tears over
him, the first time she had kissed him;
and the young lovers heart was aglow.
He returned with plenty of new ma
terial for work, he said, and happy be-
cause his weddingday was drawing
near.
One morning aunt and niece We're
sitting at the window, Miss Anterior Il
little grimmer than usual.
"The carrier is coming here. Violet"
the latter observed suddenly. What
can he want for the visit of the car
rier was great event at the pretty,
secluded cottage.
He has brought the grocer's parcel,
should think, aunt replied Violet,
why. my dear" cried Miss Ather-
ton. surprised beyond measure, 1t is
@ -two-two large boxes, Do see
what itomeans. and il there Is anything
to pay"
No there was nothing to pay. and
the carrier brought in the boxes. They
We're too large to stand in the entrance
hall. so Miss Atherton ordered them TO
be brought into the dining-room, an in
novatou that caused Violet TO wonder
From London cried Miss Ather-
ton Now. Violet. lose no time.
stay do not cut the cords, they may
be- useful / viii unite them"