Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-11-22

udu uItdueu dll MS lile no Hdu most
successfully avoided-he had not mar
ried for money. To his romantic,
poetical mind and temperament there
was no idea so horrible as that of
marrying for money; it was death to
all that he valued most in this world.
Thank Heaven, he had avoided that
The girl he had found loved him for
himself, and was perfectly ignorant of
the fact that he had money; indeed,
with her passionate hatred of the rich
and noble she would never have mar
ried him had she known exactly what
he was They had been married near
ly nine months, and the conclusion
he came to was this. that his fair
young wife did not love him with the
same passionate and devoted affection
that he gave to her. He must win it.;
that was all.
These thoughts came to him as he
stood on the bridge That same morn
ing he had received letter from his
mother which had startled him and
brought him face TO face with the
sterner realities OF life.
Lady RIVERS had reminded him that
his birthday fell on the 22d of June,
and that on that day he came of age.
1t would soon be at hand and she
wished to know his intentions or
course he would return. He must be
at Ryverswell Relatives, friends,
neighbors, tenants, and dependents,
must be all gathered round him; there
must be balls, dinners, entertainments
of various kinds; in fact, he must do
his duty, and his duty just then would
consist in feasting everybody. It was,
so his mother said, the most important
day of his life; much would be ex-
pected from him. She hoped that
nothing would interfere with his re-
turn.
Lady RIVERS reminded him that she
he'd agreed to the sketching tour very
much against her conscience, and
pursuit that had always been most dis
tasteful to her. She trusted that he
would give himself up to the duties
Of his position, which were onerous
enough. Lady RIVERS added that she
earnestly hoped that he would give his
attention to marriage, the next great
step in his life, a step that would
either make or mar him
"A step / have taken without con-
sulting anyone or anything, except my
own heart" he thought. Yet there
were some very disagreable facts to
face, and the young man grew thought
full as he bent over the foaming river.
He had married to please himself, he
had carried out the romantic idea of
his life; but now difficulties seemed to
surround him. He did not know at all
how his wife would take the revela-
ton Of his secret, and he did not know
what his mother would say when she
found out the story of his marriage.
She had always insisted so much on
his marrying well. How to reconcile
these opposite forces he did not know
The realities of life were pressing him
now, the sweet dream of love and art
must come to an end-but not yet
not just yet
He determined to write to his lady
mother, and tell her that he found it
quite impossible to break off his art
studies just at present, and that the
festivities attending his coming of age
must be deferred for another year.
His mother would be able to make all
needful arrangements, and he would
certainly return at the time specified.
Il am glad you are going to work
again, Randolph" said Violet, when
he told her of his picture, "The Queen
Of the Rhine" II will stand on the
bridge, like the man in the song, as
many hours as you wish. have
thought once or twice that you were
inclined to rest on your laurels in
deed, Randolph, the truth is. you have
done nothing lately but love and care
for me"
Certainly it has been my chief
pleasure as we'll as my chief occupa-
ton, he replied, CALAMITY
Yes; but it does not bring grist to
the mill See how you worked at ST.
Byno's; you were always painting
there"
Dreaming is working with me, he
replied DO you think all those long
hours spent in watching the lights and
shadows the sky and the river, the
rocks and the ruins, are wasted? All,
no, | am storing beautiful pictures in
my mind, An artist studies nature as
a student studies books. | do not
think a man with an artistic mind is
ever idle; thoughts and fancies are al
ways passing through his brain"
Violet kept her word. She was
ready at all times to stand on the
bridge, just in the attitude he wished
o. paint her, and The Queen of the
II line made great progress She won