Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-03-08
BERTHA M. CLAY.


me.
If he had though the matter over foi
months, he could not have said any
thing more likely to answer his pur-
pose than that all the love, the fiat
terry, the eloquence, was as nothing
compared to those magical words. he
saw the fair, girlsh face flush, and he
knew they had taken effect,
Miss Digby not like you?' she ques-
toned, slowly, Are you sure Of that?
How do you know lt?"
Il know it by instinct" he replied;
II cannot explain more fully
| He knew that in her own mind she
was saying to herself that she, Ethel
| Gordon, would like him, il only out of
| opposition to Helen Digby; yet he was
too wise and too wary to pursue the
subject
My idea is that we cannot control
our likes and dislkes,' he added, but
that they are instructive. | see some
persons, and my heart goes out TO them
with a warmth OF friendliness which
words are weak to express; | see
others, and do not even like them, but
shun them If can.
She was looking intently at him.
Il am glad you say so. she observed;
my experience is the same find
that, Il at first | take a dislike to any
one, seldom overcome it,"
He would not let her see how great
was his curiosity about everything con
nected with her. He was longing to
know why she was there, how 1t was
that she was associated with Miss
Digby, to what family OF Gordons she
belonged; but all these things, he said
to himself, he must learn by degrees
He pointed to the pretty harebells
growing at her feet.
DO you know the legend attached to
these Gowers?" he asked
NO have not heard it,
1T Is said that in the depths OF each
OF these little bells fairy resides, and
on quiet moonlight nights each little
ELF leaves its home. and that together
they will ring their bells with pecu-
liar chime. 1t is said that travellers in
the woods have heard the sweet, faint,
fairy music, and have wondered what
4 1t was
| Her face frightened, and the golden
| light deepened in her eyes
I III Is so long since ! have heard any
pretty legends she said; tell me
some more"
His memory must have been well
I stored with many quaint and graceful
fable. He told her German legends Of
/ The dark forests, and of the spirits who
/ live In the grand old trees of the eff
king who rides on the uight-wind OF
/ the water-spirits who dwell in the
streams; he told her many a fair leg
end OF Grecian lore. of the daphne and
narrissus, of the byaciuth and the rose
stories that took her Imagination
captive and charmed the artistic. beau
/ ty-loyjng mind She forgot that he was
a stranger, she sat with clasped hands
looking into his face, drinking in each
word as IL fell from his lips
You must De a poet said the girl.
simply, and for a moment an express
sion that she could not understand
crossed his face Was It regret. re-
morse pity, or hestltlor2 She could
not tell, and almost as soon rs she had
noticed a. if was gopp
~ am not a poet Miss Gordon. but I
admire poetry, and these old legends
have always had great charm for me.
You judge me too fayorably am a
man OF the world not a poet"
She repeated the words after him.
"A man OF the world that means a
man clever and shrcwd in judgment.
quick versatile. and accomplished.
does /. uot' she asked.
Viewed layorably yes he replied.
But There is one thing. Miss Gordon.
which makes every man a poet for the
time
What Is that'' she asked.
Love FOR o fair and noble woman.
Love ls poetry: tt is che one grand
passion of "a mans life, jt rpdurs. soft
gus and makes beautiful the hardes,
natures
WA. must 10 DO 90 q poete" SHE
'Fa"d Dim, wIl1 q blush aud 81 soIe
'a haWIlcred him.
.t 1's mis- hnr SD entirely ina 1t