Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-12-12

tary and walked to the window
The afternoon sun cast a daz-
cling light on the first snowfall,
and above the clang of the cable cars
| sounded the faint Jingle OF the sleigh
bells on the boulevard.
B1ttoning his overcoat to the throat,
he strobe down the mosaic corridor,
past the brass cages behind which the
bank clerks were casting G days
accounts. and threw open me door,
whose curtains had been tightly drawn.
| AS he stood on the threshold pleased
! light came into his shrewd gray eyes.
Round the corner, with clink of silver
chains and jingle of bells swept his fav-
orite team of blacks The present Mrs.
Shepard was most considerate OF her
husbands wishes and tastes, Sleigh
| ing was one Of the bankers keenest
| pleasures, and she remembered the fact,
But as the horses stopped before the
bank Mr. Shepard noticed the absence
of his big English coachman. tall
square shouldered figure sprang out and
tossed back the fur robes. then waved
familiar greeting to the man on the
| step. 1t was Reginald.
Come on. father, for a dash on the
Ever DOus Gut
Where is James," inquired Shepard
as he climbed into the cutter.
Eat the stables | thought-we
might have the first ride of the sea-
son together
If the elder Shepard had not heen
SO absorbed in studying the set of the
new harness. he might have observed
in his sons voice all anxious note and
in the adjustment of the robes more
than ordinary filial solicitude.
Once on the boulevard, beyond bust
ness traffic and cable cars. he might
also have looked here and there on
dull brownstone houses whose rentals
flowed into the Shepard Golfers. When
the avenue rose sheer above the waters
edge, he might have looked across the
stream to his large holdings in the
Palisades. from which, it was predicted
the city would eventually draw its wat
er supply.
But he was not thinking of these
things. A faraway look came into his
eyes, and he paid no heed to his son S
occasional comments on passing We
hicles until finally Reginald found what
comfort he could in his own thoughts.
Amos Shepard sat with his arms
folded, studying with unseeing eyes
the scenery spreading out before them.
Instead Of towering cliffs and stately
mansions, he saw a stretch of midwest
prairies broken by rail fences and low
farmhouses. The blooded trotters We're
transformed into a patient gray mare
drawing high box seieigh. The robe
was flannel lined bufIalo skin. and
But did that matter She was at his
side, and with lips stiff partly from cold
and partly from fear that he was ask
ing more than she could give he framed
the momentous question
And that thrilling word of three let
ters which seemed to change his whole
life-lt carried him away from the old
farm to the busy city above the river,
where he meant to make name for
himself and wealthy for Kitty. 1t was
much harder than he had anticipated
He was almost ready to give up and
return to the farm when she wrote that
she thought she could help him, amt
she was such a dainty, fragile Kitty
After she came it was easier. 1t was
Kitty's encouragement and good advice
that smoothed out many a business
wrinkle. just as her soft hand rubbed
away the frowns and the headaches
at night
BY aud by her hands were less soft
for the work became heavier when
babies arrived And when, after he
had achieved his first little success.
came the panic to sweep everything be-
fore it Kitty's wise head planned the
foundations for the new work and Kit
TVS small economies ennobled by her
great love. maze the upward climb
easier He could see her now making
red flannel mittens for Reggie and the
wee checked pinafores she sewed for
Kathie under the green shaded lamp.
He drew in his breath quickly The