Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1906-02-15
The
TQcfleScnerr
Of Me
BY INA WRIGHT HANSON
Copyright, 1905, by P. c. EeS,nes.

at home will exchange the most cordial
pleasantries If they chance TO meet
abroad In cogniZance Of this law of
nature l was more than ordinarily de-
lighted to see Miss Alice Ruybottom of
California enter n railway train. 1t
wasn't that Miss Ruybottom and had
only bowling acquaintance. In truth.
we had had great deal more than
that. Operas, balls. teas, picnics, ex-
cursons by land and water, walks,
talks and drives we had enjoyed them
all together. expecting so TO continue
TO the end of our lives. But one day,
rs we stood looking over the pictures
hanging for prize in the Mark Henry
art rooms, among which was one Of
Alice's. she suddenly tore my ring from
her finger threw il at me, burst into
tears and ftd. crying ont that She
hoped she would never see me again
am naturally a proud man and, not
being able 70 perceive any reason for
her actions, took her at her word and
sailed that night for Europe. The year
of my absence had dragged woefully,
and | came home. All the while ,lGhat-
ing whether ! should seek her again or
whether | should let pride dominate
love. Now. fate seemed to have given
poor love chance. so with some little
trepilation | went forward and stood
at her seat
Good afternoon Miss Ruybottom."
| said politely.
She looked up. her face tremulous
with bushes. " ny, Joe" she ex-
claimed How glad am to sec YOU!
DO sit down"
sat down, my heart throbbing with
happiness. | was about to hurt it Mi
out ut once-my longing for her and
my delight ut being with her again
when my eye Glanced to fall Oh her
suit ease. In great glarilg letters /
read, Mrs. Or. Arbogaste.'
received two separate individual
shocks-th first that she was denied TO
me forever. The second that her charac
ter had lost something Of its sweet sim
plicity to allow Of her proclaiming her
self as Mrs Doctor"
1911 | II hIiif>iltihi il'Nt We pptAi
peneG TO get this trainE she said, her
sweet face still pink Il remembered
that your mother lives around here
somewhere. ! suppose you are visiting
her"
bowed assent ! couldn't trust my
voice just yet
Il am visiting. too, but am going
to sec No IS. don't think | could
stand many more relatives
I must have proved Il sorry conversa-
tionalist, bur Alice didn't seem TO no
tice. SHE chatted in her charming way,
her voice thrilling me as of old. her per-
sonality sending delightful zigyags of
feeling all over me, but through. it all
was tasting the bitter fact that she be
onged TO another
Alice ] said at last, nov that it IS
too late to repair mistakes. it probably
won't he any good for you TO tell me
why you threw me of so suddenly that
day in the Mark Henry. but it would be
of considerable satisfaction to me TO
know"
You said YOU thought | should win
prize, for it was the poorest collection
Of pictures you had seen for long
while
| meditated We'll" acknowledged.
sit was an Ambiguous sentence. But
why should You have chosen to take the
uncomplimentary meaning? You ought
TO have known me well enough to know
that | wouldn't have Intentionally hurt
your feelings. | meant ii all right"
Il know ! acted very foolshly, Joe,
but was tired and nervous. and that
speech was only the last Of many. AS
look back they seem uuimportant
enough but really, at the time you
kept me in nervous strain wondering
what You would say next. Do you re-
member the time you had mentioned
some Mrs Newrich whom you had met
and | asked you what she was like?
You answered, oh, the kind OF woman
that you would expect to see wearing
purple bonnet and red waist "
Il have some faint remembrance Of
some pheasant occurrence over the
remaIh but
WHY, Aunt kachel was present, and
her fayorite combination OF colors is
red ana purple Don't you remember
her Scathiug rejoiudert"
Too ocil | remembered it, SO that
was is-my peuchant for saying the
wrong Thing IN the right place or the
right t-1g in the wrong place. join
cd wcfuly IN Alice's melodious l5ugh-
ter and kicked suTcptitiously at the
suit Sc.
III that unsightly object is in your
way" remarked Alice sweetly. "sct 1t
in the aisle. ! don't know where the
owner IS. but as | didn't see any other
unoccupied scat ] ventured to take
this"
and you are not Mrs. Dr. Arbo-
CASTER said stupidity.
NO, nor Mrs Anybody Else. But
where is your wife, From what ym
said | Inferred"
why, grille. I'm not married |
mean TO be, though II the sweetest girl
In the world viii have me. Alice. I've
changed. really have I'm older now
and have gained swads Of tact. Alice.
viii YOU try me again?"
! was talking To tho bncl- pf h.r ,p.t