Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1908-05-28

TO expect OF my nance. 1 nave bebu mere
at my aunts for three days as | inform
ed you in my letter before LETT home.
and you have not given the slightest sign
of my existence.
1t may be that / expect too much OF
the man whom have promised to many
but If such IS the case | am satisfied that
my unreasonable demands on your time
and attention would make us both miscr-
able.
| beg 10 return your ring. with many
thanks for the honor; also your lettegs.
the scarab and the set of coral you ssEA
me from Naples. Very cordially yours.
NINA DORRINGTON.
Nina threw down her pen and walk
ed to the window of Che darkenlns
room. The library was frigid, and tns
girl shivered as she pulled aside tha
curtain. It was showing hard, and the
wind had piled the feathery stuff IL
huge mounds. obliterating steps ana
curbstones. A small boy headed HE
way through the storm, looking in vain
for the numbers on the houses.
Nina opened the door herself aud
called him. Then. giving him careful
directions about the package and let
ter, she paid him handsomely and
watched the tot in blue uniform trudge
down the avenue with the remnants Of
her happiness under his arm.
She stood an instant in the hallway.
Then. realizing that her chill was most
IT, ply she sang for lights aud
went upstairs. The door of her aunts
room was partly open, and the rudy
glow of the log fire tempted her TO
enter. The mound of shawlS and rugs
on the couch in the corner indicated
that the worthy lady had not Weakened
from her afternoon nap.
Nina sat down on a hassock and
gazed into the fire. Now that she had
taken such radical step doubts be-
gan to torment her Had she been i'm
patient Should she have waited
little longer? Indignation gradually
gave way to self pity, and tears rolled
down her cheeks
"Niua. is that YOU? What is the
matter. dear: Are you sicEf'
She Jumped up quickly and dashed
tie tears from her eyes, but the room
was dark, and her aunt could not see
lcr face
NO. indeed. Not sick, only cold,
dear The house is like ice, ana il
looked so warm and coy in here
came in TO drcal for n few minutes
before dressing for dinner"
"Oh. dear ii must be the new fur
mace, Nina! It has not worked prop
arly since your uncle had it put in
yyr,,,I1 ,-y.,, mimi ..,Itinr. tbnu, tyn NOW
before you dress? There's dear
Leave word for them to send some one
the first thing in the morning.
'What is the name Of the firm|
Let me see. Van Norton & Hemp
hill believe, Yes, that is it, | am
sure"
why, that is Towards firm" said
Nina unsteadily.
rs that so? Mercy, child that draft
is unbearable! Please hurry and close
the door"
Hello"
Hello. Is that Van Norton & Hemp
hilrs?'
Yes"
Her heart leaped The voice was
Towards. she was sure SO she lad
been right, after all. He was hack.
His only possible excuse was nil But
he would find her note and package
when he got home.
This is the residence of Mr.. J. Lam
bert Brown, Fifueth street"
Every well. l have it, thank you"
Yes, it was Howard. She could
scarcely speak,
THE house-tha is-the furnace is
that is to say-oh!" She shivered
and started dctermlnedly all over
again Hello Is that Van Norton &
Hemphlrs"
Yes this is the same place" in an
amused tone. rs there anything / can
do for you madame
"The house is freezing, The new fur
mace is not working right at ALL Please
send man the first thing in the morn
ing to fix it. I-we--I am so cold now
can hardly talk" 4
Hearing a subdued laugh, she snap
ned up the receiver. The idea! Then ii
occurred TO her that he likely would
not dream it was she. There were SO
many Browns I'm town. besides, she
thought bitterly, he had evidently for
gotten al about the address she had
sent him. ,
Tie small lace handkerchief refused
to absorb any more moisture. and a
great stamping in the vesdbule an
nounced the arrival of her uncle. Nina
flew TO the icy solitude of her room
and after doctoring her tear stained
Textures with cold water and talcum
managed to get into some evening
clothes plus q warm opera cloak in
time for dinner.
That night she slept very little. one
minute she blamed herself for being so
Drcripitate the next She raDrnacbed
him for his seeming indifference. She
bad been SO sure he would hurry 10 her
the minute be got her letter. but his
boat had been On three days and etiu
no sign from him.
st last she fell asleep. 1t seemed 10
her that she had been doing lust a
minute when she was awakened bv a
violent hammeriug iii her room. she
sat up in bed and shiyered The vim
dow pane above the shutters was stin