Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1914-01-08


Its this lamp house. fellow that has
put the idea into YOU head" quietly
said the lover What will you do in
the city7'
Il shall be stenographer AT SIS per
week Miss Basset pays me SO. and
what is life here?"
Your father and mother-are they
willing?"
Il haven't talked it over with
them yet 1t is none Of your business
10 question me the way you have /
am not going to marry anyone in this
poky old village"
Very well Goodnight"
Mr. Dayton could have argued and
recriminated and advised and threat
ened suicide and violence. but he
walked calmly out OF the house He
could have gone to the girls father
and mother and had his say. but he
didn't approach them. He could have
gone to Miss Basset and begged her
to advise the girl. but he did not go
near her.
Minnie had expected a row over the
parting There had always been row
in every love story she had ever read,
and in her pique and disappointment at
the quiet ending she said to herself:
Roscoe always was poke, and this
proves it,"
The gossips had predicted falling
out, and were waiting for the news. but
there was no news. Roscoe was plan
ming and Minnie was keeping very
quiet. Instead of the Tilted lover hang
ing himself to a sour apple tree, he
dropped into the inn and had look at
and talk with young Barrie He was
a poke of man, Roscoe was, but not
withstanding that drawback he man
aged to size up his rival as closely as
If he had been lawyer from the city.
Miss Basset wouldn't know that Min
ME Long contemplated going away.
Her parents wouldn't know it. No one
in the village would know it, 1t would
be an elopement The couple would
not take a night train from the village
for fear of being seen. Young Barrie
would get livery rig and drive across
the country, distance of ten miles to
another railroad.
Minnie could not get trunk out of
the house, but would take what cloth
ing she could in a suitcase. Young
Barrie would have to settle his bill at
the inn before he left, and there was
only the one livery stable in the village
TO get a rig at Therefore. taking it all
pn m
handle, though the Tilted lover had
constable beside him in the buggy
when he finally took up the trail of the
clippers. They were permitted to get
two miles away from the village when
they were oyertaken.
The first act of the girl was to faint
away.
The first act of young Barrie was to
jump from the vehicle and take to his
heels
He was overtaken and brought back,
and he then discovered that warrant
and pair of handouts awaited him.
The girl recovered from her faint to
hear him laugh and say:
"Oh, I'm caught right enough! She
was fool enough to elope with me- but
| suppose they will call it abduction"
And it probably isn't the first case,''
said the constable
Not by five or six! There are more
fools among the girls than in idiot asy-
lums!"
You were going to get her place
in the city as a stenographer at $15
per week."
She didn't have any more sense
than to believe sol You see she want
ed to get out of the poky village Of
Hinkly and see the world Shed have
seen it, too. if you hadn't overtaken
us!"
The girl heard every word, and she
sobbed in her throat The man she
had Tilted climbed into the buggy be-
side her and drove slowly back to the
village
You must get into your house and
your room without awakening your
parents" he said. You must get up
at the usual hour and go to your place.
You must say no word of this to any
one. You have been foolish, but 1t
was not too late"
1t was long weeks after this when
she saw Roscoe egain. Then it was In
response to a note in which she asked:
"Can poke of a man find it in his
heart to forgive fool of a girl?"
"Of course he can-that's what
poke of man is fort" was the prompt
answer.
And the gossips of Hinkly never
heard a word of the incident!
Copyright. 1913, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndcate)
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