Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-02-12
felt the current turn more strongly against

hillside, Wnere ne was occupied In
sketching the broad and glowing interval
He was smoking, and was entirely a
ease in his loose garments, while Nassau
in black, stood erect, at short speaking
distance.
II had hoped" said the latter, after ex-
planning in few words the object of his
visit, "that / could persuade you to regard
this matter from my standpoint. l should
like to discuss the subject with you, fol-
we could then see clear, i think. 1t is a
little complex at present, and no doubt
we could each explain enough to permit
us to act more intelligently. I suppose
you admit that you love Miss Wey
mouth ?"
admit its No, do not admit it."
"Sir?"
~ do not admit it, l assert it."
Willis, in spite of himself, showed a
little heat The other retained his out
ward composure, though his blood boiled
within him. He did not speak until he
felt that he could trust himself.
"Let me go over the ground" said he,
gently; "let me make little review
You came in upon our party of three
and found that Miss Weymouth and / en-
tertained regard for each other, and that
on my part at least, there was strong and
earnest affection. There had been no pos.
tive engagement to marry made between
us, and you seemed to feel that the alb
sence of any such bond gave you right
TO interpose your own claims-claims
that sprang into existence too suddenly to
be valid. That is, it seems so TO me-"
Willis laughed, but his cigar went out
Nassau continued:
"You and / are men of very different
temperament. You are man of i'm
pulse, and / am man of deliberation
You are powerful, vigorous, athletic, and
man of the world; | am student. In
order that our natures shall be satisfied
it will be necessary that we each secure
the affection of one suited to them. dc
not say that you are blameworthy fol
what you have done, and neither do adj
nit that | am. l merely insist that thai
delicate, sensitive, and thoughtful CIR
should not be subjected to the risk of en-
tanglement in marriage with the one Of
us two that is unfit for her. Which one
of us is the unfit one he himself must de
eide, and think. in plain words, that he
in the name of all honor and manliness
must feel bound to withdraw"
'That is vcry fairly put" said thu
other, refiectively.
"Then--then you will consider it,"
"Consider it? Certainly. And l sup
pose you will"
Certainly l shall. But the trial tina
one of us must be put to will be severe
one"
eyes, undoubtedly" returned Willis
calmly. II was about to say that my
self"
The two men exchanged glances. Mas
sau, trained to the task of commanding
himself, felt that to say more would bt
dangerous Still he forced a smile into
his anxious face.
II will not ruin your pretty picture
there by interrupting you any further,
said he. II will 60 on and take my
walk"
every well, and will go on with my
painting"
"And-and," added the rector, stepping
| away down the slope, 1--WE agree to thinl
| the matter over, do we?"
Eyes, we agree to think the matte
over" replied Willis.
Another week passed by. In it Willis
showed no mercy to Nassau. He opened
his ports, as it were, and declared himsel
| to all who cared to see
With his strong voice, erect and ener
! getic bearing and glowing eye he habit
ually over-rode the simpler and gentlel
man, and yet he gave no cause for an out
break Where Nassau would have beer
| content to sit in quiet beside his swee
mistress, Willis talked graceful sentiment
| Where Nassau would have pondered anc
have answered gravely, Willis had some
thing decisive to say. Nassau was salts
| fed to avoid prominence in manner anc
language, but Willis always appeared II
! the van, and beside each other they wer,
as gray and crimson.
Alice now forebore TO speak witt
Nassau. His pain became insupportable
| Willis still laughed and sang, and his gay
voice and handsome presence still filled
the eyes Of the father.
Finally, Alice fled from the garder
when Nassau, one afternoon, suddenly
entered it. The escape was precipitate
yet, as she disappeared, she turned full
upon him gaze of indescribable mean
ing.
Nassau's soul rose in arms.
Then he went to search for Willis. HI
was intent upon making one more appea
| TO him.
He fastened first to the old domicile.
| He found no one there. 1t seemed tina
| Willis had gone into the woods an houl
before with his easel and boxes.
"Well, but is not the doctor In hi
studys"
mo, sir; he is in the lower garden.
heard him say that he was going ovel
near the White Hill Pit to see If there
were any trees there that he could trans
plant"
"But Miss Alicey"
"Sbe has gone out, too, sir. She ha'
gone tor walk, think"
"Aloney"
eyes, sir, alone. She asked me IN
which direction her father had gone, ant
she followed him"
"And is she well to.day?"
"She is pale-very pale"
Here there was pause.
Then Nassau inquired for the direction
that Willis had taken.
He went in the direction OF the Whit
Hill, too, sir. think he told Miss Alice
yesterday that there was cliff there tina
he wanted to paint"
Nassau departed on his search. III
walked for an hour. Still he found ne
traces of the man he sought, or, indeed
| of either of the three.