Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-08-06
ALL FOR THE BEST.

anu ~ Wis W ~ lllt Gnu vi lll NY
bright dreams, Shelah2 Have YOU
only led me on, making me believe You
cared for me, until YOU forced from me
" confession of my love, that you might
add another to your long list Of con
quests? | knew you to be selfish and
proud, but ! did not believe you cap
able Of this. But will not ccnslrc
7ou, If your conscience does not love
lou too well for that"
And the speakers eyes rested with n
loving, plying glance upon the dark,
handsome face by his side.
Shclnh Fortcscuc did not meet this
look, but stood, with downcast eyes
nervously pulling to pieces II gernnium
leaf she had just plicked.
In average faces the power of cx-
preston is pretty evenly divided among
the leading features, but Shelnh Fortos-
cues eyes seemed to monopoIize it, 1t
would have been hard to find IL swceter
mouth when the eyes were smiling; il
would have been difficult to match the
delicate outline ofthe face, or the OK
quisitc chiscling of every feature.
Nothing could be more finished thnn
the contour and pose Of the high-bred
little head, or the wealth Of raven hair
by which il WIS surmornted. But
from I'LL these the attention was with
drawn when the dark, mysterious eyes
flashed upon the spectator II look in
which NIL thor oxprcssional power was
concentrated. Eyes likcthosc might sug-
gest TINT they would express too much
unless they were under n remarkable
control by their owner. But this they
were, for Shclah Fortcscuc could, when
she chose, express more in one gnnce
from those dark, dreamy. eyes thnn
most women would III hnlr IN hours
conversation. But now those eyes were
hnld concealed by the long jet lnshes,
and You could only tell thnt she heard
the deep, impassioncd words addressed
to her by the impatient manner in
which she tossed away the leaf she
held in her hand.
"Shclnh," he said after waiting in
vain for n reply, "can you give me no
hope--no promise that mny serve M II
goal in the race of life2 An, darling,
you, with your cold, proud nature, can
not comprehend how deep and lasting
is my love for you. know | have lit
tic to oller you now in return for the
love nsk, but can You not promise
me that some time IN the future, care
not how far distant that time may hc,
u should bring II nnmc--Ono which
mon honor--to hay ut your feet, you
would then accept my lover know
my life has been one of idlcncss and
folly up to the present time, hut il was
hpnnttJA Hmm, I.,il,,,,,, a., ,l,t.
me to follow the higher and nohlcr
walks Of life, and simply followed
whore my idle inelinuiens led. But
with such n prize rs your love in view,
there is nothing would not do or
dare.
And M he ceased speaking, almost
uneousciou4ly, he attempted Ia take
her hand She drew back hastily. and
for the first time spoke, and her words
came in clear, measured tones, "To
say thnt ! am surprised would but IN
differently express whit ! feel nj this
moment, Elmer When YOU first mem
toned this subject, supposed You
were testing, hut. since YOU have ms.
sumed such tragic style, | must either
think You are really IN earnest or that
you have been east for il disappointed
lovers pnrt-one of the fierce ones, you
known some private thcntriculs, and
that You take this opportunity Of re-
heaNing your part, lf am correct
in my latter surmisc let measure You
TINT, II my criticism is worth ANYTHING.
the piece will he completc success as
fur aS Your acting is concerned -"
And She laughed 4 low, musical
laugh, rs she toyed with chased
gold bracelet upon her shapely wrist
.Shclah, how can you speak SO light
" Of il subject which to mo il the most
serious Of my life? HIS not my un-
firing devotion to YOU for months pnst
been automatic proof Of my lover
YES, Elmer, your attentions have
been somewhat pointed, and ON several
occasions YOU have been uncummonlv
sentimental for ono Of your mattcr.of
fact dispositions; but did not suppose
for n moment that these little bursts of
sentiment would eliminate III anything
more serious than your making love to
me IN u general way, the same MS YOU
did to hundreds Of others. Your love
making seemed to please you, and, ms
It did not materially Inconvenience me,
! felt some comptmcton about dcpriv.
ing you of the pleasure Of occasionally
being sentimental.
But, Shclah, love you madly, de-
yotedly You surely would not wreck
my life by your coquctry, for YOU
know, Sheah, you have given me
every reason to believe you cared for
me.
We'll, il i is Any pleasure for you to
think 10, have no serious objection.
but think enough has boon said on
this subject for us to understand each
other. Suppose W. talk &c something
more interesting.
But, Sheath, will you not
10, once for all must forbid your