Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-01-19
A BRAVE DEED.

In figure the girl was somewhat tai
and slight, but in feature she attained
almost to perfection, both OF outline
and of tint.
She had lofty, well-proportioned
brow, around which rippled rlcn waves
of auburn hair.
she had eyes of dreamy blue, cheeks
lust sufficiently tinged with delicate
carmine to throw into relief the pearly
wilderness Of her teeth.
The worst of it was she knew that she
was beautiful, and the knowledge
spoiled her. =,
Ada was the only child of wealthy
Scarborough manufacturer, and added
IN her other charms that OF being a
very considerable heiress.
Naturally she had OF sultors not
few.
But Ladies Clara We're de We're car
exist in much lower circles than thai
of the poets faulty heroine, and Ada
Carfit had caught the vice of a PROUD
coquetry.
She reiished her power over suscept.
BILE hearts, and did her best to extend
il.
The breath Of homage was life To
her.
She led her wooers gently On till the
tolls were all around them, and then 81
sudden they found an impalpabiee,
impossible barrier erected, ana Adaa
smiles were for new corners.
II was an amusement, half the zeSt
of being, to her; she never wasted an
anxious thought on what 1t might
mean to her victims.
Men were strong and must protect
themselves.
The last to enter the charmed circle
had been youth from the north, VINO
in appearance and manner was GER
tainiy at n disadvantage with those
whom he quickly came to consider bis
rivalg.
Robert Herleslone was twenty. two;
but his thick-set, burly figure, and his
abundance Of beard made him look
years older.
He was heavy in feature, uncertain
movement and awkward in address.
As the nephew of Mr.. Marston, Of
Marston Il Marsh, cotton-mill owners,
his prospects were very good.
Bat the knowledge Of this somehow
failed to give him the needed self-con-
iidence.
Rogers many blunders made MIN
to large extent the butt of his male
aCquaintances, and it was probably
this that caused Ada Carht, out of
sheer opposition, to treat him with
marked favor.
Philip Dare, lawyer, had likened
Roger to the proverbial "bull i'll a
chinashop;" and Philip dare should
be made to bite his lip with vexaiion
ut her Difference to the despised one.
But once again she WAS kind only to
be cruel.
81 cannot tell whether she cares for
mo or not, said Roger Hcrlestone to
his younger brother, Martin. "Somc-
times | think one thing and some
times another. But this / am sure of,
she is all the world to me-"
"Thcn I'd ask her, old fellow"
"But-but-she has always so many
round her. Ada Carfit is the queen of
IL large circle, and ="
"Have been the best of sons, the
best of brothers, and | have no doubt,
would make the best of husbands"
"And |, :" said Roger, resuming slow
ly, and paying no heed to this enthu-
siastic praise, "am II rough and homelv
man, who has almost rs good Il right
to dream of becoming Prime Minister
as of winning such wife"
Nonsense, Roger Dou't be so I'M
necessarily modest. You are lust AS
good M she, and the girl must know
it,"
"rhon," and the elders tone chang
ed suddenly; III put it to test and see.
If Ada refuses me, it will be lust
another dream dispelled, and | shall
face the worst"
The opportunity soon came.
The two were thrown much together
Mt u summer picnic party, and some
maIign genius made Ada more than
ever gracious.
II seemed to her that she had sue.
cocdcd III thNwing tie ice of her adj
mlrers awkwardness, and the studied
compliments he paid her awoke the
gleam Of sunny, satisfied smile,
She little suspected the commo.
ton that waR working beneath the sur.
face.
They had wandered out of sight
and hearing of the rest, on prete nee
of examining some curiously shaped
rocks.
"How still the aig is, under the sun,"
said Ada, stopping mt low fence that
crossed the hillside.
For moment her companion did
not answer, and she cast casual glance
upwards nj his face.
" hat Ada saw there made her start
and slightly SILVER.
YES he said. with hoarse and
mighty effort, "this is just the turn of
the seasons, and this hush is FREQUENT
and very suggestive then. You and |
have come TO turning-point too, Miss
Carfit, and must break the stilleess
by very important question. Can
you not guess what that is-the story I
have to tell. Miss Carfit-Ada? ?"
mo, no. We had better return. |
think. We shall be lost, Mr.. Herle-
stonc.'
Ada was keeping her composure
wonderfully, and she hoped by this
coldly spoken hint the confession she
feared might be averted.
She did not know the speaker.
Wait an instant, Ada Roger cried,
abandoning the last shelter of reserve;
Il have this to tell, that you are more
to me than anyone else in the wide
world can ever be. | love you, Ada
surely you must have OWNED it
Can you love me back again, however
little? Will you some day be my
wiie?"
His words were coming swiftly
enough now, and his besesching ewes
emphasized their truth.
The man was transformed, and q
faint response of admiration was raised
in the girls heart.
But he waS-could he-no more than
others she had rejected.
This triumph she was used to, and
gloried in; though usually ehe had
been better on her guard, and had
stopped the deluded one before this
stage was reached.
II am sorry, Mr.. Herlestone, you
have said such things she replied; Il
thought you were above romance
That Is partly why l trusted you. You
seemed 500 sensible"
1T must surely be a sign of that to
admire and to love"
Pray don't, Mr.. Herlestone. II is
sll q mistake, assure YOU"
"A mistake that you can ever care
for me?"