Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-01-05
A BRAVE DEED.


of Scarborough; and as that small but
busting town had reputation among
its neighbors for lovely lasses, the dis
tinction was great one.
In figure, the girl was somewhat
small and slight; but in features she
had attained almost to perfection, both
of outline and tint.
She had lofty, well-proportioncd
brow around which rippled waves of
curly hair.
She had eyes of dreamy blue,
cheeks just sufficiently tinged with
delicate carmlne to thIoT into relief
the pearly wilderness of her teeth.
The worst Of it was she knew she
was handsome, and this knowledge
spoiled her.
Ada was the only child of wealthy
Scarborough manufacturer, and added
to her other charms was that of being
Il considerable heirsss.
Naturally she had of suitors not a
few.
But ladies Clara We're de We're can
exist III much lower circles than that
Of the poets faulty heroine. and Ada
Cariit had caught the vice Of proud
coqnetry.
She relished her power over sus-
ceptible hearts, and did her best to eI-
tend it,
The breath of homage was life to
her.
She led her wooers gently on till the
tolls were all around them, and then,
of II suadcn, they foMnd an alpable
and i,npassible barrier erected; and
Ada's smiles were reserv d for new
comCrs.
1t WAS an amusement, half the zost
OF being, To her; she never wasted an
anxious thought on what it 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, who
in appearance and manners WAS GER
tainly at u disadvantage with those
whom he quickly came to consider
his rivals.
Roger HerlestOne was twO-and-twen-
ty; but his thick,set, Lurly figure made
him look years older.
He was heavy in feature. uncertain
in movement ana awnrk ward in adj
dress.
As the nephew of Mrs. Marston, Of
Marston q Marsh, cotton-mill owners,
his prospects were very good.
Rut he knowledge of this fact some
how failed to give the needed solf-con.
fidence.
Boger's many plumbers made him to
large extent the butt of his male &C.
quaintancc, and it was probably this
that caused Ada Cartit, out of sheer
opposition, to treat him with marked
favor.
Philip Dare, the lawyer, had likened
Rogers to he proverbial "bu'l in the
china shop" and Philip Dare should
he made to bite his lip with vexa'ion
at her Difference to the despised one.
But once again she was kind only to
be cruel.
81 cannot tell whether she cares for
me, or whether she does not" said
Roger tIerlestono to his younger broth.
or, Martin sometimes | think one
thing, and sometimes another. But
this am sure Of, she is all the world
to me-"
"Thon I'd ask her, old fellow"
-but-she mas always SO many
around her. Adr Carlit is the queen
of large circle, and i"
Have been the best of sons, the
best of brothers, and | have no doubt
would make the best uf husbands"
And L." SAID Roger, resumine
slowly, and paying no heed to this en-
thusiastic praise, Fam rough and
homCly man, who has almost as good
right to dream of becoming Prime
Minister rs of winning such wife"
Nonsense, Roger Don't be so un.
necessarily modest. You are Just as
good as she, and the girl must know
it,"
"Then," and the elders tone chang
ed suddenly; ON put it to the test
and see. If Ada refuses me, it will be
Just another dream dispelled, and ]
shall face the worst"
The opportunity soon came.
The two were thrown much together
at n summer picnic party, and some
mahSn genius made Ada more thar
ever gracious.
II seemed to her that she had sue.
ceCded in thswing the ice OF her ad
mirer's awkwardness, and the studied
compliments he paid her swoke the
gleam of a sunny, satisfied smile.
Sho little expected tho Commotiou
that was working beneath the surface
They had wandered out of sight and
hearing OF the rest, on pretence ot
examining some curiously shaped
rocks.
"How still the air is, under the sun =
said Ada, stopping ut low fence that
crossed the hillside.
For moment her companion did
not answer, ana she cast a casual
glance upwards ut his face.
What Ada saw there made her start
and slightly shiver.
'Ges," he said, with a 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 10 a turning point, too
Miss Cartit, and l mus; break the still
ness by very important question.
Can you not guess what that is-the
story have TO tell, Miss Cartit-Ada?'
mo, no. We had better return, |
think. We shall be lost, Mr.. Herle-
stone"
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;
II 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 seenitl Can you
love me back again, however little? VIII
you come day be my wife?"
His words were coming swiftly
enough now. and his beseeching eyes
emphasized their truth.
The man was transformed, and q
faint response of admiration was raised
in the girls heart.
But he was-could be-no more thar
others she had rejected.