Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-09-12

calm, ripe woman; and for such per-
son, Bernard Clinton had conceived,
what he believed to be, and undying
passion.
The weeks following her lovers
dismissal were full of disquiet an! un.
satisfied longings for Violet Dare.
Conscious that she had done right
and acted wisely, she tried 10 be con
tent, but when over and over again the
young man sought to weaken her de
cision, the contest became most un
equal one. Her sense ofright and ut
ness, arrayed against his persuasions
and the uncomfortable love OF heI
own heart. Was it strange then, thai
one cherries winter evening, wher
she was not quite her own strong self
and when the longing for love and
society had grown unbearable, tha
she yielded to the spell of his presence
and The allurements of his words ane
permitted HIM to place plain b2nc
Of gold upon her haudl
On the happy, delicious days that
followed all through the budding
spring-time.
"Oh, DIR. Clintonl guess who is
coming. She will be here this evening
Her letter was shockingly delayed.
But yoa have not guessed"
Really, Miss MoIlle, | am no Yam
kee; can not guess"
Well, Of coarse you have not
nea ID much about her; but Eli wager
you will be thoroughly acquainted
before her visit Is ended. Her name
is Grace Rodgers, and she is perfectly
splendid"
Indeed one of the 'graces,' Eh2'
He smiled and barely suppressed a
yawn of Indifference. What were all
the chits of school girls in the world
10 him2
Mollie Marsh, his landlady's daugh-
ter just home from the State Normal,
danced gayly into her mothers pres
ence. 8 am going to make match
between DR.. Clinton and Oracle, just
see if | don't"
Why, child, he is already engaged
to that handsome Dare woman, they
say"
Bother the Dare woman Iwould
not give much for that anc,ent's
chances wnen once he sees Grace r ID
gers"
Mollie kGenly eyed the young physi-
clan as he, rather critically, scanned
her friends face and figure at their
first meeting But there was nothing
il his look TO Indicate that he was
particularly struck with the round,
pink and white face, big black eyes or
small plump form before him. La fact,
he really believed himself utterly in.
capable Of best0 wing thought upon
other than his peerless atIianced.
Mollie privately gave her friend full
particulars of the circumstances anu
minute directions for procedure
Wont it be ful to cut the old lady
out, laughed Grace entering into the
plan with great gusto, for, in truth,
she was more pleased than she cared
TO own with the merry, good tempered
doctor
Mollie proved herself a frst-class
general, and in less than Il fortnight
had secured standing invitation
for Miss Rodgers" to occupy a seat
in the doctors buggy when ever she
choose.
Grace Rogers was an only child and
completed spoiled. WIllful and way
ward, her weak parents made no effort
to curb her. But she understood her
self well enough to cover her imper-
fections with a mask of child like in
nocence, when her own selfish graft
fcaLion demanded it, The result was
that the susceptible young man soon
found himself looking forward with
undue eagerness to their long, pleas
ant rides together, and wondered
how he had ever endured their tedium.
or late, he had found less time and
inclination to visit Violet, though his
excuses seemed valid.
GossIpS soon carried their poisonous
seed and scattered it in the peaceful
home at The Bend.
Disguised, yet 10th to believe i'll of
her idol, Violet mounted her favorite
pony and set off for brisk canter
over the hills. AS the soft winds
famed her burning brow they seemed
to sweep away her fears. "No. | will
not diShonor him with doubts" she
said as she Slackened her horses pace
and rode leisurely down a quiet road
Once more happy thoughts filled her
mind, and SO absorbed was she that
the sound Of wheels on the gravelly
highway did not arrest her attention
until almost face to face with the oc
Cupints of carriage. She smiled and
pronounced the words, "A charming
day, DR. Clinton without even a
change of color, but no sooner were
they out of sight than she urged her
pony to his utmost speed aud soon
hid her sad, white face, and terribly
aching heart within the privacy OF
ter own chamber.
"Who was that beautiful lady2'
asked Grace Rogers as she noted her
companions embarrassment and an
noyauce.
Miss Dare" was the curt reply.
The name was familiar to the girl and
for the first time she realized that hers
was no mean rival.
That evening Dr. Clinton called at
The Bend, but the old servant handed
him small, white Envelope, and in,
formed him that her mistress was in
disposed
'IndisposeGr to meet me-" he re
tiected as he rode slowly homeward.
He saw it all now. His own culp-
able weakness in becoming infatuated
with a shallow, designing, flirt. for,
now that the scales had fallen from
his eyes, he could plainlt see that he
cared nothing, absolutely nothing for
Grace Rodgers. The envelope con
tanned hrS ring and the one word
Free" When he again sought her
presence, he was informed that she
had gone away Tor the Summer and
had left no message.
Il can live without her if she can
without me, was the mduniA decls-
ion, though his heart cried out against
it.
With a sort of reckless Indifference
TO consequences he plunged into Il
desperate Irritation with the triumph
ant Grace, which ended as hundreds
Of such tllrtations do.
"Oh! you have come az last have
you5 1t does seem to me as if | were
IN your place l could not neglect my
family 50. Here | am IN far worse
than most of your patients,
aud yet anyone, especially II it be a
gets more time and attention
than l do.
Nonsense! Grace, you are nervous,