Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-10-29
ONE TRUE HEART.
~ MRS. E. BURKE COLLINS

in the morning sunshine, her beautiful
face full of eager expectancy.
slight childish figure in white cash
mere morning, the masses of her nut
brown hair worn low at the back of the
head in a soft loose knot, great red rose
in one small white hand.
She has paused upon the landing to
pluck the rose from the uplifted gilded
basket held by marble Flora, and
which is kept replenished always.
All about the girl are warmth, light and
color.
A lovely home this mansion, which is
the property of her guardian, Arthur
Dnsmore.
Isca has lived here ever since she came
home from school, some two years prev
ious finished" young lady cut
loose from all bonds and ties of girlhood
and school days.
Rich and beautiful, hers seems an en-
viable existence stretching out beyond
her in the untried future.
An orphan her fortune had been well
invested and guarded by Arthur Dins-
more, who stands in the position of coun
selor and best friend to the lonely little
girl.
lie has never married; but his widowed
sister, Mrs, Lyell, superintends his house
and makes a homo for Isca.
She comes slowly down the stairs, a
light in her beautiful brown eyes, which
deepens and brightens at the sight of her
guardian.
Tall, dark and grave, Arthur Dinsmore
stands at the foot of the stairs to receive
her
Good morning, ma petite" he cries
highly, but his eyes hold deeper mean
ing than his words. so this is your
birthday, and to night is your birthday
ball!'
She smiles sweotly as she returns his
morning greeting.
Eyes i am twenty years old to-day"
she says gayly. Il begin to feel the
weighs of years. And what II ball it is
going to be, to be sure!"
He smiles.
Heaven grant that your whole life may
DO as cloudlcss rs now" he says very ten
DERBY.
"No. guardio" the girls eyes are up
lifted to his own, a solemn light in their
depths pray rather that 1 may be en-
nblcd to bear my burdens bravely, wheth-
err there be clouds or sunshine. Pray
that | may always have one true friend in
whom to trust one true heart"
"Amcn!" he snys forventIy
That night is gala night a red letter
night in the annals OF the neighbor-
hood.
Tho DnsmOrc mansion stands upon n
Rloping hillside not far from Il big bust
ling city, and the inmates cnjoy the pleas
ures of both city spd country life.
IsCa Arlington Is as proud as she is
lovely She has been reared in an atmos-
phere of pride, and she puts great faith
in an unsullied family name, long lineage,
aud illustrious ancestors.
Her father had died five years previous;
her mGther was drowned at sea, when Isca
was but babo.
The name of Arlington stands among
the ,irst i'll tho land
Tonight at her birthday ball. she is
lovely beyond compare.
All in white, a costly robe of lace like
fairies handiwork, with pearls about her
white throat and arms, and in the masses
of soft brown hair, dressed in becoming
fashion.
Arthur Dlnsmort soon her promenad
ing down the long vista of brilliantly
lighted rooms leaning on tho arm of Leo
Grosvenor, the son of a wealthy and
arstocratic banker from the ncighboring
city.
4 strange wistful expression steals into
Dnsmoros dusky eyes.
How handsome they are that we'll
matched pair.
Lee Grosvenor, slight and graceful, with
his blonde smiling, high bred face; n
naughty face it is, for the Grosvenors
are among the first iii the land,
Arthur Dinsmore checks little sigh
that hover near his lips, and turns quiet
ly away, look of patience growing in
his eyes.
1T is we'll, +" he says softly To himself
"Sho is So fair and young, and life lies
before her full of glorious possibilities.
| am old old compared with hc~ for she
is twenty and thirty five But ah! | won
der if he will ever love her rs do?
| wonder if his love would stand the test
of clouds and adversely. If his will prove
the one true heart on which To lean of
which she spoke To me this morning -
Daring lsca if she were to dream of my
secret, would she turn from me-my
proud dainty durlings"
Yet he looks stately and handsome as
he stands Watching her, whirling now
through the sweet Mon Rcve" waltz her
partner LeeG rosvenor.
Her eyes are full of sweet light as they
meet the blue eyes heut upen her face,
and the long eye lashes drop in confu-
sion.
The music now snbs itself into silence
and Lee Grosvenor, bending his
handsome, blonde head, says pleading
ly.
LET Us go into the conservatory. Miss
lsoa. It is 50 cool and very refreshing
there"
She knows what is coming. and that
he is leading her hither for some pur-
pose.
She Intends to let him sp.ak, but her
throhhiug heart Is not half certain of its
answer.
There Is n haunting look in pair of
deep, dark eyes which follow her in mem
DRY always; She can not shut ont that
look of reproach.
She seats herself upon silken divan,
aud Lee Grosvenor proceeds to tell his
story.
1t is done and Isca Arlington has been
asked in marriage by one of the proud
est haughtlest, most exclusive men of the
great city, a man who can excuse sin and
coudonc crime sooner than any accident
of birth or fortune.
Her eyes droop, aud she lifts them to his
face with sudden resolution, and scarcely
hAoNS hSFStll why Sho MAKES TINS uneI-
pccted reply;
Give me until to morrow Mr.. Grosven-
or, really, have thought so little upon
the subject Of marriage and your words
brighten me"
He presses his mustached lips upon the
soft, white hand.
Il will wait until to morrow for my an
swer," he says passionately. Heaven
grant, my peerless darling, that may be
yesH
And then the music walls forth again,
and Iscn remembers that she is to waltz
with her guardian, aud shS rises with
alacrity.
They have crossed the threshold of the
conservatory; the music is surging far
away in distant room, but the apart
ment into which the conservatory opens
is thronged with gay guests.
Just as the two emerge from the atmos-
phere OF flowers and FLASHING fountains,
there is subdued hustle in the entrance
hall of the house; moment later a wo-
man makes her way past the gaping, ter
rified servants into the long, bright, bril-
liant drawing room. 4 gaunt, wild eyed
woman with a hard face, bearing the
marks of dissipation; she wears a battered
gown and n gaudy, faded shawl, while a
tawdry bonnet ia pushed back from her