Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-05-07


I,inlcy had one instant left in which he
might have drawn back into the library in
time to escape Sydnry's notice lie was in
capable OF the effort of will Grief and slrs-
prusr had druiyr,tlrim of that elastic readi-
ness of miud which springs at once from
Thought 10 action For moment he hr>itat-
vd. In that moment She looked up and saw
hiuL
Ntth taiut cry Of alarm She L., the coax
drop from her hands. As helpless rs hew.t>,
rs silent Us he was She stood rooted to the
spot
lie tried To- control himself Hardly know
Ing what he said he made commonplace eX-
cusfs rs il he had been stranger. Il am
sorry 70 have startled YOU; | had no idea OF
nmbuG yen in this room"
sydney pointed To her cloak ON the floor,
ami To her hat on II chair near il. Under
standing the necessity which had brought
her into the room, he did his best to reconcile
her To the meeting that had followed
ITS relief 10 me 10 have seen YOU" he
said before you leave us"
rtlics to him to see her? Why" How.
" lat did that strange word mean. addressed
To her, She reused herself and put the qucS-
tiuu t. hin.
Its surely better tor me-" he answered,
"to hear the miserable news from YOU than
frout u servant
what miserable naws?' she asked, still rs
pCrpcNcd rs ever.
He could preserve his Srlf-control no long
CT; the misery in him forced its way outward
at him, The couvulsive struggles for breath
which burst from a man in tears shook him
from head ~ foot.
My poor little darlingr' he gaSpcd "My
only childr'
All that was embarrassing in her position
passed from Syduey,s mind in an instant
She stepped close up to him; She laid Grr
hai}d gently and trar.e>>ly ON his arm. On,
Mt lanlcN, what dreadful mistake is this
His aim eyes rested on her with q piteuuS
expression of doaht lie hcarl hcT-and hy
was afraid ~ Neilvve h2l. She was too deep
iy dt stressed too fun of the trueSt pity for
him, ~ wait and think before She spoke.
change that She perceive, in him. How
hou&htlS>S, how cruel 81 me" she said, mot
70 have been more careful in telling you The
good news Hray forgive me"
Yea HoushlcSS, YOU cruclg' At the
bare idea of her speaking In that way of her
self his sense of what he owed To her defed
all restraint lie seized her hands and cuv-
cred them with grateful kisses. Dear Svd-
~ hNsi S''Ni NllN'A
She drew back from him; not abruptly.
not rs if she felt offended. Her fine p,rccp-
ton penetrated the meaning OF those ha1lI-
less kiSSeS-the uncomfortable outhurSt of a
sense IT relief beyond the reach of express
sion in worttS. But she changed the subject.
Mrs linicy (She told HIM had kindly order
Ell fresh horses Ia be uat tn the carriage, so
"1eSl yeSl' she cried. unter the impulse nf
tue moment The dear child knew me
again, the momeat | spike to her. kitty's
recovery Is only matter of time"
tie staggered back with 4 livid change in
ms taee startling to see. The mischief done
ny MIS-. PreSty'S sense of injury had led al
ready 10 serious results Ii the thought in
Lin.ey Mt that momcnt had shaped itself into
words he would have said: And Catherine
never told me otitr' How bitterly he thought
OF the woman who had left him in suspense
how gratefully he felt toward the woman
WHO had ightencd his heart of the heaviest
bnnlen ever laid ON it!''
Innocent of all suspicion of the feeling
that she had aroused Sydney blamed her own
wan. OF discretion as the one cause of the