Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-03-09

i maven nau time 10 form any plan.
trust, indeed, that Heaven will help us, as
you rather lightly wisheds
! His face wore a touching look of faith and
resignation, while at the same time his hand
rested with secret satisfaction upon his pocket
book
The conversation was disagreeable to
George, and he sauntered off to the draw
ing-room.
Mrs Norcross inwar6ly determined to re-
turn to her home, or at least to go elsewhere
in the city, so as not to be burden to her
brother-in-law; but she remained silent Mr..
Norcross balanced his knife, sliced his bread
into figures, then hummed and beat tattoo
upon the table-sure indications of forget
fulness in one so scrupulous as he. Atlength,
with bland voice, but a sharp, inauiring
eye, he said
"How is it about this painter, Irenes Are
you going to marry HING
She looked fixedly, as she replied
"Why do you ask You know 1 am going
to marry him.
''Oh, it's settled, is its You know, sister,
you have had similar intentions before-sev-
eral times, in fact-intentions that haven't
come to much.n
She did not answer further; flush of
anger came, then went, leaving her pale face
with rather stern expression.
while was prosperous, / was not dis
posed to be mercenary; though 1 did think
you were not worldly-wise. Now that am
destitute, you can see that to marry a man
not worth a dollar, and with a precarious
i profession. is not what it would have BEEN"
"Mr. Oakhurst earns good income, doesn't
her
HE hasn't sold a picture, except to friends
whom persuaded to buy"
"You have friends and influence stin?"
II don't know; a mans friends don't last
long after his money is gone. Besides, no
| body wants to buy now. Raphael himsslf
| couldn't sell picture here tin times improve.
| A painter is pretty butterfly for fine
| weather; what is he to do with his fimsy
wings in such a hurricane as thisa"
u think 1 understand you, Brother Will
| lam. You begin afar off; but 1 know what
you are coming to. You want to bring up
that odious Cotton agatha man whom
hate, and whom you yourself would show
out OF doors, like vagrant, if it were not
| for his money!"
| The effort exhausted her. and she breathed
painfully.
"You think yourself quick. 1 haven't
mentioned Cotton. In fact. you have treated
him in such way that am quite sure he
| would never trouble himself to be even civil
| to you again.
al am glad of 1.-THE fool"
"Sister Irene, l have borne much from
your turbulent temper. You are a spoiled
| child. Fortune has let you have your own
way hitherto; so much the worse for you.
But circumstances have changed. can no
longer supply you as though you were a
| duchess. In fact, don't know what may be
before us. hope no actual want. EAnother
| grip of the pocket-book.l But 1 advise you
to consider whether it is for the interest of q
dependent woman to go out of her way to
thwart and insult men
| "You would compel me, then, and threaten
starvation as the siternative."
| what odiously blunt language you useln
| 81 only translated your roundabout phrases
as understood Them
| "You need not be Violent
| "You cannot cajole me by soft words,
| when your purposes are so obvious You
think Cotton may save the wreck Of your
fortune; and you are willing to sacrifice me,
if he were ten times the brute he is, to further
your ends But shall marry bathurst"
"Oakhurst will be a powerful protectori
doubt if he can raise money enough to pay
the clergyman for marrying you. He will
| pc q Ia uAOhbu, II He Is nC'
now. Go to him, Sister Irene. l would
| now. You can live in his attic studio, you
know. In such a romantic place you would
never be hungry, of course"
Mrs Norcross interposed.
"Don't, Williami This is not the way"
Hene's eyes flashed through her tears, as
| she answered -
"You say you are ruined-that the house
and furniture must go. How much better
off shall be herea'
"Well, you have your choice"
1And when the time comes I snsa take il. >
Sobs and tears followed, but her lips were
firm and her hands clenched.
"As you please, sister"
"You come home ill-tempered, and the rag,
which you could not or dared not give vent
to in the street you pour out here"
perhaps you would have been pleased if
had not come home at all?"
I'm sure we should have been quite a.
happy without you"
every well. / may leave you, yeti
81 don't care how soon."
New sobs and firmer pressure Of the lips
Oddly enough, at that moment Mr.. Nor
cross was summoned to the drawing-room
where a man was waiting for him. Fearfu
Of the result, he went to his own room, ant
ieIU Tue pieClouS pOChet-pOoh. anu tueu uc
scended to the hall.
Notwithstanding the words she had Spoken
Irene waited with breathless anxiety hel
brothers return; for the sound Of voices, il
earnest, if not angry, conversation, ros.
through the house. Presently he came bacl
with look his face seldom wore-a fierc,
look that transformed his handsome feature.
to fiend's.
"You have your wish, Sister Irene, "-anc
the words were shot out like fiery arrows
II am to leave you and 90 to Jail"
ITO jail?" exclaimed both at once, in ter
ror.
"Yes-to jail. Gratifying to you, sup
pose. IT'S to me-very."
"What is the meaning of thisg" asked Mrs
Norcross.
at means, that one of my creditors pro
tends to believe that am about to ahscond
and has had me arrested, that may Civ,
bail not to run away with an empty pocket.
Cant you get outr'
"Some time, undoubtedly; but not till
give bail"
"For how much!"
Twenty thousand dollars"
HCan't you get some one to become securi
tyw
Il don't know. Perhaps 1 might get Oak
hursti"
Irene WINGED, but did not answer the taunt
"Good-bye, my dear and independent sis
teri"
Irene turned her back upon him, con
founded between sorrow and resentment.
Crowding his hat over his eyes, Mr.. Nor
cross left his house and went with the office
towards police headquarters.
aGone to jail" exclaimed George. return
ing. "How doosid AWKWARD What jolly
WOW it will make when it gets about town
By gwacious, if you aren't cwying! Go t.
bed, both of you; I'll 60 to the club"
He went accordingly, and the women
who could i'll console each other, were abou
to 20 to their own rooms when the door-bel
rang again.
"What next, l wonderr asked Irene, IL
despair.
sPlease, Ma,am," said the servant. Sthere'
a man at the door, who looks quare, and say
if he can't see Mr.. Norcross he must see you
sTell him / am nl-and besides, dom
transact my brothers business"
@Yes'm.n
But she soon returned with a new message
The man would not 60 Mrs. Norcros a
once went to the hall TO learn what was tn
matter, leaving Irene trembling in ever.
limb. The conversation was not carried OF
in whispers; in fact. Irene heard every word