Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-11-02

you good husband; indeed I would L
am well off; though, of course that Is
nothing; and if you don't like New Zea-
land, would give it up and go to live IN
England. Do you think that you can take
me? If you only knew how dearly L love
you, am sure you would.
Augusta collected her wits as well as
she could. The man evidently did love
her; there was no doubling the sincerity of
his words, and she liked him, and he was
gentleman. If she married him, there
would be an end of all her worries and
troubles, and she could rest contentedly
on his strong arm. Woman, even gifted
woman, Is not made to fight the world
with her own hand. and the prospect had
allurements But while she thought Eus-
tace Nelson's bonny face rose before her
eyes, and as it did so faint feeling Of re-
pulsion to the man who was pleading with
her took form and color in her breast.
Eustace MeeSon, of course, was nothing to
her; no word Or sign of affection had passed
between them, and the probability was
that she would never set her eyes upon
him again. And yet that face rose up be-
tween her and this man who was pleading
at her side, Many women, likely enough,
have seen some such vision from the past
and have disregarded it, only to find too
late that that which is thrust aside is not
necessarily hidden; for alas! those faces of
our departed youth have an uncanny trick
of rising from the tomb of our forgetful-
ness. But Augusta was not of the great
order of OpportunistS. Because a thing
| might be convenient, it did not according
to the dictates of her moral sense follow
that it was lawful. Therefore, she was
woman to be respected. For woman
who, except under most exceptional cir
| cumstances, gives her instincts the lie in
order to pander to her convenience, or her
desire for wealth and social ease, is not al
| together woman to be respected.
In a very few seconds she had made up
her mind.
81 am very much obliged to you, Mr..
Tombey," she said; you have done me a
great honor, the greatest honor a man can
do to woman; but | cannot marry you"
Are you sure?" gasped the unfortunate
Tombey for his hopes had been high. us
| there no hope for me? Perhaps there is
| somebody else?"
''There is nobody else, Mr. Tombey; and,
| am sorry to say, you don't know how
much it pains me to say it, l cannot hold
| out any prospect that L shall change my
| mind'
He dropped his head upon his hands for
| q minute, and then lifted it again.
Every WELL" he said slowly; lit can't be
| helped. l never loved any woman before,
and 1 never shall again. 1t is a pity
| with hard, little laugh)-"that so much
| first-class affection should be wasted.
| But, there you are; it is all part and parcel
| of the pleasant experiences which make
| up our lives Goodbye, Miss Smithers; at
| least, goodbye rs friend"
1--WE can still be friends" she faltered.
"Oh, no." he answered, with another
| laugh; 'that is an exploded notion. Friend
| ship of that nature is not very safe under
| any circumstances. Certainly not under
| these The relationship is antagonistic to
| the facts of life, and they, or one or other
| of them, Will drift either into Indifference
| and dislike, Or-sOmething warmer. You
| are novelist, Miss Smithers; perhaps
some day you will write book to explain
| why people fall in love where their affec-
| tior is not wanted, and what purpose their
distress can possibly serve. And row,
| once more, good-byer' and he lifted her
! hand to his lips and gently kissed it, and
then with a bow turned and went.
From all of which il will be clearly seen
| that Mr.. TOmbey was decidedly young
man above the average, and one who took
! punishment very well. Augusta looked
| after him, sighed deeply, and even wiped
| away a tear. Then she turned and walked
| aft, to where Lady HOlmhurst was sitting
| enjoying the balmy southern air, through
which the great ship was rushing with
| outspread sails like some huge white bird,
| and chatting to the Captain. As she came
| up, the Captain made his bow and depart
! DI-iD tI,,+ bo hoI ri to to
| and for Il minute Lady HOimhurst and Au-
| gusta were left alone
| ''Well, Augusta?" said Lady Holmhurst,
for she called her Augusta" now.
well, Lady Holmhurst?" said Augusta.
| And what have you done with that
| young man, Mr.. TombeY-that very nice
young mani" she added with emphasis
| 81 think that Mr.. Tombey went for
ward" said Augusta
The two women looked at each other,
and, wOmanlike, each understood what
the other meant. Lady Holmhurst had
not been altogether innocent in the Tom
hey affair
Lady Holmhurst," said Augusta, tax
ing the bull by the horns, Mr. Tombey
has been speaking to me and has"
Proposed to You, " suggested Lady Holm
hurst, admiring the Southern Cross
through her eyeglasses. you said he
| went forward, you know"
Has proposed to me-" answered, Au-
! gusta, ignoring the little joke Il regret"
she went on hurriediy, that l have not
been able to fall in with Mr. Tombey's
| plans"
"Ah.' said Lady Holmhurst, 81 am sorry
for some things. Mr.. Tombey is such a
very nice young man and so very gentle
manlike. thought that perhaps it might
! suit your views, and it would have SIM
| plitied your future arrangements. But az
| TO that, of course, while you are in New
Zealand, | shall be able to see 10 that By
! the way, it is understood that you come to
! stay with us for n few months at Govern
ment House before you hunt up your cous-
| in"
you are very good to me- Lady Holm
hurst" said Augusta, with something like
| u sob.
Suppose, my dear" answered the great
lady, laying her little hand upon Angus
ta's beautiful hair, that You were to drop
the Lady lIOlmhurst' and call me Bessie?
1t sounds so much more sociable you
know, and besides it is shorter and does
not waste so much breath"
Then Augusta sobbed outright, for her
nerves were shaken. You don't know
what your kindness means to me-" she
| said. II have never had a friend and
since my darling died I have been so very
lonely!'
CHAPTER yII-THE CATASTROPHE.
An CO