Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-10-18


thought and feeling to speak; but last
night scarcely closed my eyes, and
think see some things | never saw be-
fore. The idea carae TO me-not from
anything she said, mind you-that if
you had asked her the same question
the answer would have been very diff
ferent."
Il. nv dear fellowln exclaimed st.
Lawrence, the blood flushing hrs cheeks
and brow, and his heart throbbing with
an emotion that in its intensity was
pain. ''Are you dreaming?o
When Douglas left Bertha Dalton
the previous evening he had guessed
her secret. as she had feared he would;
but he left with a generous resolve to
bring these two he so thoroughly loved
and valued together. AS he said, he
not slept. for not only did he feel
his own disappointment keenly, but it
was with many a bitter and jealous
pang that ne made up his mind to
stand on one side that his friend might
be happy. He did make up his mind.
however. He had told Bertha that, if
she would not have him for husband,
she should have him for a brother; and,
after all. if st. Lawrence and Bertha
loved each other, he could not keep
them apart, even if he had the will. and
it was better to help than to hinder
better to keep warm place IN their af-
fections if he could not hold the first
where he wished. So, after tossing
about through restless and wretched
night, he came to his friend before his
resolution failed.
No" he replied to st. Lawrence's
question, Il am going to make clean
breast of it. l think l blinded myself
when we were with Bertha together. l
have seen the bushes rise to her sweet
face and the light come into her eyes,
and tried to hope it was for me; but L
see now | was mistaken. Wen. per-
hapS, as you have sometimes told me, L
am not intended for married man; but
if Bertha would have had me, would
have tried to make her happy, Heaven
knows" He ended with sob, leaning
his head down on his crossed arms.
II am sure You would, dear boy" said
st. Lawrence. And | know what 1t
must have cost you to say what you
have told me just now. DO not talk OF
it any more, unless it does you good to
speak out. | am in desperately idle
vein, and going to take a long ride;
come with me-dOn't go and NOPE at
home"
II don't know; it's scarcely worth
the trouble" Douglas replied, raising
his head.
NAY, come" st. Lawrence urged
"come for my sake, if you will not for
your own"
"WeIl, as you will, douglas rejoined,
languidly rising from his seat and TAX
ing his hat. Il may as well go as stay,
and stay as 90, for anything | see.
Hang it all, it has been blow to me! |
suppose a fellow doesn't get over this
sort of thing all at once"
mo" said st. Lawrence, placing his
hand on his friends shoulder; Il think
if it were my case | should never get
over it. But you are naturally more
buoyant, Douglas; have more hope for
YOU"
(Which means l am a shallower
mortal" Douglas commented, with the
ghost of a smile. And | am afraid
she thinks so too"
THAT is not what I intended" re-
turned st. Lawrence; ''yOu know 1t IS
not. Don't | know your warmth of
heart? Haven't you stuck by me
through good report and evil reportt
Haven't you believed in me when no one
else did? Don't you think me a callous
brute, Douglas"
II believed in you because ! couldn't
help it." acknowledged Douglas. well,
if we are to go, let us be off; 1t Is
sitting here. What do you purpOSe?"
ITO take the train to Epsom." said
st. Lawrence, as they descended the
stairs, hire the horses we've had be-
fore if we can get them, and take a long
stretch out through the country. We
can dine somewhere while we put up
the nags, and return in the evening""
''Oh, hang the dinner!" Grid Douglas.
THAT was not always your creed, old
fellow" st. Lawrence said, smiling.
"Do you remember dragging me off to
dine one day after the promenade in the
Botanical Gardens, when | would have
said Hang the dinnerP just as you do
now?"
"Ah, that was where we met Bertha, u
observed Douglas "HoW you were
taken with Lena thenl"
Because / didn't see below the sur
face" st. Lawrence explained. THAT
fancy was soon over"
Douglas looked in his friends face
wistfully, as if he lOnged to question
him; but, thinking better of it, he
smOthered sigh, and walked on in ST.
lence \ crowded London thorough
fare was not favorable to much CONVEX
SatiOn of confidential kind, nor was a
railway carriage, and but little more
passed till they arrived at EPSON,
where they were fortunate to secure
the horses they wanted. Turning their
heads southwark. they soon found them
selves pursuing the course of the Mole,
through the lovely scenery amongst the
Surrey Hills.
What change from the heat and
dust of London! Instead of bricks and
mortar. there were wooded uplandS and
verdant meadows, and lanes shaded by
magnificent trees yet i'll their full glory,
and bOrdered by tangled hCdgerOwS,
were punches of blackberrieS. scarlet
hips, white cOnvulvuluS, and wild Gle
mats We're growing in sweet confusion,
the river flowing plaCidly, dark with the
reflection of OyeThanging foliage, water
lily leaves sleeping ON its surface. In
stead of the tramping of feet, the rat
Ting of vehicles and the many-vOiced
hum Of the worlds tOilerS. there were
the song OF birds, the tinkling sheep
bell, and the lowing of cattle. All
breathed of peace. Nature was Won
derful comforter. and the two eques-
trians, each with his own burden of
care, found it lightened and more easy
to be borne.
They were approaching a village, the
church Spre just visible above the
trees, when they noticed a pretty cot
tage standing back in small garden.
and partly concealed from the road by
high laurel hedge. A Virginia creep
er, now turning crimson, covered the
front. and several fine trees formed a
leafy background.
What charming snuggeryi' eX-
claimed st. Lawrence. "If the worst,
think | shall bury myself in such a place
as that" and forget the world and its
evil doings."
But not alone" said Douglas, with
pang of uncomfortable jealousy.
"Oh, | don't know; we needn't settle
that now st. Lawrence replied, eva
sively, anxious to save his friend from
pain.
As he spoke, two persons emerged
from the porch of the cottage. and came
down the path to the gate. One was a
handsome, dark-compleXioned, snowy
looking woman; the other, a rather I'M
dersiZed man with dark hair and whis-
kers, his appearance being that of a
servant out of livery.
''Be sure to tell him he must come at
once" said the lady, as the TRENDS
walked their horses past.
The man touched his hat with an af-
'irmative answer, and then walked
away toward the railway station. The
lady returned up the path to the cot
tage.
st. Lawrence and Douglas looked at
each other in establishment.
Can be mistaken" said the former.
Il was startled at first, " Douglas OBJ
served; but [ think our eyes must
have deceived us