Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-11-21

bolt upright on their huge launches,
are the dogs. as though bent on guard
ing her against all evil. She reminds
Godfrey in some wise of Una and the
lion. though the idea is rather far
fetched, and he hardly dares speak to
her lest he shall break the spell that
seems to lie upon her.
She herself destroys it presently.
This spot always brings to my mind
the thoughts of other people, saws
Mona, softly. Il am very fond of poet
ry; are your"
VERY" returns he, surprised. He
has not thought of her as one versed in
lore of any kind. ''What poets do you
PREFER"
Il have read so few she says, visit
fully, and with hesitation. Then. shy
ly,'' have so few to read. l have a
Longfellow, and a Shakespeare, and
Byron; that is all"
t.Byron?n
les. ana AFTER Shakespeare, I like
him the best, and then Longfellow-
Why do you speak in that tone? Don't
you like him?''
Il think like no poet half so well.
You mistake me" replies he, ashamed
of his own surprise at her preference
for his lordship beneath the calm purity
of her eyes. "But-only-its seemed TO
me Longfellow would be more suited to
you"
well, so 1 do love him. And just
then | was thinking of him: when |
looked up to the sky his words came
back to me. You remember what he
says about the moon rising over the
pallid sea and the silvery mist of the
meadows, and how
"SilentIy, one by one, in the infinite meadows
Blossomcd the lovely stars, the forget-me-
nots of the angels"
THAT is so sweet, l think"
Il remember it. and remember, too,
who watched all that; do you!' he asks,
his eyes fixed upon hers.
Yes; Gabriel-poor Gabriel II and
Evangeline, returns She, too wrapt up
in recollectionS of that sad and touch
ing tale to take to heart his meaning:
MEANWHILE apart. i'll the twilight gloom of q
windows cmbrasure,
Sat the lovers, and whispered together"
That is the part you mean, is it not? !
know all that poem very nearly 10y
heart"
He is a little disappointed by the
calmncss of her answer.
Yes; it was of them | thought" he
says, turning his head away. of the
lovers. [ wonder if their evening was
as lovely as o,uS.,'
Mona makes no reply.
Have you ever read Shelley" he
asks, presently, puzzled by the extreme
serenity of her manner.
She shakes her head.
Some of his ideas are lovely. You
would like his poetry, think"
What does he say about the mOon?'
asks Mona, still with her knees in her
embrace, ;Iild without lifting Ger eyes
from the quiet waters down below.
About the moon? Oh, many things.
| was not thinking of the moon,o with
faint lmpatlence; yet, as you ask me,
| can remember one thing he says about
it,
''Then tell it to me-" saws Mona.
So at her bidding he repeats the lines
slowly, and in his best manner, which
is very good:
1.-THE cold, chaste moon, the queen of heavens
bright isles,
Who makes all beautiful on which she smiles;
That wandering shrine of soft yet icy flame,
Which ever is transformed, yet still the same,
And warns, but not illUmines.'"
He finishes; but. to his amaZement,
and a good deal to his chagrin, on look
ing at Mona he finds she is wreathed in
SmileS-nay, is in fact, C0HyulSed in
laughter.
''What is amusing your" asks he,
tritie stiffiy. To give way to recita-
tiOn, and then find your listener in ago
MES of suppressed mirth is not exactly
situation one would banker after.
1t was the last line" says Mona, in
explanation, clearly ashamed of herself,
yet unable wholly to subdue her merri-
ment. ''1t reminded me SO much of
that speech about tea, that they always
use at temperance meetings; they call
it the beverage that cheers but not in,
ebriates.' You said that warns but
not illumineS,' and it sounded exactly
like it. Don't you see?"
He dOeSG't see.
You aren't angry, are you?" SAYS
Mona, now really contrite. II couldn't
help it, and it 'rnS like it, you know"
Angry? no." he says, recovering HIM
self, as he notices the penitence on the
face appraised to his.
And do say it is like it." says Mona,
entreatingly.
'EIt is, the image of it," returns he,
prepared to swear to anything she may
propose. And then he laughs too,
which pleases her, as it proves he no
longer bears in mind her evil deed: after
which, feeling she still owes him some
thing, she suddenly intimates to him
that he may sit down on the grass close
DeSlu6 ntG- lie seems TO ma no dill
Guilty in swiftly following up this hint,
and is soon seated as close to her as
circumstances will allow.
But ON this picture, the beauty of
which is undeniable, Mickey (the bar
barian) looks with diSfavOr.
If he's goin' to squat there for the
night an see livery prospect of il"
says Mickey to himSelf-"what on
airth'S gOin' to become of me?n
Now Mickey'S idea of ''raal grand"
scenery is the kitchen fire. Bays and
rocks and moonlight, and such like com
fortress stuff, would be designated by
him as all my eye an Betty Martini
lie would consider the blueSt water
that ever rolled a poor thing if compared
to the water that boiled in the big ket-
tie, and sadly inferior to such cold wa
ter as might contain ''dhrOp of the
craythur.' So no wonder he views with
dSmay Mr.. Rodney'S evident intention
of spending another half hour or so on
the top of Carrickdhuve.
Patience has its limits. Mickey's
limit comes quickly. When five more
minutes have passed. and the two in his
charge still make no sign, he coughs re-
spectfully but very loudly behind his
hand. He waits in anxious hope for
the result of this telling maneuyer, but
not the fainteSt notice is taken of it.
Both Mona and Geotfrey are deaf to the
pathetic appeal sent straight from his
bronchial tul1s.
TO be continued.