Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-01-16

man, easily; land he needn't have cut
up so rough about it. / was failure,
of course. but l couldn't help it; and.
after all. / had a real good time in spite
of everything. and enjoyed myself when
there down to the ground
Il am glad of that" saws Mona. nice
~, as he pauses merely through a de-
sire for breath, not from desire for
silence.
Il had, really. There was one fellow,
a perfect giant,-Terry O'Flynn was his
name,-and be and | were awful chums.
| We used to 90 shooting together every
| day. and got on capitally. He was a
farmers son, ard a very respectable
sort of man. | gave him my watch
| when | was coming away, and he was
! quite pleased. They don't have much
| watches. by the bye, the lower classes.
! 40 bhey?7'
At this Mona breaks into sweet but
| ringing laugh. that makes Lady Rodney
| lwho is growing sleepy, and, therefore,
| irritable) turn, and fix upon her cold.
reproving glance.
Geoffrey, too. raises his head and
| smiles, IN sympathy with his wife's
| burst of merrimtnt, as does Miss Oar
| ling. who stops her conversation with
| Sir Nicholas to listen 70 it.
What are You talking abOut?" asks
Godfrey, joining Mona aud her com
| panion.
How could l help laughing" says
| Mona. Mr.. Darling has just expressed
surprise at the fact that the Irish peas
/ antry do not as rule possess watches"
| Then suddenly her whole face changes
| from gavety to extreme sorrow. "Alasl
| poor soulSi" she says, mournfully, "they
| don't, as a rule, have even meatl"
well, noticed that. too. There did
seem TO be great scarcity of that raw
material" answers Darling, lightly
| Yet they are a fine race, i'll spite of it.
| ] am going over again to see my friend
| Terry before very long. lie is the most
| amusing fellow, downright brilliant.
Yes, think the happiest days | knew
over there were spent with Terry. 1t
was rather sell, though. having no
| real adventure, particularly as | had
promised one not only to myself but to
my friends when starting for Paddy
| land. | beg your pardon thousand
times! Ireland, l mean"
| Il don't mind" says Mona. 1--WE are
| Paddles. of course"
Il wish | was one.7 says Mr.. Darling,
with considerable effnsjon. Il envy
the people who can claim nationality
with YOU I'd be a Paddy myself to-
morrow if | could, for that one reason"
what funny boy you are" says
Mona, with little laugh.
| 80 they all tell me- And of course
| what every one says is true. We're
bound to be friends, aren't WEI" rattles
on Darling, pleasantly. Our mutual
love for Erin should be bond between
US"
II hope we shall be; I am sure we
shall" returns Mona. quickly. 1t is
| sweet to her to find possible friend III
this alien land. ''What a strange name
| yours is!-Nolly."
| "Well 7 wasn't exactly born So" ex-
plains Mr.. Darling, frankly; 'Ohver Is
my name. | rather fancy my own name
| do you know; it is uncommon. at all
events. One don't hear it called round
| every corner, and it reminds one of that
bold, bad man. the Protector. But
they shouldn't have left out the Crom-
| well. That would have been a finishing
stroke. To hear ones self announced
as Oliver Cromwell Darling in public
room would have been as good as q
small fortune"
Better" says Mona, laughing gayly,
Eyes, really, you know. I'm in ear
nest" declares Mr.. Darling, laughing
| too. He is quite delighted with Mona.
| To find his path through life strewn
with people who will laugh with him
or even at him, is his idea of perfect
| bliss. So he chatters on to her until
| bed-hOur coming, and candles being
| forced into notice, he is at length
obliged to tear himself away from her
| and follow the men into the smoking
room.
| Here he lays his hands on Godfrey
s'By Jove. you know. you've about
| done it, he says, beStOWing upon Geof-
frey's shoulder friendly pat that rath-
er takes the breath out of that young
| mans body. "Gave you credit for
| more common 81 nSe. Why, such pro-
ceedng as this is downright folly. You
| are bound to pay for your fun, you
know, sooner or later"
Sir" says Mr.. Rodney, taking no
notice of this preamble, Il shall trouble
you to explain what yOu mean by re-
| ducing an inoffenSive shoulder blade to
| powder"
BEG pardon, I'm sure" says Molly,
absently. "But''-with sudden interest
do you know what you have done?
You have married the prettiest woman
in England"
II haven't" says Godfrey.
| ''You have" says Molly.
81 tell you | have not, says Godfrey.
'Nothing of the sort. You are wool
| gathering"
Good graciousl he cant mean that
| he is tired of her already" eXclaims
Mr.. Darling. in an audible aside. That
| would be too much even for our tines
At this Godfrey gives way to mirth.
| He and Darling are virtually alone, as
Nicholas and Captain Rodney are talk
ing earnestly about the impending law
suit in a distant corner.
my dear fellow, you have over
worked your BRAIN" he says, ironically.
"Y GU don't understand me. l am not
tired of her. l shall never cease to bless
the day saw her,"-this with great
earnestneSs-"but you say have mar
ried the handsomest woman in England,
and she is not English at ALL"
''Oh, well, what's the odds?" says
| Molly. whether she is French, or
English, Irish or German, she has just
sweetest ways. You've done an awful
Y dangerous thing. You will be Mrs.
Rodney's husband in no time,-nothing
else, and you positively won't know
| yourself in year after. Individuality
lost. Name gone. Nothing left but
| your four bones. You will be quite
thankful for them, even, after bit"
"You terrify me, " says Godfrey, with
grimacc. You think, then, that
Mona is pretty? I'm tremendously glad
you like her."
"Don'tr' says Darling, weakly
"Don't put it in that light. It's too
feeble. If you said was madly in love
with your wife you would be nearer the
mark, as insanity touches on it.
| haven't felt so badly in years. 1t is
right down unIucky for me, this meet
ing with Mrs. Rodney"
''Poor Mona.' says Godfrey; don't
| tell her about it, as remorse may sadden
her"
Look here" says Mr.. Darling, ''just
try one of these, do. They are South
| American cigarettes, and nearly as
strong as the real thing, and quite bet
ter; they are a new brand. Try 'em;
they'll quite set you up"
Give me one, Molly" says Sir Mich
olas, rousing from his reverie.
ITO be Col.tinued]