Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-12-16

| and yet there Was the most delicate
! t1attery in her respectful Difference 20
DIR. Gerrish'S opinions, her evident plea
sure In his society. She sang his favor
| lite songs aud Wore his faVorite colorS;
| and when he WOULD talk 10 her OF his
pursuits, his book i'll progress sue 4eiC
thought worthy of his confidence.
Alterations were being made at Lutt-
reu place, where Mr.. Luttren talked OF
tablishing himself for the future; but
they were not urged forward very
| RAPIDLY. The house and grounds belong
ed to Eloise, being u portion OF her
mothers property beQueathed to her,
and Mr.. Luttren often spoke of going
| abroad again, as if the settling down
at Lutren place was not entirely de-
cided upon.
1t is Well to have the place in ORDER"
he told Eloise. You and Frank may
object TO living i.ere, you know, though
Mis-. Weldon would be model mother
m-law."
| And Eloise had answered only by Il
| burning blush and dropping eyes.
More than once she had met any refer
ence TO that taclt engagement i'll tile
| same way, but Mr.. Luitreu had asked
no questions.
In the fall, they went 10 their own
home, and Frank became daily visitor,
while there was seldom a week passed
when Eloise did not drive over i'll her
pony carriage to call on Mrs. Weldon.
She was unlike the calm, Self-possessed
woman who had returned from Europe,
i'll those days. She was restless and
preoccupled, neglecting her usual pnr
suits, and often shutting herself up IN
her room for hours together, coming out
with red eyes and pale cheeks, but
never speaking of illness or sorrw.
Christmas came and there was a ball
at Weldon Park, which would be follow
ed, it was understood, by similar en-
tertainment at Luttren place on New
Years Eve. 1t was between these two
festivities that Mrs Weldon came, one
day, to visit Eloise.
The dear little woman was terribly
troubled and took her grief to head
quarters. Quite by accident, she had
discovered that her crippled brother
had given his heart to the beautiful
girl who had SO gently won his conf
dence, and the hopeleSsness of his at
tachment was appalling to his Warlll-
hearted sister. 1t was the Strangest
thing to ask, but he did not ask Eloise
to stay away from Weldon park until
after her marriage.
Then my brother and l will go "A.
broad until he is himself again. she
said, and l know you will keep his Sc
cret. You will never let him know i
betrayed his confidence, Eloise!' she
pleaded.
Il will never let him know
He feels the fact Of his poverty and
dcformity So keenly," said Mrs. Wei
don, that he would never dream Of
speaking of his love; but he has true,
noble heart, and il will not be easy for
him ~ conquer the passion he feels.
Poor Stephen. lie has had Il hard
life
cuIllnIenL, ana MIS-. Weldon departed,
only nail satisfied VIII herself. onc
might nave been less 50 nau she heard
u question LIolSe asked frank Il few
hours later. Iuey were discussing The
ban III prospect, when LloISe SaIu:
FRANK, uoul you unnk ulIS farce OF
our engagement n;id better enu! You
VIII never care nal1 lis much IOr me
you do Ior ul;tt pretty May Hilton"
Aud Frank bIus!msiy assenled.
The night of the ball was clear, bril-
liant moonlight, and DR.. Gerrish, who
seldom lett home, astOnlshed his sister
by appearing i'll fun dress just before
the carriage started.
Il am going with YOU he said, but
did not explain that there had reached
him this little note from ElOiSe:
L have Il New Year gift for you, and
beg you will come for it on Wednes-
day evening"
She had never seen him so winning
as ON that evening when, IN one OF her
exquisite Partisan toilets, she received
her friends. Stately as ever, there was
yet soft light i'll her eyes he had never
seen there before, and her voice was
low aud musical, us She gave him. cor
dial greetiDu
and led him to the conservatory, to ask
his opinion OF some new arrangement
there. They We're standing quite alone
among the flowers when Tie church,
clock struck twelve. Silently they count
ed the strokes, and as the last one died
away, DR.. Gerrish took ElOise's hand in
his own, saying i'll d low, tender tone:
May 1 wish you d happy New Year,"
You alone can make it 50. This is
the first hour OF 1S92-leap-year-and
--I-yOu ought to know, stupid
Nobody else was very much aStoniSh-
ed, but Mr.. Luttren went abroad when
DIR. and Mrs. Gerrish took up their
abode at Luttreu Place, just one week
after Frank Weldon brought pretty May
Weldon, nee Hilton, to Weldon Park.
He never would have asked me-
papa" Eloise said, when she confessed
the truth of her proposal to her father;
| land yet he loved me! Was 1 dread
full indiscreet-or unnlaidenly, do you
think, papa?"
And Mr.. Luttrel, laughing heartily,
only said:
Very! But if he is pleased, do not
see why any one should object"
And there was no doubt that DIR.
Gerrish was more than pleased with
! his lately acquired treasure.
| A MAN OF BUSINESS.