Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-08-11
ElRE'S ACQUlllAL.
By Helen b. Mathers.
p ~ II
tCOIIIinued.)


lCuutinued.)
ssThen please God he lives" he said
slowly, rs he turned away, looking on
~ iii eyes ut the sunny glades
....4ows beyond
He can swim miles" said the girl, ;
little restlessly; "lnd there are deser
islands, a"c there not, at sea-
Major Methuen shuddered- perhaps
at the thought of a man being 50 cas-
away perhaps thinking Of a lost sou
III he'll could not suffer such torture
as must be Mr.. Eyre's portion, living
solitary with such Il secret us he held
locked in his breast for sole company
by night and day? Something in his
averted look, his attitude, perhaps the
fear against which she has 50 stub
bornly fought, suddenly pierced her
and she stepped noiselcssly TO her OLD
seat her face to the tree, all her high
courage gone ut Il breath.
50 he saw her when he turned, and
thought her unconscious, as he had
seen her mother once, III u short, sharp
season Of bitter misery; and his voice
was harsh with pain rs he knccled be
side her, crying out, under his breath,
20, my little one my dear, my dear
She heard him, and turned.
why DO yol pity me" She said
''Do not do that till we are sure that
he is dead. Then you may pity me-
as you might have pitied my mother
if she had lost him.
A feeling Of joWerlcssness overcamc
the man who heard her Here was the
stanch devotion Of the older Madcap
over again, that Mr.. Eyre himself alone
could break or that higher Power who
Keeps Il niche
In Heaven to hold orr idols. albeit
That our close kisses should impair
their white.
How long shall have to wait be.
fore there is Il message from him.
she said, standing up. If it will be
More than y few days, | cannot bear
it. But he will be as quick as he can. y
- Her eyes wandered around, and she
sccmem fora moment or two to listen
70 the frivolous Interruptions, that had
the past time, the hum of insects, the
birds cries, the low mGtitudinous
sounds that swell the forest life Then
suddenly she stretched out her hands
and trcmbIcd in every limb
IF it is true" She said, father .
father. and it is through your care
and love am living now. always
NJ
There, cry" said Major Mcthucn. as
the slow tears dropped through her
fingers. Cry as hard as you can. my
poor, poor little soul"
No" She Slid, looking up, Il will
not. It is like making sure that he is
dead. If-of but | will not think Of
ii. And there is noune to comfort :.
he will be sorry now that he did not
love him more. But it was kind of
you to come and tell me" she added
looking 1T her companion as if from
Il great way off. only do not think
you are sorry about father; and YOU
might forgive him. now that you think
he is dead" =.
For awhile he did not answer her,
then he said, slowly, AZ one out of
whom the words are Wrun%
IF my wishing could bring him back.
he should be here; if the sacrifice of
my life could make your happiness.
Madcap, | would give it-for your
rothcrs sake and yours, and since
neither Of you could live without him,
and he is always to be first and best
in two such faithful hearts"
Yes" said the girl, always the
first always the best. And now | am
going Monochrome" She trembled as
she repeated the word as if it could
be that without him. :. lit will be all
dreary and empty till he comes back
(shc had stepped down into the hollow,
and was walking swiftly, for il the
boys come today, they must not stay
1T would torment me to see them watch
ing and listening for every sound, and
| would rather meet him all alone.
No one OH earth can love him as well
as | do"
They went nearly in silence the rest
OF the way. but when they reached
the cowSlip gate She stopped, and held
out her hand.
Good by" She said; grief has made
me very selfish but | am grateful tC
YOU all the same" and went quick y
through the gate into the light be
yond. leaving him alone in the shadow
yet with the pulse Of a passionate new
hope and life stirring him to his in
most fiber rs he watched that slender
shape III white disappear.