Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-07-14

you"
YES" he said, looking relieved at
/ the turn her questions had taken; 'she
and I were friends during the short
time we were together, and I did think
your father was not just to Lord
Lowell"
''Yet he was three years looking for
his old friend" said Madcap, sadly,
land only came up with him too late;
and why should he have taken all that
trouble to find him if he had not loved
him!".
Ay, the stranger knew something OF
/ the history Of those three years in
which Frank Lovel had been literally
hunted by Mr.. Eyre half round the
world and back again, escaping him
only by hairs breadth in the trenches
before SebastopoL
Often the two men, the pursuer and
the pursued, had been in the very same
town together, so hotly had Mr.. Eyre
followed On Franks tracks. No MUIR
derer fleeing for his life had been more
cunning, no detective more acute than
these two men, who had been dearest
friends but short time ago.
$50 you will not answer me-" said
Madcap proudly, after a long pause;
but do you think you will be any the
happier for implanting in my heart the
first doubt 1 have ever had of my dear
tather!'
Have I done 500" he said, turning
swiftly, and seeming to see in her face
the beginning Of one of those long,
long shadows that had missed her
mothers lips, but stilled her heart;
then God forgive me, Madcap, and
take the doubt away. Frank Lovel
loved him, so did your mother, so do
you; the man who can command s1c.l
love as that, should be, must be, above
other men,"
And if you have had bitter thoughts
of him, you renOunce them noW,' she
said, earnestly. You will forgive
him."
''He never wronged me-" said Frank;
for myself l have nothing to forgive
it was for others. but they are dead,
and all is over and done with now.'
Madcap sighed, only half satisfied,
tutA dS5dlL, DIS Sic uGlI OuL Her
hand to wish him ''good-by."
But he did not, could not, take it;
the last moment was even more unen-
durable in it's bitterness than he had
and the strong mans heart
seemed to stand still as he looked at
her.
''Good-by," she said again; and then
no tSt,
perhaps you will come back some day;
and we will be glad to see you, father
and /"
Il shall never come back" he said,
his eyes hard and strained as he looked
at her. Il have seen you for the first,
last time. And though you have been
kind to me, do not wish that I should
ever come back; it would not be for
your happiness, or that of those you
love. [ shall never go through the cow
slip gate-would to God / might" he
added, with a passion in his voice be-
fore which the girl trembled.
But when father comes home, you
may" she said, feeling lifted into a
new world as she gazed at him. eff
you have quarreled, he would forgive
you, as you have forgiven him."
No said the stranger, almost stern
ly. Il shall never cross it while your
father lives. And now, good-by,
little Madcap, little friend;'' and he
kissed her hand reverently, as though
she had been young saint, before he
gently laid it down.
"Good-by," she said, not knowing
that tears We're in her eyes, and SO
passed through the cowslip gate.
Halfway through the meadow she
turned, and, shading her brow, saw
that he was still there, and made a
little gesture to him as of farewell. -.
but as she turned homeward, knew
not that if his youth, his hopes Of joy,
lay for ever divided from him by the
barrier Of the cowslip gate;
even for her the ivory doors had for
ever closed on the unr1lff1ed, happy
days of childhood.