Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-03-10

than to put up with such treatment
James, are you going to keep me wait
ing any longer?'
Mr.. Jauncy, with confused apologies
to the company generally, hurried his
betrothed off, in no very amiable mood:
and showed his sense of her indiscre-
tons by indulging in some very plain
speaking on their homeward way
AS tie street door shut behind them.
Leander gave a sigh of relief
Matilda, my own dearest girl" he
said. now that the cockatr1c has de-
parted. tell me, you don't doubt your
Leander, do you?'
NO" said Matilda, judicially, Il do
not doubt you, Leander; only l do wish
you would be little more open with
me; you might have told me you had
gone to those gardens and lost the ring.
instead Of leaving me to hear it from
that girl
80 / might, darling" he owned; but
l thought you would disapprove"
And if she is my daughter" OBJ
served Mrs. COIlum, ''she will disap-
proven
But it was evident from Matilda's
rect: the relief of finding Ieander guilt
less OH the main count had blinded her
to all minor shortcomings, and he had
the happiness Of knowing himself fully
and freely forgiven.
If this could only have been the end;
but while he was still throbbing with
bliss, he heard a sound, at which his
''bedded hair started up and stood on
end-the ilI-omened sound of a slow and
heavy football.
'Leandy." cried This aunt, ''how
strange you're looking"
There is some one in the passage .
he said hoarsey; III go and see her
Don't any of you come OUT
why, it is only our Jane" said his
aunt; 'she always treads heavy"
| The steps were heard going up the
stairs; and they seemed to pause half
way ana descend again. I'll be bound
she forgot something" said Miss lived
die; Il never knew such 4 head as that
girls and Leander began to be almost
treasured.
The steps were heard in the adjoin,
ing room, which was shut off by fold
ing-doors from the one they were oc
cupying.
'Ieander," cried Matilda, what car
there be to look 50 frightened OFF, and
as she spoke there came a sounding
solemn blow upon the folding doors.
Il never saw the lady before in al
my life,' moaned the guilty man be
fore the doors had time to swing back
for he knew too we'll who stood behind
them
And his foreboding was justified tt
the full. The doors yielded to the blow
and, opening wide, revealed the tall anC
commanding figure Of the goddess; bel
face, thanks to Lenders pigments
glowing life-Eke under her hood, an(
the gold ring cleaning on her out
stretched had.
.Lcander.' said the goddess in be-
low musical accents, come away
Upon my word" cried Mrs Collun
who is this person.
Lie Cttbtl il')t Sp'<th IHtIt SSclllct
to be a hammer beating on his brain, re
ducing it to a pulp.
Perhaps" said Miss TWeddle, per
haps, young lady, you'll explain wha
The statue slowly pointed to Leander
Il come for him. she said, calmly
The has vowed himself to niche i
mine"'
Matilda. after staring incredulous
for some moments at he intruder, SUM
with a wild scream upon the sofa ant
hid her face.
Leander flew to her side. Matilda
my own,' he implored. don't be alarm
ed she won't touch you-it's me sh
come after.''
r Matilda rose and reprllsed him wit
sudden energy. How dare your sh
cried Historically, L see it all now
the ring, the-the cloak, she had theI
all the time, Fool that l was-silLy
trustful foolr'
And she broke out into violent hys
, terfcs.
go away at once, hypoclite!" Ell
+ joined her mother, addressing the dis
tracted hairdresaer as he stood, dunn
and impotent before her. 'Do yo
. want to kill my poor child? Take you
self OFF,
3, For goodness sake go, Leandy," ado
! ed his aunt; Il cannot bear the sigh
of you.'
'Leander, 1 wait" said the STATUE
: Come"
1 He stood there moment longer, lool
ing blankIy at the two elder wome
as they hustled about the prostrat
: girl, and then he gave bitter defia1
L laugh.
His fate was too strong for him. n
= one was in the mood to listen to an
: explanation; it was all over. Il am cor
ing" he said to the goddess; Il may {
= well; I'm not wanted herev'
: And, with a smothered curse,
- dashed blindly from the room and Of
|, into the foggy street
CROCIDILES IN WATER.
Some Of Their Peculiar Adaptation