Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-08-11

Tommy flying before the wind, as was
his wont, though he had the sense Of
q Christian, and would dance sedately
down hill like Court gentleman, and
had never done his mistress any worse
trick than to tear her gloves into rib
bons when she tried to check his pace
on level or uphill ground.
But, fast as she few, she had time
to see at the entrance to Synge-1ane q
man and woman standing, SO absorbed
in talk that one at least did not see
her as she passed by.
J She knew the man at a glance,
though his back was toward her; but
the woman, who looked up, was a
stranger-dark, blue-eyed, raven-haired,
oliye-complexioned, though her lips
We're red-a face to haunt one by real
son of its beauty and the history that
it carried.
AIadcap saw the whole scene in a
fash, but she did not see how the
woman started and went pale as death
as she passed, as one who sees the
friend to him. Madcap had uncon-
sciously colored as she went by, but
though she pulled UP once or twice
before she reached the Red Hall,
asked the villagers no questions as to
what strangers We're sOjourning in
Lowell
! She thought they looked at her oddly,
and with furtiye excitement that she
did not understand; but chances count
cd :,
phase Of her young life, in which she
seemed TO walk as in twilight where
none lived yet none were dead, and
she might cling with human love, yet
remember with that reverence which
makes Il martyr Of the humbleSt dead.
J In those days she felt none Of that
longing for human companionship and
voices that had lately tormented her;
She would sit for hours in her fathers
study, or stand before her mothers
portrait, and learn his character from
her looks, and even studied the face
Of Lady Sara Villiers, the evil genius
CAS- She had once accidentally heard
Of the family, but found in the dark
glowing face not one 1.-THE of the beau
ty of that living, flesh and blood face
she had seen beside Major Methuen in
the village She never went to the cow
slip gate now-neyer went byond sight
of the house-door; for how, if her faith
or should come back and find none to
welcome him?
I Day by day he grew dcarer in her
/ eyes. he was so faithful, he had
loved her mother so dearly; and this
stranger 10 whom her heart had so
gone out, who had loved her mother.
too, was lingering in the village be-
cause he had met with an old sweet
heart, or perhaps had found new
one.
+ She had told neither Dolme nor Cor
don of this stranger, for why should
sheer. again, why not? There was
not IA trait Of deceit in her; but here
Il curious reticence asserted itself.
and since no questions were asked she
volunteered no replies.
But one day very early in July Il
envelope of the usual color.
1T is from father she said aloud
and opened it with firm hand.
1t WAS from Mr.. Eyre, dated Paris.
and babe her expect him home on the
evening Of the following day. For
awhile she sat quite Still-did ever
the ease of the rolling of the stone
from L human heart equal the past
misery inflicted by its weight? Then
she said:
You will prepare everything for your
master, Saunders for he will be here
, tomorrow then she ran out to be
alone with her great joy.
Her feet took her along the familiar
path without her bidding; it was only
hen she reached the cowslip gate that
she remembered how long it was since
she had been there. but she was now
carried beyond herself, lifted into that
kind of eXultation which follows on
the granting in full the one supreme
prayer of 4 human soul, and when
she looked up and saw Major Methuen
on the other side it seemed to her ma
tural enough that he should be there.
| DO you know it already" she said.
4 eagerly. Have you already heard it
| in the village-that he will be home
tomorrow"
! He neither spoke nor moved; he could
not keep out the darkness from his
eyes, the grayneSs that stole over his
face. as he said:
THANK God!-for YOU
| She had come through the cowslip
gate as she spoke. and it had closed
behind her, forever shutting him out
from his kingdom, though she stood
beside him and some glimmering of
the grief. the loss, the utter ShipWreck
to which his life had come, reached
her soul as she looked at him and
stretched out her gentle hand in token
of friendship. He took it silently
looking down on it-half an hour age
how near it was, and now how fa1
away.
"Good-by." he said; Il have wished
You more than one false good-by, Mad
cap. but this is real one"
He kissed her hand and laid il
down by her side. was there q teal
upon it, or had it fallen from her owl
eyes as she looked up to find herself
alone?
Long she stood and gazed at it, gazet
till the memory of the man was wover
in her heart forever, till in the Ions
; years in which she saw him not, tht
thought of him was to her as
A bower in which to sleep.
Full of soft dreams and health anl
quiet breathing.