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

said Jauncy, Il shall go away mySell
and leave you to follow as best you
can
! I'm putting them on said Bella,
and her hands We're unsteady with pas
sion as she tied her bonnet-str1ngs. DO
not bully me, James, because l will
not bear it. Mr.. Tweddle, if you're a
man will you sit there and tell me
YOU don't know that that ring is on a
certain PERSONS fnger-will you do
that"
The miserable man concluded that
Ada had disregarded his entreaties and
told her sister all about the ring and
the accused statue He could not see
why the story should have so int1amed
Bella, but her temper was always un-
certain.
Everybody was looking at him and
he was expected to say something.
His main idea was that he would see
how much Bella knew before commit
ting himself.
What have l ever done to offend
you," he asked, that you turn on me
in this downright yixenish manner? l
y
DO you want me to speak out plain?
James, stand away if you please. You
may all think what you choose of me,
don't care Perhaps if you were to
come in and find the man who, only a
week ago, had offered marriage to your
yougest sister, figuring away as en-
gagged to quite another lady, you would
rot be all milk and honey, either! /
am doing right to expose him; the man
who'd deceive one would deceive many
and so you'll find, Miss Collum, little as
YOU think of it,
That's enough" said Miss Tweddle;
1T is all mistake / am sure. and you'll
be sorry some day for having made it.
Now 20, Miss Parkinson and make no
more mischIef.'
A light had burst in upon Leanders
pertlnbed mind Ada had not broken
faith with him after all He remenl-
bercd Rela's conduct during the return
from ROsherwich and understood at
last to what Il mistake her present
wrath was due.
Here, at all events was IN accusation
:, he could rppel with dignity, With truth.
Foolish and unlucky he had been. and
how uniucky. he still hoped Matilda
might never learn: but false he was
not, and she should not be allowed to
believe it.
; Miss Parkinson" he said. 1--WE been
badgored long enough. What is it
you're trying to bring mp against me
about your sister AGai Speak it out.
and Pm ready to answer you!'
'Leander, said Matilda. Il don't
want to hear it from her. Only you tell
me you've been true to me, and that is
quite cnoIlgh.'
Matilda, YOU are a foolish girl and
: don't know what you're talking about"
said her mother. ITS not enough for
{ me; so | beg, young woman, il you've
anything 20 accuse the man who's to be
my son-in-laW of you'll say it now, in
my prcsnce, and let him contradict it
; afterwards if he can
viii he contradict his knowing my
: sister Ada, who is one Of the ladies at
Nine. Chenilles, in the Edgeware road
more than Il twelvemonth since, and
{: payig her attention. asked Bella.
/ Il dot deny" said Leander, meet
2 ing her several times and being con
5 siderably struck in a quiet way. But
that was before l met Matilda
You had met Matilda before last
Saturday, l suppose" sneered Bella,
spitefuliy;; when you laid your plans to
join our company at RosherWich, and
! trouble my poor sister, who'd given W
thinking Of YOU"
There you go, BelIa!" said her fiance
! What do you know about his plans!
He had no idea as Ada and you was
to be there, and when / told him, as
7 we were driving down, it was all
, could do to prevent him jumping out OF
Y the cabv'
Pm highly flattered to hear it," sale
Bella; but he did not seem to be sc
y afraid of Ada when they did meet; anC
| you best know, Mr. Tweddle the things
$ YOU said to that poor trusting girl al
/ the time you were walking and dancing
3 and talking foolishess to her.
@ Il ever said a word that could no
have been spoke from the top of st
e Pauls protested Leander Il did dance
L with her, | own, not to seem uncivil
but we only waltzed round twice.
!, Then why did you give her the rim:
d an engagement ring, too?" insisted
Bella
"WhO saw me give her ring" he de
mande hotly; do you dare to say yol
d did? Did she ever tell you l gave her.
Ii ring? You know she didn't.
i IF 1 can trust my own ears" sai'
Z Bella, Il should like to know what
L can trust. l heard Oyu myself in tn
I railway carriage ask my sister Ada no
to tell any one about some ring, and
' tried to get out Of Ada afterwards wha
u the secret was, but she wouldn't trea
u me as a sister and be open with me
L But any one with eyes in their hea
Il could guess what was between you
I and all the time you We're an engage
man.
g
q See there, nowr' cried the injure
a hairdresser; there's a thing to go an
= make all this mischief about, Matilda
h Mrs. CoIIum, aunt, / declare to You
Il told the-the other young woman eI
7. erything about my having formed ne1
ties and that I was very particula
"a not to give rise to hopes which we1
ID only doomed to be disappointed AS t