Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-09-01
f.RE'S ACQUITYAl.
By Helen B. Mathers.
PART III.
Continued.)

For was not Doune by her side, come
back to his old boyish love and care of
her; had not her father been kind yes
terday, and was there not Il secret, half
guilty hope in her heart that put new
rainbow tInts on everything at which
she gazed.
How smart and fresh the women
looked in their fresh cottons or cam
brics-hoW much more becoming this
costly simplicity was than the undress
worn ut shutdown
And all looked their best. and nearly
Ill 80 happy rs glad rs Madcap 10
shuttle off the coil Of winter clothes.
and come ont in their proper shapes,
anu smell sweet fresh scents; all eager
too in laying plans for new pleasures,
aS if this were their first campaign,
and the spring lasted forever and
among the girl-faccS Madclp'S was the
brightest and attracted the most attt.n-
from the IOokcrS-on
She was already known by sight and
by hcarsag celebrated as her fathers
daughter. and half Il dozen goSSipS who
moved brskly soon finished The bust
ness. - that, after half an hour Of
hard staring at, the young men both
long"d to beat Il retreat.
Each dreaded lest some whisper from
these evidently weII-infoimcd people
should reach her ear, and break her
happiness forever; and for the first
time Done realized how terrible was
the risk Mr.. Eyre had run in exposing
her 10 the chance Of Il London season.
For long ago Doanr had heard the
story Of his mpthn1's death. and one
':..l t::ti Sought his father. and. with
tIaning eyes. said:
They say ypu killed my mother. Did
.ou.
That Interview mad" father and son
firncr friends than before: but this boy.
who went through al his agony with
ou Il sign 10 her. trcnbled for MatIcap
when she should come to The same bit
Ter knowledge rs himself
1T is unbcarably hot" he said TO his
sister after some haIf-dozcn turns,
in which Madc"p had been admired,
criticised, and cnvicd more than any
other woman in the Park
Hot said Madcap. looking up to
the scantily-cIothcd trees overhead.
through which tn" April sun could not
Slime hard enough to excuse that fine
lady'S freak, Il paraSol. III is per
fectly delightful; and father will be
waiting for llS beside Apollo present
~"
lie won't come" said Dounc, mood
~, rs ne turned once more to sec Mad
cap run the gauntlet of looked and
whispered comment; but WAS forced to
smooth his brow. as just then they
met Mr.. Eyrc's Duchess, looking rs
beautiful in her morning gown is only
4 woman can who abhors cosmetics
and has stood by her own heart
Though. mcklc dole, much pain il
had taught herr for nigh upon 4 score
Of years
Yet at cn-Ind-thirty She might
have tempted almost any man save
Mr.. Eyre for love had WinnOWcI her
nature, leaving on,y that better part
which writes its mark on Il WomanS
brow and lips for aye; and if she
looked IL the Younger Madclp coldiy.
seeing her rival as the older one had
than there had been eighteen years ago.
Father will be here presently" said
Madcap. unconSciouSly admitting the
affinity She found between the two
midde-agcd friends: and there's your
Nancy" she added in 4 sly aside to
Gordon. who looked rs hroken-backed
and Wrctched aS any other wcll-brcd
young man bound To appear in public
rs tancc
But Nancy, hunbly escorted, would
not look Il second time ut her rival SO
proudly panoplicd. and passed on. but
not before Gordon had caught the
jealous flush on 4 cheek almost as
lovely rs Madcap'S
The two had been friends al their
lives. and he quckencd his step to
Join her, 1T which, Madcap. though
looking little aStoniShed. said. How
| wish he would fall in love with her.
They would make Il handsome pair"
said the Duchess. who had one fixed
idcl-that if Mr.. Eyre was robbed of
his second Madcap he might possibly
seek consolation where aSSuredly it
would not be denied him
There he is,'' cried the girl. min
ute or two later: and the Duchess
thought no lovers could have moved
more quickly nj sight Of each other
than did this father and daughter at
Apollo's feet. Madcap crying out;
Have You found him."
lie looked cross and veXed at the
question. then beyond her at the Ouch
eSS. and went forward, and was never
more fascinating and polished than in
the minutes walk that left the three
young people to follow rs they chose
behind them.
And have YOU fallen in love with
Miss Nancy" said Madcap. half an
hour later 10 Gordon: and she is SO
pretty. and so in love with you,'
She had sllirmiShed off to the library
before the longing To kiss or box her
ears had left him: but her high spirits
went out suddenly 1t sight Of her faith
or sitting grim and silent at his table
With that veNed look that always
strikes SO sad and unfamiliar on young
eyes.
dad" She said, timidly. rs she
stole up behind him and ventured to
draw his head To her shoulder. has
anyone veNed YOU today-have you
been disappointed"
The gentle touch. the loving voice.
moved him almost as potently as his
wife'S had done when one of his dark