Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-08-04

was dead once af0fe-m appen TWILL De
best to stick to our work in case he
comes home promiskis, and catches us
a-napping the speaker shoulder
ed his spade and departed on the spot
to put his own suggestion into practice.
Gradually the little crowd dispersed,
but only to gather again as a stranger
came quickly through, tall bronzed, and
bearded, looking neither to right OF
left as he, too, climbed the approac
to Red Hall.
It's true, then" said Dne Of the wo-
men, looking at him; land he's come to
break it to her-maybe some friend of
her mothers family. He's a bit like
the old Lord Lovel, though, 10 be sure,
lie died afore he was forty"
"M'appen it's the young Lord Loyel
nd comfort her BEST said another.
There's no cure for tears like a sweet
hearts arm round your waist; but
he'll be here by shutdown, no doubt -
The stranger passed Saunders on the
way, SO that a woman opened the door
his inquiry whether any bad news had
been received at the Red Hall that
morning, the girl said Yes" but add
ed that the young mistress did not
know of it, as she had already gone
out when Colonel Busby called.
''Prating FOOL muttered the visitor
below his breath, as he turned and
went through the grounds straight to
the meadow, beyond which was the
cowslip gate he had told Madcap he
must never cross.
But he went through it now without
Il thought, and pushed swiftly on; that
curious local memory which we form
under moments Of strong excitement
ding him as he went forward, so
that he scarcely missed a yard of the
way he had gone with Madcap a fort
night ago, and soon had reached point
. where he saw her in dim perspective,
sitting in her green chair, with one
elbow on its arm and one hand sup
porting her cheek.
He could not at that distance see if
she looked glad or sorry, but the atti-
tude seemed to speak of detection, and
Il closed book lay at her knee; and as
he drew nearer he saw that she was
palc, the corners Of her mouth drOOp-
ing SorroWfully, as il her thoughts
were Sadder than her loneliness. He
stopped short, suddenly struck by the
thought of how lonely she must have
been during the past weeks; but her
father had been right-she was strong
, enough to be left to herself; and as
DOune had been his mothers child
through and through, SO this girl had
Mr.. Eyre's fiber of strength in her,
and would rally from blow that
would have slain her mother
She looked UP as he approached, and
started to her feet, and then he saw
how pale she was before the joyous
color rushed into her cheeks, then out
again, leaving them paler than before.
Il am not in trouble" she said, look
ing down at him as he stood in the
little hollow below. Did you think
| was; or have you brought me bad
ncws?"
He could not play with the agony of
question in her eyes.
Yes" he sid, though in his heart
he knew it was good, that for the dead
and the living his news was best. 'It
is of your father. he is dead"
Dead she said standing straight
up, and gazing over his head. Dead
father dead. . o, it is impossible
He would have made some sign before
he died."
His ship was destroyed at sea-" said
Major Methuen, gently. No one was
saved, or SO the papers say"
+hnt s.ba ,,i,J lonI,;nrr
him. Why l thought some had seen
his body-had buried him-my dear,
darling Dad But if he has been lost
at sea, he is safe Does not the sea
often give UP its dead? No, not it's
dead,' she added, shivering; II mean
those who have been thought to be
dead; and there are boats, and he
could SWIM"
The ship was burned to the waters
edge" said Major Methuen, sadly, for
later details had come with the morn
ing papers. She showed a sheet of
flame against black sky, but every
soul on board was dead when help
reached her.
How do you know that my father
was on board?' she said, still with that
pale strength of regard, that fearless
look. He may not have gone with
the ship all the way. Was it homeward
or outward bound when-when this
happened?''
''Homeward. Your father booked
his passage out and back in it, and in
the course of another twelve days
would have been here"
THAT is true'', she said, trembling.
Il have been counting the days.
But it is not true she cried, with the
first ring of passion in her voice that
he had yet heard. He loved me so,
and l him. On which day did it hap
pen?" she said, turning to him quick
ly, for [ must have known it-got
some hint
1T was on Monday, at sundown,' he
said, Immediately before a violent
storm at sea-
And on Monday | was happy" she
said: happier than 1 have been since
he went away. I was thinking of you
and of him all day, and I fell asleep
here 1T shutdown and dreamed that 1
had joined your hands together across
the cowslip gate
The man before her groaned and
turned away. had not her maiden
dreams fulfilled themselves, and might
he not go through the cowslip gate now
as often as he listed. while to her was
not the dead for ever Shrined in her
heart. the human idol that in life must