Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-02-24

he had the cance-but it was too late
L hope they'll do it with revolver
and not a knife" he thought 'Oh my
poor Matilda! you little know what Tn
going through just now, and what'u be
going through me in another minute.'
A hoarse voice under the window
called out, ''Tweddle!"
He lay still None O. that. yer skunk
er; l know yer there!' said the voice
again. DO yer want to give me the
job o coming in after yer?"
After all, Leander reflected, there was
the window and thick half-shutter be
tween them. 1t might be best not tc
provoke Mr.. Braddle at the outset He
came out of his hiding place rs that
you, Mr.. Braddle?" he quavered
All. said the voice, aftirnatively
is this what you call being ready fol
us? Why, the bloomin' winder amt
even undonev'
That's what I'm here for said pool
Leander. rs the-the other gentleman
out there, too?'
You mind your business! You'll find
something the Count give me to bring
yer; I've put it on the window-siI cut
here. And you obey horders next time
will yer?"
The footsteps were heard retreltins
Mr.. Braddle was apparently going back
to fetch his captain. Leander let down
the shutter and opened the window; he
could not see but he could feel a thick
bundle lying on the window-sill He
drew this in, slammed down the WIN
dow and ran UP the shutter in Il sec
ond, before the two could have had
time to discover him.
Now" he thought, II will run for it, y
and he CROPPED his way out of the dark
saloon to the front shop, where he
paused, and, taking match from his
pocket, he struck & light; bis parcel
proved to be rough sack-cloth, on the
outside of which a paper was pinned.
Why did the Count write when he
was coming in directly? Curiosity made
him linger even then to ascertain this.
The paper contained a hasty scrawl in
blue chalk: mot tonight" he read,
arrangements still incomplete. Expect
us tomorrow night without fail, and
sec that everything is prepared. Cloth
sent with this for packing goods p
laid up with professional accident, and
safe for aweek or two. You must have
known this-why not say so last night !:
No trif1ing, if you value your lifev'
1t was reprieve at the last moment!
He had a whole day before him for
flight, and he fully intended to flee this
time; those hours of suspense in the
saloon were too terrible to be gone
through twice.
But as he was turning out his cash
box, and about to go upstairs and col
lect few necessaries, he heard a we'll
known tread outside; he ran to the
door, which lie unfastened with tremb-
ling hands, and the statue, with the
hood drawn closely round her strange
painted face, passed in without seeming
to heed his presence.
She had come back to him. Why
should he run away now, when, if he
waited one more night, he might be
rescued from one of his terrors by means
of the other?
Lady Nenus!' he cried Historically
"oh! Lady Venus, mum, l thought you
had gone forever!'
And you have grieved?' she said,
almost tenderly. You welcome my re-
turn with joy! Know then, Leander,
that l myself feel pleasure in returning.
even to such a roof as this; for little
sladness have l had from my wander
lngS. Upon no altar did | see my name
shine, nor see perfumed flames flicker;
the Lydian measures were silent, and
the praise Of Cytherea. And every
where | went / found the same sense
less, troubled haste and pale, mean
face of men, and squalor, and tllmult;
grace and joyousness have f1ed-even
your new gods, and understand; for, all
grimy and misshapen and uncouth are
they as they stand in your open places
and at the corners of your streets
Zeus, what place must Olmpus now
be! AND can any men worship such
monsters and be gladsome?"
Leander did not perceive the very
natural mistake into which the goddess
had fallen; but the fact was, that she
had come upon some Of our justly re-
nowned public statues.
I'm sorry you haven't enjoyed your
self, num- was all he could find to say.
Should I linger in such scenes We're
it not for your she cried reproachfuI-
~. 'How much longer will you repulse
me?''
THAT depends on you, num-" he
ventured to observe.
"Ah, you are coldr' she said reproach-
fully; ''yet surely I am worthy of the
alteration of the proudest mortal Judge
me not by this marble exterior, cum
ningly wrought, though it be. Charms
are mine, more dazzling than any your
imagination can picture; and could you
surrender your being to my hands, I
should be able to show myself as 1
really am-supreme in loneliness and
majestyv'
Unfortunately, the hairdresser's i'm
agination was not his strongest point
He could not dissociate the goddess
from the marble shape she had assumed
and that shape he was not sufficiently
educated to admire; he merely coughed
now in a deferential manner
Il perceive that I cannot move YOU"
she said, men have grown strangely
stubborn and impervious. I leave you.
then, to your obstinacy-only take heed
lest you provoke me at last to wrath;
for my patience is well-nigh at an end.'
And she was gone and the bedizened
statue stood there, staring hardly at