Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-08-02
Concluded.
Ill.


to look after. OF all the seasons in
the year in which Long could be left
in his own thoughts, none could be
more unhappy than autumn. The eff
feet, however, was to strengthen his
resolve to postpone matters and try
alone the experiment of February.
Like fine steel, the resolve at length
was tempered to such degree that it
could bend with safety. Eventually
he found he could allow himself and
Philip to make visit to New Haven
for day or two, ncognito. He need
not be seen out Of his room in the
daytime; his calls on Miss WeStover
would be mere commonplace When
we know that temptation has been
successfully resisted, it is not I'M
pleasant to linSer over the phases of
the fascination that one is sure cannot
prevail, let old women carp as they
will about playing with fire, and that
sort of thing.
Mr.. Westover was effuSive. we'll nigh
amusing, in his delectation. 1t only
grieved him that he could not be al
lowed to give a dinner in his friends
honor. Miss Westover was apparent
ly Indifferent. She understood that he
was there OH business and that every
moment of his time through the day
was occupied. She spent considerable
of that time arranging the fresh in
voices of flowers he sent her, but she
supposed no one knew it. Some of
them which she didn't like, she tore
to pieces. They were hers to do with
as she chose. Flowers are merely
personal property, perishable at that
Having now satisfactorily demon
Strated to himself that he was proof
against both the wiles without and
the wiles within his heart, as well as
against the pitfalls Of his misfortune,
it was natural that Long should re-
peat his visit in January-the last
month but one. She was playing
Beethoven's Moonlight sonata one
evening as only she could play 1t,
when he felt constrained to rise and
stand beside her. When she came to
the third movement where one fam
cieS he listens to the sound of distant
chimes and laughing village maidens
while he drifts on moon-silvered
lake, he put his hand upon her shout
der. The music grew softer, the time
irregular-died away She lifted her
hand to his, took both of his in hers
and let her eyelids droop. The mo-
ment he had sworn should be forever
forbidden had come, resistlessly.
"Maude," said he, in feEerish
whisper.
There was a tomb-like silence; the
roses on her bosom trembled; the
eyelids quvered his throat contracted
"Maude"
YES, dear"
'Maude. my darling! 1t was utter
ed Now he could 90 on madly.
"Maude, you must know"
He thought he could 80 on madly,
but pressure on his hand delayed
him. After enjoying the thrill to its
utmost, he drew away his hands and
folded them behind him. She was
leaning from her piano chair, her
head almost againe his side. A mo-
ment he tOyed with her hand and then,
taking a long breath, he began where
he had intended to begin at the outset
"Maude, | have secret which you
must know"
Slowly she raised her eyes to his
and then, the next instant flew over
to the easy chair, pushed her chin
on her hand and said, 80, bother! l
don't want to know. What is itF'
If le had been captured before, he
was now pinioned, wholly the enemys,
at the mercy on any whim.
You ask me-" he went on, clearing
his throat and by no means chating
at the bonds which every pert tiaunt
Of hers frightened, and | will tell you
| don't know who | was six years ago;
don't know who | may be next
month" Her eyes grew more round
and becoming. "My life is life-xof
periods. can only tell you; you can
not understand; no one can under
stand. At the end Of every six years
l am doomed to meet with some mis-
fortune which ends in my forgetting
all the past.
hReally, this is exciting she inter
rupted with nervous laugh. How
convenient that might be"
He caught the contagion OF her
laugh, which made it easier for him.
He sat down near her and rested his
arm on the side Of her chair.
Yes. might be, but isn't" he con-
tinued. 1T forces me to be reciuse.
1t forbids my ever indulging the fond
est hope a man can have"
stuff and nonsense! A sober-mind-
ed man like you caunot be governed
by such silly notions"
How is mans faulty best set of by
woman's reasoning!
He weakly concluded his absurd
argument with IF / can pass the
ION Of next month with immunity,
the cobvebs will be forever cleared
from my brain.
Fortunately, then" she returned,
.'you have not long to wait before
you can satisfy Yourself Of how II
dictllous your ideas are"