Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-08-02
q Lie Of Periods.
By Charles w. Rupee.

l "dul you 10 see now lllle idltn
a healthy mind puts in the fancieS you
have allowed to control you, and can
do it III no other way"
Maud . do you love me-
You hAow do, and you must not
eNaSper; It. me any more by making an
eXhibitiu. If Such weakness. TO show
that l am Drawer than You are,
freely onrr myself to YOU And
should Tx" to have the day set for
February TO-"
Not since his first scrmmage in a
football game had Long felt SO con
fused as when he found his way back
to his room that night. Was he in
love, or was he taking this step as a
psychological test? No, he knew he
was in love, yet he could not deny the
fascination OF the undertaking that,
after ALL had not been Of his own
volition.
1t had been arranged that he should
return to the city February .. and
that on the 10th a few friends should
be casually invited 10 dinner AT her
house at 6 O'clock. If he failed to APP
pear-he planned in cold blood, she In
testing conti6ence-it would be only
one guest the less. She would not re-
veal his secret. If he came, Il clergy
man was to be of the party, and the
nuptial ceremony should be as sur
prise to her other guests, after which
they would retire to the country home
till such time as he should be con
WINGED of the folly Of his theories.
Perhaps Philip had ceased TO note
the trend of occurrences; perhaps he
realized his powerleSsneSs. He was
not happy. And the records were be
ing neglected.
ON February Q, at 3 o'clock in the
afternoon Long once more stepped up
on the latform of the New Haven
station. Instead of the qualms he had
dreaded, he began to feel like one
freed from bondage. "Philip,' said he,
cheerfully, as he sent for cab, don't
look so 2lum; superstition belongs to
the middle ages" The successful ter
mination of the journey by rail had
seemed II relieve him of his last
dread. The goal was already as good
as reached. He laughed at himself
for the extra accident insurance policy
he had taken out and tore IL up and
threw 1t cut of the carriage window.
His flow Of spirits caused his mind
to revert ycS, he almost believed it
to the days when he had been carried
through these same streets by enthu
siastic co.legians on returning from
some great football victory. If he
could be quite sure of that misty reeol-
lection, il meant that his speculation
as to his healed intellect was correct.
Who can number the miracles of
Cupid?
The old hotel was crowded it being
the night of the junior promenade.
The halls were full of people scolding
about car ages. Chattcring about cos
tunes, ludrmuring because al the
rooms Were taken. whispering about
partners and Tuning because there
was no elevator so it is not strange
that Long, when he climbed the weary
flights after a brief call on his manor
tia, did not notice the two men IN the
alcove who appeared to be greatly
amused about something.
YES" Mr. Brown was saying, j
presume it will be an old maid party.
Why, l haven't been II that house
till last w EEK for more than six years.
Had almost forgotten there was such
a being as Maudc Westever."
but rumor has it," said Mr.. Lincoln,
that there's big surprise in store,
that she is going to announce her en-
gagement.
ITO that mysterious millionaire who
is said to own all the castles In
SPAIN"
Il presume 50. l don't know OF any
one else who could get anywhere near
her. Some count, perhaps"
If Long had heard this he might
have called his old football "tacklius"
muscles into play, or, at least, he
might not have been able to compose
his mind on that top floor front till
GN tll Il III lCl uOIl tLlih nc NM ~ IAi'A
self, under the glow Of half-clogged
gas jet, in a stuffy little bedroom
without further furnishing than a stiff
bedstead and wash-stand horse-hair
chair and set of rules tackled OH
the door, it was impossible to keep his
thoughts off the dark possible, IS OF
the next few hours, even by dwelling
upon the happiness in store for him
after they were safely passed. One
moment he would smile as be heard
the rumble of carriages IN the street
far below, and he wondered who II
was he took TO that promenade when
he was in college; the next moment
he felt like prisoner who Is to be
executed at sunrise. He wished he
and Philip could have had double
room together, but hotel accommoda-
tons had been least among his cal
culations when he was planning his
trip. He took out his old brierwood
pipe and smoked it while he debated
whether il would not be safer for him
TO keep awake through the uncertain
hours ahead Of him. Devoid OF pity,
JFgt