Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-06-13

| Speaking cheerily to his mother, he went
at once to his room.
| Then l knew ! should know all about Ii,
for he drew me hurricdly from his pocket
and looked ut me with such searching eyes
| There was look in them / never saw be-
fore, such wild, yearning look. j tried
TO make mine look kindly at him, and /
think must have succeeded, for he whis-
pered, "Dcar eyes! dark and deep as my
love for your
Then he told me how he had seen hor
pictures paradcd in the store windows that
day heading an advertisement for her ap-
pearance in her own native city, very soon
the following week, ! believe.
He said the face seemed changed some
how. Shc wore low cut dress, her beau
tifully dmplcd shoulders and arms laid
bare to tho gaze Of the masses.
He longcd to draw the drapery closer.
Tho artist must have exaggerated Shc
never would have worn so immodest n
gown. / shook myself II little to lot him
know ! felt sure sho never would have
done SO, but In my heart ] was fearful.
Girls are so apt to let their vanity over
rule, and she was so bcautiful-so bcauti-
full
II WINS as much that as her voice which
had taken New York by storm, and now
she was to visit her native city.
The night of tho concert was ushercd in
by n tremendous snowstorm, but In spite
Of all the glcat theatcr was crowded, and
with tho elite.
was there in tho pocket Of his new
cont. could hardly catch II note Of tho
orchestra, bis heart beat so.
/ was proud Of him, he looked so hand
some l know others thought so too. At
least many girlsh Chances wcro cast In his
direction, but his thoughts were beyond
tho footlights.
When at lust she appeared nmid great
applause no wns tho only ono silent
But his gpac took her in from the crown
of her charming head to tho tip of her tiny
gilt slipper.
A dull red glow sutruscd his checks
where, n moment before, he wns palo as
death He set his teeth together and drew
i'm his breath convulsivGly. ] did not blanc
him, for thcro shc misunderstanding beyond
words, bowling smilngly to tho audience,
her sweet face daintily flushed, her eyes
glowing. There was mn mir about her en-
tircly new. ! couldn't quito mako out
whnt IL was, but somehow felt saddcned.
Tho artist had not exaggerated. Her
shoulders nrd arms were bnrc, md what
littlo was hidden cleaned through tho
sheer golden gnlIzo of her gown. ] listened
In amnzcmont to her singing Tho rich,
full notes of Italian arias or tho sweet
English ballad fell from her lips like LID
uid jewels.
Sho was literally ShowCrcd with roses.
Az tho close party Of old friends gath
cred about hcr as she appeared, wrapped In
her long cloak of soGtost white fur
lIo dll not stay, but pressed quickly
out, his soft hat pulled low over his trou
bled eyes.
pressed close to his sido, for 1t was
cold night.
think no must have felt tho chill bit
tcrly, for thoro wcro big tcars in his eyes
when no reached his quiet room-such
tears ns ono secs In tho Dyes Of children
whom pierced by the winter wind
Hor visit was but flying onc-one day
Of rest, and then away.
Tho night of her departure no called
upon her Tho parlor was full of young
people, 50 their greeting WAS merely u
handclnsp.
A few commonplace remarks followed.
thcn fnrowcls were said and he was out
In the winter night again, recalling every
word she had spoken, even tho infection
of hor voice; but, above all, tho appealing
look In tho dear eyes hc fancicd ho saw
There.
Though maybo it was but fancy and SO
best forgot.
llc had not spark Of vanity, or he
might havo known that thcro were fcw to
compare with him. poor though no was.
l understood tho look I'm her eyes better
than no How her face lighted up when
ho was ushorcd in; thon, again, tho look
of keen disappointment when no loft her
with only n touch of tho hand,
oh, these tircsomo young people How
thoy work Mt cross purposcs
She, breaking her heart In tho great
gny city, for tho old lilo was SO dear, So
dear, longing with infinite longing for
"tho touch of u vanished hand,
What cnn woman do but wait, though
tho waiting he long and chill tho hearth
lio with stern, proud face and aching
heart, plunglng into his work, never rest
ing every day finding him u little higher
up thu ladder, u littlo nearer tho limit of
his ambition
was much concerned for him in those
days he was SO unlike himself. | saw but
little of him, for he seldom looked Mt mo
now, and when ho did 1t was only to speak
unllind words.
Tho mouth he always Thought so tender
he said now wore cruel, hard lines; tho
eyes he always called SO true wcro now
trCnchCrous ones,
was cut to tho heart; still, | felt what
he said to bc mere words; he could not
mean them.
Ono night when talking In this fashion
he dropped mo ON tho table, hurying his
faco In his hands; his sobs shook mo UNI
easily. II was awful to 500 his grief Sud
denly he sprang to his fcct, bringing his
clinchcd fist down upon the slender stand,
and cried;
"From this night shall he u man;
will never Willingly give her u thought
She never cared for mo or she would have
madc some sign,
"Siliy fool that ami Let her gol' he
cried sayago,y, thrusting mo into srall
upper drawer, where | lay for mary II
weary day, seeing no ono, utterly Glonc
and forsakcn
never saw him now save as he came to
tho drawer Tor u handkerchief. touched
his hand at these times, softly and tcndcrly
as l could, for l wanted him To know
stu loved him, and did not resent his