Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-08-04


or anything. AS he had it in his power
| to take rings and everything else.
| slipped off turquoise and gave it to
him. He placed it on his third finger
above a diamond, and, as the diamond
flashed, | saw tiny cross cut on it's
surface. i was not searched; and with
courtly bow my knight of the road
and his companions vanished as sud-
denly as they had come.
One month later | was almost worn
out with the entertainments furnished
by my sister in her efforts to make
my visit pleasant. There was to be
one more dance. probably the last, as
we were to start homeward the first Of
the following week. Paul had been
visiting relatives and had just return
ed in time to take part.
LAS the wagons drove up at the door
of the inn. where the dance was to be
held heard young lady, friend Of
my sisters, call out:
Why, where has Mr.. Meredith
gone? But l thought nothing OF it
then.
THE dancing had been going on for
only a short time when this young
lady came up to me and with tones
suggestive of pique said:
Mr.. Meredith wishes to be intro
duced to you.
Mr.. Meredith then asked me to
dance with him, and not only once but
many times We danced together-he
was an admirable dancer. Yet | could
hardly hear what he said, so perpleXed
was l. wondering where / could have
heard his voice before. But at length,
as he extended his hand, glanced
down and saw small cross cut on the
diamond of his ring.
My dears, ] almost tainted outright
But to the end he acted the part of a
gentleman. He led me to a window
and stood talking while he shielded
my agitation from the room now filled
with whirling couples.
Nothing was said for several min
utes. In my foolish heart | was try
ing to think of some romantic reason
that would account for his mode of
llfe His face, from which the beard
and moustache were gone, looked like
that OF some boyish Sir Galahad. not
like that of criminal. His kindly
| brown eyes shown on me with a world
Of laughter in them.
Well?' he said, smilingly. At the
same moment caught sight of Paul in
the doorway talking to a man whom
did not know and with earnest gest-
ures pointing to my partner. Paul,
too. had recognized him.
Though my heart was beating so
hard that | could, l motioned to Mr.
Meredith to finish the dance, and when
posite door | stopped.
Bend down your head / whisper
3D. family.
Some one has recognized you.
saw them. You must GO My voice
trembled, am sure.
Must, he said slowly, still smil-
ing. Then he frowned. But the smile
came back instantly as he glanced at
me, as / stool pale and trembling
Poor little girl! he said. so divided
between a sense OF duty and pity for
a poor wretch like me. Come-a bar
gain. child! One more dance all around
the room and back here, and will CO.
You ought to go now | faltered.
Not until we finish the dance he
said, firmly.
He supported me almost entirely as
We whirled around the room, or | be-
lieve that l should have slipped on the
floor.
Now! Coz l whispered, in per-
feet terror.
Good-by he said earnestly. Il
never shall forget you. Think of me
as kindly as you cam
He had vanished in the darkness,
and none too soon. A few minutes
later the sheriff and two of his men
appeared, fully armed: but Mr.. Mere
dith was nowhere to be found-nor did
any one discover how he escaped"
Gradma sighed softly.
II have always been glad to know
he escaped" she added.
rs that all?"
"Yes, except that after the notice Of
my marriage had been inserted in the
papers, / received an express package
containing diamond ring, with a
cross cut in its surface"
The girls were silent for a few
moments and then began with ex-
carnations of delight at the story, ro-
nance beyond anything they had ex-
pected Then said saucy Irene. with
twinkle in her eyes:
Grandmother, darling, I'll wager
anything that you never told grand
father all this story
The pink blush spread over grand
mothers face, but the dear old soul
would not lie, even to point moral.
No, my dear girls" she said, slow
ly. ut was very wrong, no doubt. but