Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-08-26

'tme down among the lights and
! cheerful faces below and give way no
longer To these dreamy taucies,"
Reluctantly WAS Helen dragged
away from her secluded room; but in
the parlor she gave WAY to the cheer
tulnesS OF The party, and WAS herself
again. Henry Middleton thousht that
the pure, pale face WAS loyelter that
night than ever, anu he hovored
around the circle VI which Helen was
the center
Some one proposed dancing. Helen
refused 10 Join in the amusement
further than TO play TOY the others;
and Henry led her to the instrument,
standing beside her while she played,
unheediug the hrlGbt eyes of two or
three lovely Girls, who would have
hcen proud 10 da"ce with one So dis
Observation-Disclosures.
In the pauseS OF the dance the gay
city was SO loud that no one heard
the rising VI the storm, PercS's
father and mother had been delighted
spectators OF the mIrtA Sc ug forward,
and now begged for some music of y
different kind, What impelled Helen
NO ono knew. but she resumed her
seat at tho piano, ran her tlugers over
tho keys in \ lively strain, played Il
popular melody in u dasring style, and
| sank, all AT once, into the heart break
| ing notes Of tho dead march,
/ Wild and thrilling were the sounds
-. a, 4, AID
most solemn emotions Of the composer
were understood and expressed in her
| playing Il sent thrill through the
| circle, llemy hont forward to he.
sccch her 80 cease the mournful music,
when he saw, TO his horror and sur
! prise that he was talking to ono In u
| trance. Her eyes were open, hut there
/ was no expression there only tho
| dull, stony gaze of eyes that can see
not. Mechanically the fingers played,
and the whole company noticed that
something strange was golng forward,
! Henry Middletou's shocked and
| troubled look gave the first intimatiou.
! Scvreal ladies rushed toward hor with
! smelling bottles and fans, hut Henry
| waved them away, He felt that II was
! dangerous tn arouse her suddenly from
| the sCmramhu)istic state into which
she had fallen She did not move,
! except that her fingers still played on
! that dreary. mournfu strain. Al
! last she ceased and fell forward
Their Henry took her In his arms and
| laid her npon n sofa, The strange
/ look passed from Eor face, and abe
appeared 10 sink into soft. natural
sleep
There were not many minutes to
watch her, The profound stillnesp
which each one kept in tho room en-
| ahed them to hear the awful tumult OF
the still rising storm; and lust then,
the man employed obout tho garden
appeared at the door with Il face full
o. horror, and whispered to Mr.,
Brcadhurst that guns were hoard, and
| that n ship was near evidently In
distress Henry Middleton caught the
sound and rushed from the house,
where he was soon Joined by every
man and boy in the family Percy and
Arthur were IN ~" minds OF all.
And there was the wreck. her sails
rent. her spars split on the deck rs
was plainly seen by the vivid flashes
| Of the lightning Tint threw momentnry
| brightness over the scene. So near
! that they could see the upturned faces
OF the men on board and yetoh des'
pair! they knew that earthly aid
could not reach them. There were mon
upon the beach who had followed the
sea for livelihood for years; there
we're boats in prorusioa but who
could risk life In the boiling sen? The
waves. dashIng white and high, hid
| tho sight, save nj intervals, from the
shore, but each glimpse showed them
In greater and increased danger. There
was no resource but to look on and
Watch the terrible scene,
A moment more, and they caught
sight of the men struggling In the
waves, and one dend body was thrown
by the mighty waters ut their feet. II
was that Of strong, powerfnlly-bullt
man. and the sailors around recognized
| IL AS one who had sailed with Percy
Broadhnrst! This, then, was the good
ship that went off with flying colors
one year ago, bearing within her
bosom brave and young hearts, now
doomed. perhaps. to frightful death,
Another and another dead form,
bruised and torn by the Wild blows,
noated onward TO the shore Two or
three sank within sight Of home,
Henry Middleton turned away his eyes,
unable TO bear II longer. 1t might have
been, perhaps, Percy, or Arthur, dear
boy. who thus disappeared. and they
could look no more.
AS he turned his gaze to the rocks
he had passed on his passage to the
beach flash or red lightning blazed
strongly over a slight dark figure,
stealing slowly over their broken and
Jagged surface. II was too tall for n
boy, too slender for man He could
not help watching It under the next
fash. Good heavens, Could that be
| Helen wandering out In this wild
| mighty Ho had gppn a nnIa and