Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-04-29

congregation, who listened to his words
respectfully though without displaying
any emotional rapture. Their stolidity,
however, did not affect him,-ho
preached to please himself,-loving
his own voice, and never so happy as
when laundering fierce denunciationS
against the Church of Rome, His
thoughts seemed tending in that direc-
ton now, as he poured himself out his
cup OIL tea ana smllingly snook his
head over it, while he stirred the cream
and sugar in,-for he took from his
waist-coat pocket small glittering
object and laid it before his on the
table, still shaking his head and smil-
ing with patient, yet reproaChful air
of superior wisdom. 1t was crucifiN
of mother-o pearl and silver, the
symbol of the Christian faith But it
seemed to carry no sacred suggestions
to the soul of Mr.. Dyeeworthy. On the
contrary, he looked at ii with an eX-
preston Of meek ridicule, --ridicule that
bordered on contempt.
to himself, between TWO large bites of
toast. THE girl is a Roman, and there
BY hopelessly damned"
And he smiled again, more sweetIy
than before, as though the idea Of
hopeless damnation suggested some
peculiarly agreeable reflections. Tn
folding his fine cologne-scented cam
brio handkerchief, he carefully wiped
his fat white fingers free from the
greasy marks Of the toast, and. taking
up the Objectionable cross gingerly, as
though it were red-hot, he examined it
closely on all sides. There were some
words engraved on the back of it, and
after some trouble Mr., Dyceworthy
spet them cut. They were "Passio
Christi, conforta me- Thelma"
He shook his head with a sort OF
resigned cheerfulness.
"Hopelessly domned," he murmured
again gently, unless"
What alternative suggested itself to
his mind was not precisely apparent,
for his thoughts suddenly turned in
more frivolous direction Rising from
the now exhausted tea-table, he drew
out a small pocketmirror and sur
veyed himself therein with a mild APP
proVal. With the extreme end of his
handkerchief he tenderly removed two
sacrllegious crumbs that presumed to
linSer in the corners of his piOusly
pursed mouth. In the same way he
lot Cd e
that chung pertinaciously to the end of
his bashfully retreating nose. This
done, he again looked at himself with
Increase. satisfaction, and, putting by
his pocket-mirror, rang the bell. II
was answered at once by tall, strong
y built woman, with colorless, stoid
CONFERENCE.-THE might have been
carved out Of wood for any expression
il had in it.
"Ulrika," said Mr.. Dyceworthy
blandly, you can clear the table"
Ulrika, without answering, began to
pack the tea-things together in a
methodcal way, without Gathering 50
much as plate or spoon and, piling
them compactly on a try, was about to
leave the room, when Mr. Dyceworthy
called to her, "Ulrikar'
"Sir?"
Did you ever see a thing like this
before?" and he held up the crucifix to
her gaze.
The woman shuddered and her dull
eyes Lit up with sudden terror.
1T is the witch's charm" she nut
tered thickly, while her pale face grew
yet paler Burn it, sir!-burn it, and
the power will leave her.
Mr.. Dyceworthy laughed indulgently.
MY good woman, you mistake" he
said suavely. Your zeal for the true
gospel leads you into error. There are
thousands of misguided persons who
worship such things as this. 1t is often
all OF our dear Lord they know. Sad,
very sad! But still, though they, alas
are not OF the elect, and are plainly
doomed to perdition, they are not
precisely what are termed witches,
Ulrika"
she is" replied the woman with
sort Of ferocity; and if had my way,
would tell her 50 to her face, and see
what would happen to her them
Tut. tutr remarked Mr.. Dyce-
worthy amiably. The days OF witch
craft are past. You show some little !
ignorance, Ulrika. You are not ac-
quainted with the great advancement
of recent learning"
Maybe, maybe" and Ulrika turned |
to go; but she muttered suleniy az she |
went. There be them that know and /
could tell, and them that will have her
yet"
She shut the door behind her with
sharp clang, and. left 10 himself, Mr.
again smiled-such a be-
ngnant, fatherly smile, He then |
walked to the window and looked out.
It was. past seven O'Clock, an hour
that elsewhere would have been con-
-idered evening. but in Bosekcp at that
season It still seemed afternoon.
The sun was shining brilliantly. and
in the minister's front garden the roses
we're all wide awake. A soft moisture
fnaf I