Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-12-30

thing to you in private. Please let
me speak now. You-you know
here she cast down her lustrous
ey es--"before you went to Norway -
WAS very foolish"
pray do not recall it," he said with
kindly gravity. Il have forgotten It,"
THAT is so good of you!" and a
flush OF color warmed her delicate
cheeks. For II you have forgotten,
you have also forgiven"
"Entirely!" answered Errington,-
and touched by her plaintive, self
reproachful manner and trembling
voice. he went up to- her and took her
hands in his own. Don't think of the
past, Clara! Perhaps | also was to
blame little--l'm quite willing to
think / was. Fllrtation's danger
Gus amusement at best" He paused as
he saw two bright tears on her long,
silky lashes, and in his heart felt a
sort of remorse that he had ever per-
mitted himself to think badly Of her.
I'VE are the best OF friends now,
Clara" he continued cheerfully, land
| hope we may always remain so.
You cant imagine how glad am that
you love my Thelma!"
who would not love her!" sighed
Lady Winsleigh gently, as Sir Philip
released her hands from his warm
clasp,--then raising her fearful eyes
to his she added wlstfully, "You must
take great care Of her, Philip-she Is
SO sersitive,-I always fancy an I'M
kind word would kill her"
She'll never hear one from met"
he returned, with 80 tender and earn
est a look on his face, that Lady
Wlnseigh's heart ached for jealousy
II must really go and see how she Is.
She's been exerting herself too much
today. Excuse mel" and with courte-
GUS smile and bow he left the room
with hurried and eager step.
Alone, Lady Winsleigh smiled bit
terly. Men are all alike" she said
such hypocrite? Fancy his dividing
his affection between two such con
trasts NJ Thelma and Violet We're!
However, there's no accounting for
tastes. AZ for mans fidelity, |
wouldn't give straw for lt-and for
his morality" She finished the
sentence with scornful laugh. and
left the boudoir to return to the rest
of the company.
Burlington, meanwhile, knocked
softly at the door of his wife's bed
room-and receiving no answer,
turned the handle nolselessly and
went In. Thelma lay on the bed,
dressed as she was, her cheek resting
on her hand and her face partially
hidden. Her husband approached on
tiptoe, and lightly kissed her forehead.
She did not stlr,-she appeared to
sleep profoundly.
Poor grill" he thought, she's tired
out, and no wonder, with oil the hustle
and racket OF these people,! A good
thing IL she can rest little before
the evening closes in"
And he stole quietly out OF the room,
and meeting Brltta on the stairs told
her on no account to let her mistress
be disturbed till 1t was time for the
Illumination OF the grounds. Britta
promised, --l'ritta eyes were red
one would almost have fancied she had
been crying. But Thelma was not
asleep--she had felt her husband q
kiss heart had beat as quickly
as the wing OF II Gagged wild bird at his
warm touch, end now he had gone
she turned and pressed her lips pas
sionately on the pillow whore his
hand had leaned. Then she rose Ian
: guidly from the bed, and, walking
, slowly to the door. locked 1t against
, all corners, Presently she began to
| pace the room up and down,-up and
. down, her face WIS very white and
!, weary, and every now and then a
shuddoring sigh broke from her lips
A Can believe 1t? oh no!--I cannot
o i will mott" she murmured. There
4 must be some mistake Clara has
:. heard wrongly" She sighed again
{ "fet--if 1t Is so,-he Is not to blame
o It is II who have failed to pleas,
: him, Where-,how have failed?"
L A panied, puzzled look filled he,
q grave blue eyes. and she stopped II
q her walk to and fro,
q at cannot be true!" she said hal
Y aloud. 1T is altogether unlike him
O Though Clara says--and she ha!
d known him so long!-Clara says h
' loved her once-long before no SAY
8. me-my poor Philippine must hav
70 suffered by that love!--perhaps that i
r why he thought life SO wearisom
a, when he first came to the Altenftord-
" ah! the Altenfjord!"
@ A choking sch rose In her throat
n but she repressed 1t. II must try no
to weary him." she continued softly
II must have done so in some way
1t or he would not be tired. But rs 70
~ what l have heard,-it is not for M
d to ask him questions, l would no
81 have him think that I mistrust him
Il No-there is some fault in me-some
\, thinp ha dnnr not likn pr hn wpn1