Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-05-20
G,bel1na,
BY Marie Corelli.
(Continued.)

: suppose so, Errington answered,
and then was silent, for at that moment
Ihe door opened and the old farmer
-aturned, followed by girl bearing
a tray glittering with TASKS of Italian
sine, and long graceful glasses shaped
IKE round goblets, sci on particularly
slender stel-s. The sight OF the girl
disappointed the eager visitors, for
though she was undeniably pretty, she
was not Thelma She was short and
plump, with rebellious nutbrown locks,
that rippled about her face and from
under her close white cap with per-
sistent untidineSs. Her cheeks were
as round and red as love-apples, and she
had dancing blue eyes that appeared
for ever engaged in good-natuIed Ell
forts to outsparkle each other. She
wore spotless apron, lavishly trimmed
With coQuettish little slarched frills-
her hands Were, unfortunately, rather
large and coa3Se-but her smile, as she
set down the tray and curtsied respect
fully to the young men, was charming,
disclosing as it did, tiny teeth as even
and white as a double row of small
pearls.
That is well, Britta," said Guldmar,
speaking in English, and assisting her
to place the glasses. Now, quick! run
after thy mistress to the shore-her
boat cannot yet have left the creek
bid her return and come to me-tell
her there are friends here who will
be glad of her presence"
Britta hurried away at once, but Err
rington'S heart sank. Thelma had
gone! gone, most probably, for one OF
gone gone, most probably, for one OF
those erratic journeys across the Fjold
to the cave where he had first seen
Ter. She would not come back, he feil
certain; not even at her fathers request
would that beautiful, proud maiden
consent to alter her plans. What an
unlucky destiny was his! Absorbed in
disappointed reflections, he scarcely
heard the enthusiastic praises Lorimer
low flavor on his own palate, though
it was in truth delicious, and tit for the
table of monarch. Guldmar noticed
the young baIonet's abstraction, and
addressed him with genial kindness.
Are you thinking, Sir Philip, of my
rough speeches to you yonder? No o.
Tense was meant, no oifense!' The old
fellow paused, and laughed over his
wine-glass. Yet l may as we'll be
horest about it! Offense was meant;
bus when | found that none was taken,
my humor changed"
- IL al,
Burlington lips. Il assure you, sir,
he said, II agreed with you then and
agree with you now, in every
word you uttered. You took my
measure very correctly, and allow me
to aad that no one can be more con-
sclous OF my own insigniticance than
.e Gays we live in are
insignificant; the chronicle OF our
paltry doings will be skipped by future
readers of the countly's history.
Among a society Of particularly useless
men, | feel myself TO be one OF the
most useless. If you could show me
any way to make my life valuable
He paused abruptly, and his heart
beat with inexplicable rapidlt!. A light
step and the rustic OF dress was
heard coming through the porch; an
other perfumed shower of rose-leaves
fell softly ON the garden path; the door
of the room opened, and tall, fair,
white-robed figure shone forth from the
dark background of the outer passage;
a figure that hesitated on the threshold,
and then advanced noselessly and wiz
reluctant shyness. The old bonde
turned round IN his chair with smile.
"Ah, here she Isl" he said fondly.
Where has thou been, my Thelma?"