Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-07-15

| Except, ne said, with Suave
sneer, except when any person hap
pens to be rich Englishman with a
handsome face and easy manners!s
then you are not slow to make friends
Froken,-on the contrary, you are re-
markedly quick!"
The cold naughty stare with which
the girl favored him might have iro-
zen less conceited man to pillar of
ice.
What do you mean?" she asked
abruptly, and with an air of surprise.
The minister's little ferrit-liko eyes
dropped under their puffy lids, and he
fdgeted on the seat with uncom-
Portable embarrassment. He answered
her in the mildest of mild voices.
You are unlike yourself, my dear
Froken! he said, with soothing
gesture Of one of his well trimmed
white hands. Your are generally
frank and open, but today | find you
just little,--well! what shall l say
secretive? Yes, we will call 1t secre-
tive! Oh, fie!" and Mr.. Dyceworthv
laughed gentle little laugh; you
must not pretend ignorance Of what
| mean! All the neighborhood is talk
ing of you and the gentleman yol are
50 often seen with. Notably concern
ing Sir Philip Errington,-tke evi!
tongue or rumor is busy,--for, accord
| ing to his first plans, when his yacht
arrived here he was bound Tor the
North Copeland should have gone
there days ago. Truly, l thlnk,--and
there are others who think also in
the same spirit of interest for you,--
that the sooner this young man leaves
our peaceful Fjord the better,--a II Tho
less h. as to do with the IDaltels :.
the district, the safer we shall be from
the risk of scandal" And ne heavcd
pious sigh.
Thelma turned her eyes upon hir, in
wonderment.
Il do not understand you," she said
coldly why do you speak of others?
No others are interested in what l
do. Why should they be? Why should
you be? There is no need!"
Mr.. Dyceworthy grew slightly ex-
cited. He felt like runner nearing
the winning-post.
ooh, you wrong yourself, my dear
Froken," he murmured softly, with
a sickly attempt at tenderness in his
tone. You really wrong yourself! 1t
Is mpossible.-for me at least. not
to be interested in you,-even for our
dear Lords sake. 1t troubles me to
the inmost depths of my soul to behold
in you one of the foolish virgins whose
light hath been eXtinguished for lack
of the saving oil,-to see you wander
ing as a lost sheep In the paths of
darkness and error, without a hand
to rescue your steps from the near
and dreadful precipice! Ay, truly!*
my spirit yearneth for you as q mother
for an own babe-fain would | save
you from the devices of the evil one,
49, fain would L" here the minister
drew out his handkerchief and pressed
it lightly to his eyes,-then, as If with
an effort overcoming his emotion, he
added, with the gravity of butcher
presenting an eXtortionate bill, "but
first, before my own humble desires
for your salvation-tirst, ere | go
further in converse. it behoveth me to
enter on the Lords business!"
Thelma bent her head slightly, with
an air as though she said: Indeed;
pray do not be long about it," And,
leaning back against the porch, she
waited somewhat impatiently.
THE image | have just restored to
YOU" went on Mr.. Dyceworthy in his
nest pompous and ponderous manner,
you say belonged to your unhappy"
"She was not unhappy" interposed
the girl, calmly.
"Ay, ay!" and the minister nodded
with superior air of wisdom. 80 you
imagine, so you think,-you must
have been too young to Judge of these
things. She died"
Il saw her die" again she interrupt
ed, with q musing tenderness in her
voice. She smiled and kissed me-
then she laid her thin white hand on
this crucifx, and, closing her eyes, she
went to sleep. They told me it was
uealn, SlHCe lneH HdNe hnoWn tHdl
death Is beautiful"
Mr.. Dyceworthy coughed,-a little
cough of quiet incredibly. He was
not fond of sentiment in any form, and
the girls dreamily pensive manner
annoyed him. Death "beautiful?"
Faugh! it was the one thing of all
others that he dreaded, it was an un-
pleasant necessity concerning which
he thought as little as possible.
Though he preached frequently on the
peace of the grave and the joys of
heaven, he was far from believing in
either.-he was uervcrsly terrified of
! illness, and fled like frightened nare
from the very rumor of any infectious
disorder, and he had never been known
| to attend Il death-bed And now, in
answer to TEelma, he nodded piously
aud rubbed his hands, an6 said
es yes no doubt TO doubt All
very proper on your part, | am sure!
| But concerning this same image of
which | came to speak,--it is most
| imperative that you should be brought
| tp rpCDpuiyp IL - n Duraly cnlnal OH