Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-10-12

ly: why do you want love philter?
Is the-man you are engaged to fickle?''
We'll, e runs after Mad'selle Leon
ore, and can't stand it, and / rates
i'm, and e laughs at me. and I'm
beastly miserable, ami"
The girls voice broke, and great
tears rolled down her cheeks. The
scholar was much distressed He was
very learned man, and instructed in
the best wisdom of many lands, but he
had also studied diligently book that
it requires no great erudition to under
! stand, but only what is quite as rare,
! humble heart. A certain saying in
| that book which runs: But thou hast
| mercy upon all, and winkest at the sins
Of men, because they should amend"
came into his mind, and the trouble OF
this poor circus girl was very real to
him. She wiped her eyes with gayly-
bordered Northumberland, and
said:
what would Idly do?"
The scholar pondered for a moment,
then said efficiently, and with extreme
shyness: Il think that she would not
show that she minded. That she
would try to be always sweet and good
tempered and gracious, above all to
Madam What's-her-name Don't let
him think himself so precious, my
child. We all value what is hard to
obtain. He's too sure of you or he
wouldn't tease you. If you are wise,
and If he is worth having-if he's
worthy of you and Of your good father,
you'll find that all this nonsense will
come to an end as a tale that is told. "
1t was a long speech for the scholar
to make; he flushed little as he made
it, and the circus girl gazed at him ad-
miringly, exclaiming:
You are a KNOWN old cove."
The scholar shook his head and said
humbly: II fear am ignorant in these
matters. | have only known three
women intimately in my life-my
mother, my wife, and my daughter"
rs that what your daughter did-the
young Idly as is just married?" she
asked eagerly
don't know what she did," an
swered the scholar gently; and indeed
1t was true, for the engagement had
come upon him as a bolt from the blue
while he was thinking of Phyllis as still
in pinafores.
WAS she very ard to please?" per-
sisted the girl.
Had Phyllis been hard to please? the
scholar asked himself. He did not
know. 1t had not taken long to please
her. anyhow; so he said; Il don't
know if she was hard to please, but ]
know that whatever she did was right
and sweet and womanly. and you can
do all that yourself my dear"
Il wish l was lidy!" sighed the cir
Gus girl; "but father says as one can
be as good girl in troupe as if one
was scripture reader, e do. l see
as you're a sky pilot by yer choker
What do you say?"
Il quite agree with your father: he
must be most sensible man. and
wish | knew him. Believe me, a cir
Gus lady can be just as useful a lady
as any other if she will only try, and
/ am sure you'll try
Tie girl rose from her seat. so did
the scholar; she held out her hand to
him and he took it. and the old man
and sae girl looked into each others
eyes.
Goodbye" said the girl; I'm glad
| came, though you are so ignorant
about love poshins!"
I'm very glad you came" said the
scholar heartily; land, believe me, YOU
need no love poshins,' you are quite
charming enough without" The girl
flushed up to the roots Of the furye-
brush. Then the scholar said: Would
you like some roses?" The girl said:
Please, SIR" in the shyest, smallest
voice, and the scholar held the door
| open for her to pass out. Then he fol-
| lowed her across the hall and through,
the open front door. He took his prun-
ing-knife from his pocket and he cut
her great bunch of the roses that were
famed throughout the county. then he
walked down the drive with her, and
at the lodge gate he bade her good bye.
She started down the road. and then
looking back and seeing him still stand
| ing at the gate she ran back. saving
breathlessly: II wish you'd come and
see me ride. / can jump through the
oops beautiful. can! should like tc
show yer
The scholars eyes were very kind
but he shook his head, saying: "I'm
| getting an old man. my dear; / hardly
ever go out at night"
"But there's a matinee-an afternoon
shows she explained, this after
noon"
The scholar wavered, then the be-
seeching blue eyes caught his and he'd
them. Phyllis would like me to-" he
murmured; then-"I will come and sec
| you ride this afternoon"
81 shall look out for you, mind" said
the girl; don't you forget"
The scholar did not forget-he went!
! Windsor Magazine.
! Six Fingered Monkeys.
New York Sun: In several places
in Cape Colony and the Orange Free