Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-03-25

marked features and keen, dark eyes
proclaimed her person OF intelligence
and decided character. She threw aside
the book she was reading and advanced
towar the flight of steps where the
rider, an artillery officer. was already
dis mounting from his horse. AS he
caught sight OF her the dark cloud Of
sorrowful anxiety which was over his
eCuntenance was visibly lightened'
"Ah, Mrs, Tailyour am indeed,
thankful TO see you You are the very
person who can help me-" he cried.
Anything wrong, Captain Ferguson"
she ssked eagerly as he joined her in
The shade. Then, taking III the de-
tails OF his horses heavins sides aud
his own heated and worn appearance.
she added with increased apprehension:
"Icu have ridden fast. No bad news,
trust
Yes, very bad news. The worst, as
far as | am concerned! Poor Jocelyn-
my greatest friend, as you know-such
good sort he was. | never was so
cut up about anything in my whole
life"
He sank beside her on seat with an
air of detected melancholy. and passed
his hand YEARLY across his brow.
Has there been skirmish already
Mrs. Tailyour asked breathlessly. Il
did not know any fighting was expect
ed yet; the colonel reported all quiet in
his last Is poor Major Jocelyn wound
ed?"
He is dead, poor fellow! There has
been no fighting; it was an accident
with one Of the guns, imagine, but
the telegram only said Accident,
Jocelyn killed; meet train tonight,
That is all know
Good God. Mrs. Tailyour exclaimed.
Gerald Jocelyn killed! How shocking
am terribly grieved. His poor young
wife! Only married six months! The
tears rose il. her eyes as she spoke.
Yes, his wife, Captain Ferguson.
answered anXiously. Il rode out al
once, hoping to find you here and that
you would kindly break the news to
Mrs. Jocelyn and relieve me of the
painful responsibility. l have not the
courage to do it, though don't suppose
she will feel it much
He spoke with some bitterness, and
Mrs. Tailyour answered him quickly:
"You misunderstood her-indeed you
do, Captain Ferguson. Poor child!
poor, pretty child! she is but child
after all. A thoughtleSs friyalCus crea-
tire she may be, but believe her love
for Gerald is genuine and far deeper
than anyone suspected--deeper than
she herself is aware
She has a curious way Of showing it,
then, l must confess Captain Fergu-
sen replied with acerbity. Il never
liked her, you know that, Mrs. Tail
your. A brainless, selfish coQuette,
without spark CT real feeling for any
one but herself. | am sure pitied
poor Jocelyn for the life she led him
last winter in Cairo, flirting with
every man she met! And then that poor
fellow Cummings shooting himself
that was a horrid business, However.
this will sober her, il anything will.
Where is she now?"
She is out riding with Lord Perez
val; they started soon after breakfast
and may return at any moment"
That fellow Perciyal! Brute! Won
der Jocelyn did not put his foot down
there"
Captain Ferguson trowned and re-
lapsed into gloomy silence.
See that little cloud OF dust? That
is their party no doubt"
Mrs. Tailyour pointed to the distant
undulating line in the desert. Il dread
this business. Poor little soul. She is
not of the stuff for bearing trouble
well. God knows how she may take
it,"
Some few minutes the littCl caval-
cade rode up, laughing and joking, to
the villa, all unconscious of the two
people who awaited its arrival IL sor-
rowful silence, dreading the moment
when their sad intelligence must be
made known. Maud Jocelyn sprang
from her horse and ran lightly up the
steps toward them with hugh on her
lips then something in the strar &c ex-
preston on the two faces that con-
fronted her froze the words of merry
greeting on her tongue.
"Oh. my dear! my dear! Mrs. Tail
your said pitlfully. taking her BY the
hand and drawing her away.
Lob. what is it, Mrs. Tailyour? What
has happened? Gcrald-is he i'll? Tell
me quickly; you have heard bad news, =
Maud stammered in terrified accents.
Yes, dear child, there is bad news
be braye!' and the older woman led the
girl quickly away to her own room.
There later a voice called forth in
anguish: Gerald. my love! Gerald.
Oh, my dear love! Dear Gerald-hus-
hand! Lying dead while l rode. laugh
ing and jesting. across the desert"
Then the thought Of their last words,
to-gether flashed avross her mind. She
Caomad again IN coo tho nroud hand