Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-05-20

tonished Errington.
I Had | known you came from the
devil, sir, YOU should have returned 10
him speedily, with hot words to hasten
/ your departure. would have split
that glass to atoms before would have
drained it after you! The friends OF
/ a false heart are no friends for me
the followers of pretended sanetity
/ find no welcome under my roof, Why
not have told me al once that You
/ came as spies, bounded on by the liar
Dyceworthy? Why not have confessed
4 it openly ?-and not have played the
1 thiet's trick ON an old fool, who, for
once, misled by your manly and up
/ right bearing, consented 20 lay aside
the rightful suspicious he Al first enter
tanned of your purpose? shame on
you, young men!
The words coursed impe;uously from
/ his lips; his face burned with iudigna-
ton. He had broken away from his
/ daughters hold, while she, pale and
very still, stood leaning one hand upon
the table. His white hair was tossed
back from his brow; his eyes flashed
his attitude though vengeful aud threat
commanding that Lorimer caught him.
ening, was at the same time so bold and
self laZily admiring the contour Of hi
| figure and wondering how he would
look in marble as an Infatuated Viking,
One excellent thing in the DISPOSE
tons Of both Errington and Lorimer
was that they never los. their temper,
! Either they were too lazy or too we'll
bred. Undoubtedly they both consid-
cred it bad form" This Indifference
stood them in good stead now. They
showed no sign whatever of offense,
though the old farmers outbreak OF
wrath was so sudden and unlocked for,
| that they remained for moment silent
out of sheer surprise. Then rising
with unrut1led serenity, they took up
their caps preparatory to departure.
Erriugton's gentle, refined voice broke
the silence.
You are in error, Mr.. Guldmar," he
said in chilly nut perfectly polite tones.
Il regret you should be 50 hasty in
yCur judgment ( us. If you accepted
| us DIS hCA "ilGh sOu lcl blNA VS.
cannot imagine why YOU should now
take us for spies. The two terms are
by no means synonymous. | know
nothing of Mr. Dyceworthy beyond that
he called upon me, and that |, as in
duty bound, returned his call. am
| ignorant of his character and DISPOSE
ton. | may add that have no de-
sire to be enlightened respecting them.
do not often take dislike to any
body, but it so happens that | have
done so in the case OF Mr. Dyceworthy.
| know Lorimer doesn't care for him,
| and | don't think my other two friends
are particularly attached to him. l
have nothing more to say, except that
| fear we have outstayed our welcome.
| Permit us now to wish you good even
| ing And YOU" he hesitatcd, and
turned with low bow to Thelma, who
| had listened to his words with grad
ually dawning brightness on her face
you will, | trust, eXonerate us from
any intentional offense towards your
father or yourself? Our visit has
proved unlucky, but"
Thelma interrupted him by laying her
fair little hand on his arm with a visit
full, OBTAINING gesture, which, though
seemingly familiar, was yet perfectly
sweet and natural The light touch
! thrilled his blood, and sent 1t coursing
| through his veins at more than custo-
mary speed.
'Ah, then, you also will be foolish"
she said, with a naive protecting air
of superior dignity. do you not see
my father is sorry? Have we all kissed
the cup for nothing, or was the wine
wasted? Not a drop was split; how
then, If we are friends should we part
in GOODNESS? Father 1t is you to be
ashamed. not these gentlemen, who
are strangers to the Altenfjord, and
know nothing OF Mr.. Dyceworthy or
any other person dwelling here And
when their vessel sails away again over
the wide seas to their own shores, how
will you have them think OF you? AS
one whose heart was all kindness, and
who helped to make their days pass
pleasantly? Or as one who, In un-
reasonable anger, forgot the duties OF
sworn hospitality"
The bonde listened to her full, sweet,
reproachful voice as a tough old lion
.el. 20 the voice of its tanner,
uncertain whether to yield or spring.
He wiped his heated brow and stared
around him shamefacedly. Finally, as
though swallowing his pride with a
gulp, he drew a long breath, took a
couple OF determined strides forward,
AID held out lis hands, one to Erring-
ton and the other to Lorimer, by whom
they were warmly grasped.
There my lads" he said rapidly.
I'm sorry | spoke! Forgive and for
get! That is the worst Of me-my
blood is up in minute, and old though
| am, I'm not old enough yet to be
patient. And when / hear the name
Of that sneak Dyceworthy-by the gates
OF Valhalla, feel as II my own house
would not hold me! No, no; don't go
vet! Nearly ten? Well no matter. the
n 'ght is like the day here, you see
It doesn't matter when one goes to bed.
t., La ntsyhf