Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-09-02
Continued

ly, looking down on that exquisite, in
rocent, glowing face, and trembling
with the force of the restrained passion
tiat kindled through him. Il don't
know about that!-yours seem to me
like two stars fallen from heaven!
oh, Thelma, my darling make
me worthy OF you.
He spoke with intense fervor-kiss-
ing her with u tenderness, in which
there was something of reverence as
we'll as fear. The whole soul of the
man was startled and reused to mex
pressible devotion by the absolute
simplicity and purity of her nature
the direct frankness with which she
had said her life was his-his-and in
what way was he fitted to be the
guardian and possessor OF this white
lily from the garden of God? She was
so utterly different to all women rs
he had known them-as different as
a bird of paradise to a common house
sparrow. Meanwhile, as these
thoughts fitted through his brain, she
moved gently from his embrace and
smiled proudly, yet sweetly.
Worthy of me?" she said softly and
wonderingly 1t is l that will pray
to be made worthy of you! You must
not put it wrongly, Philip"
He made no answer, but looked at
her as she stood before him, majestic
as a young empress in her straight,
unadorned white gown.
"1helma!" he said suddenly, do you
know how lovely you are?'
"Yes!" she answered simply; Il
know it, because l am like my mother.
But it is not anything to be beauti
ful--unless one is loved-and then it
is different! l feel much more beauti-
full now, since you think me pleasant
to look att"
Philip laughed and caught her hand.
What child you are!' he said. Now
let me see this little finger" And he
lCosened from his watch-chain a half
hoop ring of brilliants. This be-
longed to my mother, Thelma,' he
continued gently, land since her death
l have always carried it about with
me. l resolved never to part with it,
except to" He paused and slipped
it on the third finger of her left hand,
where it sparkled bravely.
She gaZed at it in surprise. You
part with it now" she asked, with
wonder in her accents. Il do not un-
derstand!"
He kissed her. NO? l will explain
again, Thelma!-and you shall not
laugh at me as you did the very first
time l saw you! l resolved never to
part with this ring, | say, except to
my promised wife. Now do you
understand"
She blushed deeply, and her eyes
dropped before his ardent gaze.
Il do thank you very much, Philip,
she faltered timidly-she was about
to say something further when sud
denly Lorimer entered the saloon. He
g.anced from Errington to Thelma,
and from Thelma back again to Err
rington-and smiled So have certain
brave soldiers been known to smile
in face of death-shot. He advanced
with his usual languid step and nom
chalant air, and removing his cap,
bowed gravely and courteously.
Let me be the first to offer my
CONGRATULATIONS to the future Lady Err
rirgton! Phil, old man! | wish
you joy"
When Olaf Guldmar and his daugh-
ter left the yacht that evening, Erri1&-
ton accompanied them, in order &c
have the satisfaction Of escorting his
beautiful betrothed as far as her own
door They were all three very silent
the bonde was pensiye, Thelma shy,
and Errington himself was too happy
for speech. Arriving at the farmhouse,
they saw Sigurd curled up under the
porch, playing idly with the trailing
rose-branches, but, on hearing their
footsteps, he looked UP, uttered a wild
exclamation, and fed. Guldmar tapped
his own forehead significantly.
He grows worse and worse, the
poor lad" he said, somewhat sorrow
fully And yet there is a strange
mlnSIlnS OIL foresight anu WI with HIS
wild fancies. Wouldst thou believe
it, Thelma, child" and here he turned
to his daughter and encircled her
waist with his arm-"he seemed to
know how matters were with thee and
Philip, when | was yet in the dark
concerning them!"
This was the first allusion her father
had made to her engagement, and her
Lead dropped with a sort of sweet
shame.
Nay, now, why hide thy face?'
went on the old man cheerily. "Didst
hou think would grudge my bird her
summertime? Not l. And little did
/ hope for thee, my darling. that thou
v-ouldst find a shelter worthy of thee
in this wild world" He paused
me ment, looking tenderly down upon
ner, as she nestled in mute affection
against his breast-then addressing
himself to Errington, he went on
We have a story in our Morse re-
ligion, my lad. OF two lovers who de-
4 -