Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-09-30
iii EA][ELzWlHZ. No..
a Society 1aovel.
MARIE coRELLi

browsing on the roof In the sunshine
The deserted air of the place was UNI
mistakable, and Guldmar and Erring-
ton exchanged looks of wonder not UNI
mixed with alarm.
"Thelma! Thelma!" calico the bonde
anxiously. There was no response.
He entered the house and threw open
the kitchen door. There was no fire.
and not the slightest sign of any OF the
usual preparations for supper.
"Britta!" shouted Guldmar Sill no
answer. "By the gods!" he exclaimed
turning to the astonished Philip, "this
Is strange thing! Where can the
girls be? | have never known both OF
them to be absent from the house at
the same time, Go down to the shore,
my lad, and see IL Thelma's boat Is
IT. issing, while | search the garden
Errington obeyed-hurryirg off on
his errand with heart beating fast
from sudden fear ana anxiety. For he
knew Thelma was not likely to have
gone out of her own accord at the very
time she would have naturally expected
| her father and his friends back, and
the absence Of Brtta, too was to say
the least OF 1t, extraordinary. lie
reached the pier very speedily, and saw
at glance that the boat was gone. He
fastened bacr to report this to Guild
mar, who WAS making the whole place
resound with his shouts of "Thelma!"
and "Britta," though he shouted al
together In vain.
Maybe" he said obviously, on hear
ing OF the missing boat--"Maybe the
child has gone OH the Fjord often
her custom, but. then, where is
Britta? Besides, they must have ex-
rected us-they would have prepared
supper-they would have been watch
ing for our return. No. no! there Is
something wrong about this-'tis al
together unusual"
And he locked about him In q be-
widered way, while Sir Philip, noting
his uneasiness, grew more and more
uneasy himself
Let me go and search for them, sir
he said eagerly. "They may be in the
woods. or up towards the orchard"
Guldmar shook his head and drew
his fuzzy white brows together In puz-
2led editation-suddenly he started
and struck his staff forcibly on the
ground.
81 have IT," he exclaimed. THAT
old hag Loyisa Is at the bottom OF
| this!"
by Jove!" cried Burlington, IL be-
lieye you're right! What shall we
do?"
AT that moment, Lorimer, Duprez
and Mactnrlane came on the scene
thinking they had kept aloof long
enough, and the strange disappear
anco of the two girls was rapidly ex-
planned to them. They listened aston
lshed and almost incredulous, but
agreed with the bonde as to Lovisa's
| probable share In the matter
Look here!" said Lorimer excitedly.
"Tm not in the least tired, show me
the way to Talvig, where that old
sCreech-owl lives, and III go there
straight rs gun! Shouldn't wonder
IL she has not forced away her grand
child, In which case Miss Thelma may
have gone after her.
"l'll come with you!" said Errington,
Lets lose no time about 1t"
| But Guldnar shook his head IT'S
u long way, my lads.-and you do not
know the road. No-'twill be better
We should take the boat ana pun over
to Bosekop; there we can get II car
rioe to take two of us at least to Tai
! Wig"
He stopped, interrupted by Macfar-
lane, who looked particularly shtewd.
Il should certainly advise ye to try
l}osekop first" he remarked cautiously
MIR. Dyeeworthy might be able to pro-
vide ye with valuable Information"
"Dyceworthy! roared the bonde, be-
coming lnilammable at once. HE
knows little of mo or mine, thank the
gods! and | would not by choice step
within mile of his dwelling. What
makes you think of him, sir?"
Lorimer laid hand soothngly on
his arm,
Now, my dear MIR. Guldmar. don
get excited Mae is right dare say
Dyceworthy knows rs much in his
way as the ancient Lovisa. At any
rate, 1t isn't his fault II he does not
Because you sec" Lorimer hest
tSted and turned to Burlington. You
tell him, Phil! you know all about It. y
"The fact is." said Burlington, while
Guldmar gazed from one to the other
in speechless amazement "Thelma
hasn't told YOU because she knew how
angry you'd he--but Dyceworthy asked
her to marry him. OF course she re-
fused him. and doubt II he's taken his
rejection very lesignedly,"
The face OF the old farmer MS he
heard these words was study. Won
del. contempt. pride, and Indignation
struggled &c, the mastery on his rugged
features
ASKED her o-malry him, he
repeated slowly. by the sword OF
Cdin Had | known 1t | would have
throttled him." las eyes hla2ed and