Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-08-19


way o. friendship" observed Macfar-
lane somewhat suspiciously, and we
wad lac lighted we through"
oh, II was no matter!" said Thelma,
with q charming smile. "Sir Philip
seemed well to know the way, and 1t
wa, not So very dark"
Lorimer glanced at her and read
plainly all that was written in her
happy face. His heart sank little;
but, noticing that the old bonde WAS
studying his daughter with a slight air
Of vexation and surprise, he Loyalty
determined to divert the general at
ttntion from her bright bushes and
too brilliantly sparkling eyes.
well! Here you both are, at any
rate" he said lightly, land / should
strongly advise that we attempt no
more exploration of the island Of Soroe
today. Look at the sky; and just now
there was a clap Of thunder"
Thunder" exclaimed Errington.
81 never heard it!'
II dare say mott" said Lorimer, with
quiet smile. still we heard 1t pretty
distinctly, and think we'd better
make for the yacht"
"All right" and Sir Philip sprang
gaily into the long-boat to arrange the
cushions in the stern for Thelma.
Never had he looked handsomer or
more high-spirited, and his citation was
noticed by all his companions.
Something joyous has happened to
our Phil-eep," said Duprez in q half
whisper. "He is in the air!"
and something in the ither way has
happened vera suddenly to Mr.. Guild
mar" returned Macfarlane. 9TH auld
man is in the dumps"
The bonde's face in truth looked
sad and somewhat stern. He scarcely
spoke at all as he took his place in
the boat beside his daughter he
GOD her little hand looked at it, and
Used 1t fondy.
They were all soon on their way back
to the Iulalie, over sea that had
grown rough and white-crested during
their visit to the cave. Clouds had
gathered thickly over the sky, and
though a few shafts of sunlight still
forced passage through them, the
threatening darkness spread with
steady persistency, especially to the
northern side of the horizon, where
| Storm lowered in the shape of black
they reached the yacht a silver glare
Of lightning spfang forth from beneath
this sable pinion, and a few large drops
Of rain began to fall. Errington hur-
ricd Thelma on deck AMI down into the
saloon. His friends, with Guldmar,
| followed the vessel was soon
| plunging through waves of no small
height on her way back to the Alien
| ford. A loud peal Of thunder like I.
salvo of artillery accompanied their
departure from Soroe, and Thelma
shivered a little as she heard it.
You are nervous, Mademoiselle
Guldmar?" asked Duprez, noticing her
tremor.
"Oh no." she answered brightly.
Nervous? That Is to be afraid am
not afraid of a storm, but I do not
like 1t. 1t is a cruel, fierce thing; and
should have wished today to he all
sunshine--all gladness!" She paused,
md her eyes grew soft and humid
"Then you have been happy today"
said Lorimer in low and very gentle
voice
She smiled up at him from the
depths of the velvet lounge in which
lGrringtoT had placed her.
Happy? l do not think l have ever
been so happy before!" She paused,
and a bright blush crimsoned her
cheeks; and then, seeing the piano
open, she said, suddenly, "Shall I sing
to you? or perhaps you are all tired.
and would rather rest?''
Music Is rest" said Lorimer rather
dreamily, watching her as she rose
from her seat-a tall. supple, 1.-the
fgure-and moved towards the instru-
ment. "And your voice, Miss Guild
mar, would soothe the most weary soul
that ever dwelt in clay"
She glanced round at him, surprised
Mt his sad tone.
"Ah, you are very, tired, Mr. LCri-
mer, am sure! | will sing you
Morse crade-song to make You go to
sleep You will not understand the
words though-will that matter?"
Not in the least" answered Lori
mer. with a smile "The London girls
sing in German, Italian, Spanish. and
| English. Nobody knows what they
are saying; they scarcely know them
selvos-but it's all right, and quite
fashionable"
Thelma laughed gaily. How fun
ry!" she exclaimed at is 70 amuse
] people suppose! Well,-now listen"
And, playing a soft prelude, her rich
contralto rippled forth in a tender,
passionate, melancholy melody--so
sweet and heart-penetrating that the
practical Macfarlane sat as one in a
dream,-Duprez forgot to finish max
| ing the cigarette he was daintily man
ipulating between his fingers, and Lor-
inner had much ado to keep tears from
his eyes, From one song she glided
to another and yet another: her soul