Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-01-06
a Society Hovel.
...DT...
MARIE CCRELL.

She sighed-and Mrs. Van Cupp
echoed the sigh,-and then these two
ladies,-the nature OF whose intimacy
may now be understood by the dis
eliminating reader,-went together to
search out those of their friends and
acquaintances who we're among the
guests that night, and to announce to
them Tin the strictest confidence, OF
courseD the delightful news OF dear
Marcia's engagement" Thelma heard
OF 1t, and went at once to proffer her
congratulations to Marcia I'm person
II hope you will be very, very hap
py!" she said simply, yet with such
grave earnestness in her look and
voice that the Yankee gel' was touch
cd to certain softness and serious
ness not at all usual with her, and be-
came 80 winning and gentle TO Lord
Algy that he felt in the seventh heav-
On OF delight with his new position as
afiianced lover to 30 charming crea-
ture.
Meanwhile George Lorimer and
Pierre Duprez were chatting together
In the library. It was very quiet
,, there,-the goodly rows OF books, the
busts OF poets and philosophers,-the
large, placid features OF the Pallas
Athene browning an antique pedestal,
tho golden pipes OF the organ gleam-
Ing through the shadows,-all these
gave solemn, almost sacred aspect
TO the room. The noise of the dancing
and festivity In the distant picture
gallery did not penetrate here, and
Lorimer sat at tho organ, drawing out
as he talked.
ITS your fancy, Pierre" he said
slowly. "1helma may DO little tired
today. perhaps-but know she's per-
fecty happy"
IL think not So" returned Duprez.
She has not the brightness-th angel
look-les yeux d'enfant, that we be-
held in her at that far Norwegian
Fjord. Britta IL anxious for her"
Lorimer looked up, and smiled
little.
'Britta? Its always Britta with
he paused and laughed.
"rhink what you pleased" exclaimed
Dupre2, with defiant snap of his fin
gers. IL would not give that little por-
son for all the grandes danes here to-
day! She Is charming and SHE Is
true!-~Ma fol to be true to any one is
virtue In this age! | tell you, my
good boy, there Is something sorrowlul
--heavy-on III belle Thelma's mind
and Britta, who sees her always, feels
lt-but she cannot speak. One thing
will tell you-,t Is n pity she Ia 30
fond of Mlladi Winslelgh."
"Why?" asked Lorimor, with some
oagerness.
Because -" he stopped abruptly
as II white figure suddenly appeared at
the doorway, and u musical voice ad.
dressed them
why, what are you both doing here,
away from everybody" and Thelma
smiled az she approached. you are
hermits, or you are lazy! People are
going In to supper. win you not
como also?"
MA foil" exclaimed Duprez; II had
forgotten! have promised your most
charming mother, cher Lorlmer, to
take her In to this same supper. |
must fly upon the wings of chivalry"
And with n laugh, he hurried off,
leaving Thelma and Lorimer alone to-
gether, She sank rather wearily into
u chair near the organ, and looked at
him.
PLAY mo somethlng!" she said soft
~,
A strange thrill quivered through
deep, earnest eyes of the woman he
loved. For 1t was no use attempting
to disguise 1t from himself-he loved
her passionately, wildly, hopelessly; as
he had loved her from the first
Obedient to her wish, his fingers
wandered over the organ-keys In u
strain of solemn, weird, yet tender
melancholy grand, rich notes
pealod forth sohbngly she listen
ed, her hands clasped idly in her lap,
Presently he changed the theme to one
OF moro heart appealing Eassion-and
n strange wild minor air. like the rush.
ing of the wind across tho mountains,
began to make itself heard through the
subdued ripping murmur of his I'M
proyised accompaniment To his sur
prise and fear, she started up, pressing
her hands against her ears.
Not that-not that song, my
friend!" she cried, almost imploringly.
"Oh, 1t will break my heart! Oh the
Altenfjord!" And she gave way to a
passion OF weeping,
'Thelma Tholma!" and poor Lori
mer, rising from the organ stood gaz-
ing ut her In piteous dismay, every
nerve in his body wrung To anguish by
the sound of her sobbing. A mad long
ing seized him to catch her In his
arms,to gather her and her sorrows
whatever they were, to his heart and
he had much ado to restrain himself
"Thelma," he presently said, in n
gentle voice that trembled just little
"Thelma. what Is troubling you? You