Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-01-29
Continued.


to torment one on whom the brightest
gifts of earth had been layished. He
forgot the Indian news-aII that had
Interested and puzzled him. So this
was LEANS secrct--she loved Sir
Basil, and he did not love her,
poor child, poor child!' muttered
the general How distressed she
was, No wonder she loves him. he
Is the finest young fellow have ever
met Any woman might love him. The
wonder Is why he does not love her,
Perhaps" thought the simple old
soldier che is like me. did not un-
derstand such things until they were
pointed out to me, ] should never
have proposed to dear Lady Bourgoyne
If Major WrattIo had not told me that
she loved the very ground ! stood up.
on After that It was plain sailing
It may be the same with Sir Basil
Something must be done. 1t is n sad
thing when girls lose their mothers;
II is only women who understand each
other. If Doris were here, she would
know what to do
His heart was heavy. lie had meant
this girls lot to be so fair and she
was so unhappy. He grew nervous at
the thought Of meeting her again;
but to his surprise, when he saw her
at the luncheon table, there were no
traces Of sorrow on her beautiful face
She looked colder and prouder than
usual, but there was no sign Of love.
sickness about her.
who can understand women" said
Sir Arthur, appealing to some In.
visible power. They were beyond him
altogether,
CHAPTER XXI.
The general was greatly pcrplcXcd
andaQ quite ut a loss what to do. At
first he thought he would consult the
duchess, who appeared to him to be n
compodium of all worldly knowledge
but he soon dismissed that idea. 1t
would be n betrayal Of n secret that
he had discovered himself only by
chance. During the next few days he
watched Leah Coycrtly, and now that
he had the key, he understood the
enigma of her conduct better. He
saw how completely ongrosscd she
was In her loyo-that she seemed to
have no thought, no interest, no care
outside ii, 1t would be In every re-
spoCt a most eligible match, thought
the general The two estates would
become one, and Sir Basil would make
name for himself They were both
young, handsome, gifted. What IA pity
that Sir Basil did not fall in love with
the girl who was so devoted to him,
Leah came down ono morning look
ing pale and tired; she had not slept
during the night, and the dark eyes
were languid and shaded. Sir Arthur
grew alarmed and anxious about her.
He wanted to take her out for a drive,
but she declined going. She admitted
that she was not we'll. He proposed
that he should take her into the woods,
or for a walk down to the sea; but the
sun was hot-sho would not venture.
Tho general was greatly disturbed,
The duchess found him wandering
unoasily mp and down the terrace.
you are looking very grave this
morning. Sir Arthur" she said May
| venture to ask what occupies your
thoughts"
Il am thinking about subjects that
do not in the least understand" he
answered. ut seems to me that oven
after SO many years experience, |
know but little of life, Tell me,
duchess you understand mattors-do
girls ever really suffer and die from
love-"
The duchess started Had he too,
found out the secret that she had dts
covered?
YES" she answered, q think they
do sometimes die of love Not often;
there are exceptional cases, as there
are exceptional natures"
His face cleared little,
1T is not the kind of thing you
would expect from n sensible girl?' he
intcrrogatcd.
NO" replied to duchess; ut is the
last thing that would happen to u sen,
sible girl"
He gave u great sigh Of relief.
ANU N'N NNN lHlIlh lUNlt are klllS
who would really die il they were what
is called crossed in love-"
YES" said the duchess, Il do
thinl, SO, If Il girl is full Of romance
and poetry, and throws her heart ard
soul into her love. the consequences
are likely to he serious II matters do
not progress smoothly"
There was little comfort to he
gained from this--for Leah he knew,
was visionary and romantic.
IT seems to me-" he said gently,
that such love causes more pain than
pleasure"
Il think It does" agreed the duchess.
Then she went away. She would
say no more: it did not seem to her
either fair or honorable that they
should discuss the secret which both
had discovered
The general became more and more
anxious. He was thinking always OF
his niece; he watched her face intent,
~. If Il was unCluuded. IL her ewes