Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-01-22


her too well, and he was accustomed
to it.; he did not think it necessary to
tell her he was there.
For ten minutes there was almost
complete silence, He could hear the
sound of Leahs pen. She was writ
ing rapidly Then suddenly the
door opened and Sir Arthurs
smothered groan was lost in the voice
of the speaker.
Shall | disturb you Miss Hatton 2"
1t was Sir Basil who put the question.
81 am in trouble, from which a lady
alone can release me-"
81 am glad you sought me-" she
said. And for the first time the gen
era was struck with something
peculiar in the tone Of her voice as
she answered him What can | do
for YOU? she asked.
There is an old proverb which says
that a stitch in time saves nine Will
you make that first stitch now, and
save the nine hereafter, Miss Hatton ?"
"Of course | Will" she replied.
where is the stitch needed"
an this drivingglove," he replied;
"thc button is nearly off. Would you
be so kind as to fasten it,"
Leah laughed blthely.
"Ccrtainly," she said, as she took
the thick yellow driving-glOve that he
held out to her. "Will you excuse me
one minute while ! find needle and
thrcad?' she added
She went away, leaving Sir Basil
looking over an open volume that lay
upon the table
Il hope" thought the general to him
self, that this good fellow will not
find me out and begin to air his ideas
on Indian politics to me"
But Sir Basil was in happy ignor
anco Of the generals proximity. He
read a few lines in the open volume
hummed a favoritc air to himself, and
then Leah returned.
81 am sorry to have kept you wait
ing" she said. Il will release you
now in few minutes"
The slender fingers soon accom-,
plishod their task. She held out the
glove to him, and as she did so, her
eyes fell on the spray of stephanotis
that he wore in his coat
"Your flower is faded" she said
"Lct me give you another. | have
superstition that it is unluCky to
wear faded flowers"
"By all means replace it, if you will
be good enough" he responded.
She took the spray Of stephanotis
from him, and laid it upon the table.
From one of the vases she chose a
beautiful moss-rOsebud, fresh as the
dawn, and fastened it in his coat for
him.
He thanked her briefly, stood talking
to her for some few minutes, and then
went away.
Sir Arthur, looking over the screen, !
was about to thank Heaven that he
was gone; but no word came from his
Ips-he was stricken dumb.
What was he doing-his proud,
beautiful niccc-whosc love no man
had been able to win, whose smiles
had been sought as priceless boon?
She had never seemed to care for love
or admiration, for lovers or marriage.
She had moved though the brilliant
world like an ice-maiden. What was
she doing?
She had taken the withered flower
in her hands, and was lneeling down
by the table and covering the faded
spray with kisses and tears
"Oh, my love-" she sighed, my
love If you only loved me, But | |
am less to you than the withered !
flower you have thrown away"
The general would have spoken |
then and have let Leah know that he
had overheard her but surprise and
wonder kept him silent He saw her
kiss the open volume wlere Sir Basirs |
hand had rested
II shall die" she sobbed, Just as
this flower has died, and just as far
from his heart Oh, cruel world!
have asked but for one thing and it
has been denied me. | wish | had
never been born Oh, my love, why
can YOU not love me? am fair enough .
for others, why not for you? | can win
other hearts. why not yours? ! would
give my life for your love-
The low smothcred sound Of her bit .
ter sobhiug mingled with the song of
the birds and the whisper of the wind; |
II smoto the heart of the old soldier |
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