Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-05-21
story Of a Romantic Dav
By THOMAS COBB.

then by the way.
Did he die on the way home?" She
asked, quietly
Away up country in Australia"
Then" she said, why did you re-
turn"
Nostalgia" l answered, You fret
and growl and get sick with every
thing. You long for the old places
and the old people"
Only the-the old people," asked
Elsa.
The people you have known all
your life"
They need not all be so very old.
said Elsa
But" l continued, Il am not Ger
tain | should have returned if | had
known
If you had known WHAT"
"Of the changes which the last two
months have brought about"
Elsa came to an abrupt standstiN,
facing me with unmistakable indigna-
ton.
DO you intend to suggest that
have changed" she demanded,
Il wonder if you remember the
night saw you last?"
"Of course | remember" she an
swered
You were beautiful then"
you know that is not what
meant" she cried.
Now you are more beautiful still
Perhaps that is due to fine feath,
ers," she suggested, with the faintest
oil smiles.
Perhaps"
But" she exclaimed throwing out
her hands, with the white gloves in
the right, they are nothing, they do
not count at ALL"
1t was impossible to resist a glance
around the gallery, with its collection
of treasures from all parts of the
world
You say they are nothing?"
Il asked whether you thought had
changed" she insisted. "I-myself--"
How can | judge you in that init
maze way"
you have surely known me init
mately-you have known me for
years"
Il will take your word for it that
you haven't" | answered; but still
Elsa's face looked grave.
But then" she suggested, eff you
didn't take the trouble to find out
what | really was before"
ooh, | never doubted what you
were!''
WHAT she demanded, with a
quick upward glance. But before
could have explained, even If would
she added imperiously: Tell me about
your friend"
You would have liked old Howard, .
said.
WAS he i'll very long?" she asked.
He broke down soon after we land
ed
But didn't he get any better?"
Not much. 1t was a tedious bust
ness for the poor fellow"
"And for you?"
ooh, we'll"
Didn't his illness rather handicap
you?" Elsa suggested.
Il dare say it did--a little"
"Who nursed him."
You must understand that we were
miles away from everywhere and
every one"
Then it was you"
There was no one else"
Still" she cried, Il suppose he
wasn't i'll the whole timer"
No, but he was never quite well, 2
II explained. "Of course he had his
| better periods"
'You might have taken him to some
town-haye got him off your hands"
q might"
why didn't you she demanded.
severely.
You see we had pooled our funds
and taken cattle run and stocked it:
and, besides, Howard was everlast.
ingly hoping for better times"
Then" said Elsa, "it was really his
illness which prevented your sue,
cess"
Anyhow" returned, I'VE had
agreed to chum"
But" asked Elsa, "do you-do you
think it was quite fair?"
Old Howard would have done the
same by me-"
Il wasn't thinking of Mr.. Howard"
"Of whom them"
"Why-of the girl you left behind
you said Elsa.
Il don't think / ever passed a day
without thinking of her" protested.
WAS 1t quite fair to her?"
Fair
you had left her waiting for you"
cried Elsa
But then, you see, she didn't
know" ! reminded her.
"Of course, answered Elsa, with a
smile. How stupid Of me-"
"You-you were forgetting" | sug.
gested"
Yes, IL was forgetting" she muir.
mered, and her face grew grave