Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-08-11


could say; she herself did not know.
She only knew that whereas her life
had always seemed dull and purpose
less. 1t had since Jack Newcombe's
visit, grown utterly dreary and joyless.
Was it love? She did not ask her
self the question. Had she done so.
she could not have answered it.
Any schoolgirl of fifteen feeling as
Una felt would have known that she
was in love, but Unas only schooling
had consisted of the few stern lessons
of Gideon Rolfe.
Il can nevr see him, hear him. speak
to him again." was her one sad reflec-
ton; but if I could be somewhere
near him, unseenn'
Then, through her brain, her fathers
words rang with melancholy persist
ence. This youth whose eyes had
seemed so frank and brave whose
voice rang with music so new and
sweet, was so her father said, I'M
utterably wicked. One to be avoided
as dangerous animal! 1t could not
but be true; she thought her father
was truth itself.
But if it We're So then how false the
world must be, for one to look and
speak so gently, and yet be so wicked.
All day she wandered in the woods.
returning to the cottage pale and list
less. to leave her plate untouched or at
best trifled with. Gideon Rolfe saw
the change which had befallen her,
but held his peace, though a bitter
rage filled his heart; Martha Rolfe
chided her for her listlessness. and
put Gliding and coaxing aside with
gentle smile, and escaped to the lake
where she could dream alone and I'M
disturbed.
The two days passed-lon the third,
as she was sitting beside the spot
which had grown sacred in her eyes.
with its crushed and broken ferns,
she heard steps behind. Thinking
that they were those of her father or
one of the charcoal burners, she did
not turn her head. The footsteps drew
nearer and a man came out from the
IillN N N'Ou anu otOOu Oll INC Ill vi
the lake, and remained for a moment
looking about him.
Una was SO hidden by the tall brake
that she remained unseen, and sat
holding her breath watching him.
He was tall, thin, and dressed in
black, and when he turned his face to-
ward her Una saw that he was not i'll
looking. She might have thought
him handsome but for that other face
which was always in her mental vision.
He was very pale, and looked anxious
and i'll at ease; and as he stood looking
before him his right hand took his left
into custody. 1t was Stephen Daven-
ant.
For few moments he stood with a
half-searching, half-absent expression
on his pale face, then turned and en-
terd the wood again.
Pale with wonder and curiosity, Una
rose and looked after him, and to her
infinite surprise saw carriage slowly |
approaching.
A lady was seated in it, lady with a
face as pale as the mans but with
still more anxious and deprecating eX-
preston.
Una, with the quickness of sight ac-
CURED by life spent in communion
with nature, could see, even at that dis.
lance, that the lady'S eyes were like
those of the mans, and. furthermore
that she was awaiting his approach
with nervous timidity that almost
to fear.
With fast beating heart Una watched
them wondering what could have
brought them to Warden, wondering
who and what they were, when sud
denly her heart gave a great bound,
for the gentleman, turning to the
driver. said in a soft, low voice:
We are looking for the cottage of a
woodman named Gideon Rolfe"
Never heard of it, sir. Do you
know what part of the forest it is in?'
No" said Stephen.
Then it's like looking for a needle
in a bundle of hay" retorted the man.
However difficult, it must he found"
said stephen. Drive on till you come
TO some road and follow that. 1t may
lead us to some place where we can
ascertain the direction of this mans
cottage
The man touched his horse with the
whip and still Una stood as If spell
bound, but, suddenly remembering that
they eyre going in the opposite direc.
ton to the cottage, she was about to
step forward. when she heard the bark
Of the dog and almost as If he had
sprung from the ground, Gideon Rofe
stood beside the carriage.
All, here is someone, said Stephen.
Can you tell us the road to the cottage
o fGideon Rofe the woodman my
man." he asked
And what may be your business
with him."
why do you ask. my good man."
he replied.
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