Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-01-12
Fiction


was about TO DO FOOLISH thlng, an
unfair thing.
"It isn't fair" she said, to spring
a thing like that on man without
any warning. In an unguarded mo-
ment he may"
at Is precisely at that moment that
wish TO see him. IL he has been
thinking Of my money-as you say
he will assuredly betray himself. But
! know he won't"
"And know, my dear Mile, that If
you find you have been living in
fools paradise you won't be able to
conceal that fact from me-"
Mildred recalled every word Of the
conversation as she sat before her
glass. She wished that she had not
decided to do this thing. Surprising
she He'd to Maude afterwards? 1t
would be an easy matter to give
| fictitious account Of how Jack Har-
wood received the news of her fathers
bankruptcy. Why risk losing that
which she priced above everything
else In the world? She was not
sentimental girl, in love with the idea
Of being in love. Jack Iiarwood
seemed to her to be the sole reason
why she lived; without him there was
no necessity for her existence. The
thought that after all he might not be
her ideal man, might not love her,
made her wretched. In this mood she
went down to the drawing room.
Jacks eyes frightened as she en-
tered the room. She glanced at them
for a second and inwardly laughed at
Maudes suggestion that Jack was
merely mercenary. She knew in
stinctively that Maude was wrong
Cheored by this selfassurance she
felt almost glad that she had prom.
Used to test Jacks love for her. He
would come through the ordeal well,
and they would both be all the hap,
pier for It afterward.
Man relations had been invited to
the Christmas dinner and Mildred
was busily engaged after dinner in
entertaining them. She tried many
limos to draw Jack on one side, but
no opDpl lunlIy III Ilt lHB out
of her plan came till the other guests
had left.
I'm afraid It was awfully slow for
you, Jack" she said directly they
were alone. She knew that II she did
not speak quickly she would miss the
opportunity altogether and then
Maude would twit her for her want OF
courage.
SLOW, dear?" said Jack, mot at
all. | enjoy good old-fashloned
Christmas dinner party--charads and
things"
TITS no use pretending you didn't
want any bridge. Jack, because
know you did. But, you see, nearly
all our relations are beautifully poor,
and their stakes wouldn't have
amused you"
Rubbish my dear. never really
play for money-not entirely for the
monoy--and II 1t comes to that, I'm
Jolly poor too. You seem to forget
that"
Her opportunity had come and she
WYNN i'' h'h' huu lNllNdibNN ilNl bhOl y
and she told 1t quietly and simply.
Unknown to her father, she had over.
heard conversation between him
and her uncle that afternoon. From
that conversation she had learned
that affairs in the city were in an
awful state, and that the failure of
the firm might come at any moment.
Then she stopped and peeped UP
under her oyelashes at Jack. His
face was very white, but his eyes
were smiling, She knew the express
sion We'll and In that moment she
know also that Maude was wrong,
that Jack loved her for herself and
not for her money. The joy Of this
knowledge came SO suddenly that she
was almost betrayed into telling Jack
of the trick. 1t was sweet to know
that she was loved by him.
He drow heg 70 him and she lay In
his arms with her head on his shout.
der, Her eyes were half closed, but
she knew he was bending down to
kiss her; she was Supremacy happy.
Dearest" he whispered, I'm awful
ly sorry for you and your father-and
yet I'm glad-in a way. This makes
us level doesn't It? can work, you
know can and-and that will be
all right, won't 1t? This won't make
any difference, will It? moan,
you're not afraid of poverty-more or
loss, are YOU"
! 81. L
Il am very-ycry happy" she muir.
mured, and YOU make me so. DO
YOU know, dear, | was half afraid OF
what YOU would say when told you.
thought that perhaps you might
might think II more--er-- moro pru.
dent If we-if We
Prudent, darling? AS IL could be
IanythlnS SD awfully commonplace!
Wen talk It all over tomorrow.
You're tired tonight By-hy. and