Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-04-06
Continued.

Bless my Soul, WHY COuluH YOU
both say so, them" exclaims Mr. Dial
ton; how did II occur?"
I'm the picture ROOM explains Car
RE, "a piece of armor fell-why, May
what ring Is that"
May snatches her hand away, but
Carrie Is too quick
May, II Is Sir Heron's ring! saw
him wear 1t tonight"
Hush" says May; but Mr., DaItons
ear is too quick.
"What's that? Whose ring? Sir
Heron's What on earth"
Then he stares al Mays face, and
his own grows white with hope and an.
ticipatory triumph,
"Why-why don't you speak," he
says; did Sir Heron give you this
rins?"
Yes" avs May,
Mr.. Dalton sinks into his chair.
May" gasps Carrie, with wide
open eyes and mouth.
May turns to her, and bending down,
Kisses her.
you shouldn't have spoken, dear
she says bul II Is true. Sir Heron
has asked mo TO marry him"
Mr.. Dalton springs from his chair
and stands gaspng like a fish, then
slowly his face Pushes, and he finds
speech
ASKED You to marry him, Is 1t
true? That isn't-wIth spasm Of
fear-"this isn't one of your old prac-
tical iokes?"
Then seeing that Mays face is full
of aarnestness, he takes her In his
arms and well not exactly cries
but sobs and cries with proud emotion:
God bless you, my dear child! This
is the proudesl moment Of your old
fathers IIfe! Sir Hern -you--you
will he Lady l.etchford May, al.
ways knew your heart was in the right
place and that you'd be an honor to
your family. Lady Letchford! Bless
my soul, anl--and- me look at the
ring, Weil-wcll! Er-er-CarrIe-~
reach me the soda water and brandy"
And quite overcome, he sinks into the
chair. Lady l.etchford!" he NUT
laughs and mods knowingly, hts SUR
prise. | know, but no such n surprise
M yuu thiuk," he says, patting her on
the back. II saw II coming! knew
which va tAe wind was blowing, and
--ha, hai think gave It u helping
'hand tonight Yes you played your
cards we'll May, admirably, and II
-ioes You credit! Lord there isn't Il
girl in the county--not the best born of
them all-that won't envy you. Hun
drrds tefc set their cap at him. and
my daughter has beat 'em--beat 'em!"
and he thrusts his hands into his
pockets and laughs. But, mind" wag
PinE his head payfuly at May. who
stands striving hard to keep the con.
tempt and disgust from showing them.
solves on her eyes and lips, but mind,
YOUR father gave you a helping hand.
I always said I'd bnck you up, and
did II. let II right ont plain and
straightforward, and am right;
there's nothing like putting things
straightforward"
What do you mean?" says May, In
low voice.
"WhN, my doar, | hatter myself |
brought things to head for You to.
night. | wasn't going to let them
think that they wns going to make a
bad bargain OF t. Don't tell me these
swells don't care for money. know
better; II Is natural Everybody likes
money. Why, half the people marries
Tor money, and why should these
llctchfords refuse IT."
"Well?' drops like piece of ice
from Mays lips.
We'll my dear, won't You sit down?
Sit down, my dear Carrie, get your
sister chair"
May waves her hand impatiently,
welt. my dear when me and Sir
Heron and Mr. Vnyasour was alone
sittin comfortable over our wine, |
spoke straight out, and told 'cm that
" my daughter married we'll I'd do the
'andsome thing. OH | had my eyes
on Sir icron-he's deep I'm, he Is.
There he sat with his legs stretched
out as IL he wasn't listening, hut when
on Win IL pam. anu salh, \ SNt
YOU forty thousand pounds the day
YOU married to my liking saw him
Jump as II he had been shot Mind
knew the letchfords were rather
short just now had It from thett
agents, or else shouldn't have opened
my mouth so wide. But that's my mot
io-bid high IL you've set your mine
on the lot-bid high, and they'll KNOCK
Il down at once You've done YOU
part like.-ltkc Il good girl, my dear;
but II was the forty thousand pound,
that clinched II, depend upon IT,
with white. set face, aud auguisheC
eyes, May looks down at him; thor
suddenly her hands SO up to her face
and she bursts into storm Of passian
ate sohs
BLESS my soul" exclaims TIL,
father. what's the matter now =
what have doner"