Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-10-12

Her lie hitherto mad been so gray
nd sober, 50 uncyentful, that the Incl.
tents which had been crowded into
mis- day had almost bewildered her.
She ought in common fairness to
nat individual, to have thought first
md most Of Ralph Duncombe: but /,
vas upon the other young man who
lad plunged into the waves to rescue
lick that her mind was fiexd.
Beauty-mans beauty-doesn't count
! 1uch with women. Indeed, it has
cen remarked by the Obseryant thaf
ONE of the ugliest men have married
he prettiest girls; and it was not
iorke's handsome face that had i'm,
pressed Leslie. 1t would be hard to
say exactly what 1t was In him that
had done so. Perhaps it was the frank
mile, the free and musical voice, that
,eyil-may-care air OF his, or the pleas,
Mt voice which seemed to float in
through the window upon the moon,
beams and find no echo in Leslie >
| leart
Once or twice she tried to cast him
nut of her mind. There seemed to her
something almost approaching unmaid-
nliness in dwelling so much upon this
itranger-this young man whom she
lad seen for only few minutes, ana
whom she might never see again.
Why, she did not even know his name
or, at any rate, only part OF It.
'Yorke," Mr.. Temple had called him,
ana she murmured 1t absently,
'Yorke"
1t seemed to fit him exactly. 1t had
an alert sound in it. She could fancy
him ready for any danger-any emer.
3ency He had plunged into the waves
after Dick as If It were a matter OF
course that he should do so--had done
1t as naturally as If there were no
other course open to him.
She could see him now as he came
out with Dick in his arms, his hair
plastered on his face, his eyes bright
had been to avoid any thanks or fuss!
|, was wicked OF him, OF course, 10
tell u story, ami account for his be-
soaked condition by saying that he
had fallen off the breakwater. Leslie
smiled as she thought of the thin
ness" of the excuse; but she under.
stood why he had hbbcd, and forgavc
him.
Don't YOU like Mr.. Norke, Dick:
! You ought to do SO, for If it had not
! been for him you would be at the bot
tom Of the sea, little doggie, by this
! time"
Probably Dick would have liked to
nave replied:
And If II hadn't been for him |
/ shouldn't have gone in at all"
Then her thoughts wandered to the
crippled hunchback, and her heart
/ throbbed with gratitude as she thought
of his kindness. Mrs. Merrick had
said that he was nobleman; but
4 there had evidently been mistake,
Very likely the Supplemented land
lady had concluded that no one travel
ing with manservant could be less
4 than a man Of title.
Leslie thought Of the two men, but
/ most OF Yorlle, and all they had said
and done for some time before Ralph
/ Duncomhe insisted upon his share in
/ her affections And as she thought or
him she sighed She pitied him and
was sorry for him, but she did not
want to see him again He had fright,
/ cncd MS well as touched her by the
passionate avowal which had accom-
panied the ring.
The ring She had clean forgotten
It. She put her hand in her pocket,
turned II out, burt the ring was not
there. What had she done with it, It
was fast closed in her hand she re.
mcmbero when she heard Dicks ptte-
Gus yap, and then she had sprung up
and ran down the beach. She must
have dropped It among the pebbles
Her heart smote her reproachfulIy.
The least she could do in return for
tho passionate love Ralph Duncombe
had lavished so uselessly upon her was
to keep his ring.
She rose, troubled and remorsofmt
The tide had been going out when she
dropped H. II was not likely 1t woulo
be seen by anyone and 1t was proha
bly, lying where 1t had fallen, She
seemed to see the plain gald ring Iy,
ing there In the silent night neglected
and despised.
Her hat and Jacket lay on the he'd.
She snatched them IND, put them on
hastily, and left the house. A light
burned behind the windows Of Marine
villa opposite, and she glanced up at
| il. trying TO picture to herself the two
men IN the sitting.room; the one so
strong and stalwart. the other SO weak
and crippled
AS she went quickly down the street
he was conscious OF n new and
TRANCE feeling; 1t was half pleasant,
,alf painful, 1t seemed to her MS If
! some spirit OF change had entered her