Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-09-21
III Ell. DORADO
COUNTY
Dy Ina cYriSbf HonSon
Copyright, 1905, by Ina Wright Hanson
by Ina Sz,riSbf Honson
Hsrmione jerked ner fish pole impa-

t.2ntly.
I'm sure It's better fishing over In
FL Dorado county" she said plaintive-
~.
There was once man." answer
ed. who stood at the fork of a sandy,
stony country road, not knowing
whether he should turn to the left, or
80 straight ahead. AS he hestitated, a
farmer came along and the man said.
Which road leads to San Fernando?
And the farmer answered. Both.
And the man saAl Which one shall
take. them And the farmer answer
ed. No matter; whichever one you
take, you will wish you had taken the
other
were in FL Dorado county l should
think 1t would be better fishing here
In Placer county?" ventured Her
mione.
Possibly I do" said. continuing
my scribbllng. though doggedly, for l
emily l CHANGED to look down just us
Hermione looked up. Something there
was in her llmpid eyes, her rose fut-
ed mouth. even the dash Of color In
her smooth cheek. which made me
shove my notebook hastily into my
pocket. l told myself 1t was her re-
semblance to her sister May.
May was In Paris. selecting her
trousseau. When she returned at
some indefinite time-she really seem
ed to be In no more haste to get back
than l was to have her conceive were
mentalists, but were looking forward
to successful comradeship undlstnrb-
ed by disquleting elements Of love- A
working union In which she would H.
lustrate what her husband wrote. We
had been engaged for three years with
we'll for a pleasant future. Still there
was no hurry.
But lately something had entered in
to my placid life which was setting me
all awry The mischief Of It was, too,
that the disturbance was not tangible.
If 1t had been debt, could have paid
1t; if tale rejected, could have re-
vised it or laid 1t upon the flames; If
poor health had been the disquieting
cause, | could have sought remedy,
but 1t was none of these. 1t was an
omnipresent ghost which walked with
me- unseen, unheard. | had faint
Idea of It's birth. On the day Of Mays
departure for Europe we had been dis
cussing Hermlone.
'She must live with u.s." / said.
"Oh, yes" answered May. until she
Is married. l Fancy she will marry
young. She is going to make very
attractive woman"
Before that day l had been con-
tented man; since that day lived in a
misty world except when l resolutely
forgot my absurd, unreasonable feel
ing
Come on. chicken" called gayly to
Hermione, well go into FL Dorado
county"
Over the rocks we clambered, laugh
ing-it Is SO easy for Il child to be
happy and for grownup child to catch
the spirit If he will-over the rocks,
across the suspension bridge spanning
the American river, and we had gone
from Placer county into Ell Dorado.
There! This Is lots nicer" she said
when we were again seated to her sat
isfacticl.
How sweet her voice was, and really
the child was going to be handsomer
than her sister, though May was con-
sidered a beauty. Hermione was
changed lately. somehow. All, 1t must
be her hair. which used to hang down
her back In frowzy braid Today
why--a golden coronal, cleft here and
there with turquoise blue studded
comb and topped or with black bow.
Why
she asked, putting on her hat and
blushlng
Fancy Hermione blushing.
There was once a man." | answered
hypocrltically, who was a-a-well,
Cicero, for example, who was at work
on difficult mental problem, and at
the time he was gazing hard at the
the family cat, for example, but he
had no conception of the eat"
Hermione pouted. If you call your
self Cicero, you might be little more
complimentary to me-"
l laughed. Hermioue always laugh
ed If she had the faintest reason. 50 in
n moment her dimples We're In sight
again. Strange | had never before
noticed what wealth Of them there
was
How old are you, childT' / asked
suddenly
Eighteen" she answered. pulling
her fsh hook gently away from snaG.
| mused over her answer, the taugle
in my head trying hard to straighten
Itself May was thirty-one-my own
age though she didn't look It. Eight
een-ahl
IF the trouble Is in your story" sug-
gested Hermione, maybe l can help
you" Her hazel eyes looked innocent
iy into mine. Mays eyes were blue.
IF only you might" groaned, but
wasn't thinking of the half finished
things had become plain to me- The
ghost was laid, but what profit was 1t
20 me TO gain understanding when II