Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-06-29

spairingly.
The beauty looks down and raises
her archcd brows.
AND Vane?"
He will not come without him. Let
ms 20 in"
rhey 20 into the diningroom, and
the soup IS put on.
Then the door opens, and 4 footman
says
Sir Heron, my lady"
Rose looks up, too, and the flush
comes back for a moment to her face
end the light to her eyes.
with his usual self-posses1son, he
comes across the room and kisses his
mCtners then he holds out his hand
10 Rose.
Ard as he does so both women re-
mark-tne old one with sorrow the
Young one with a iierce iealousy-the
naggard and wearied face.
Don't move" he says, as Rose
arises to give him the end of the
table. I'M sit mere at the side. I'm
a guest, you know. Quite well, Rose?"
She smiles.
Quite; and are you?"
I!e mods and takes up the menu.
In expectation of his coming, Lady
Letchford has ordered his faVorite
dishes, and as he looks down the elab-
crate list he knows this.
II am afraid I'm late" he says. I'm
Glad you didn't wait"
Wed given you up" says Rose,
lightly, as lightly as If she had seen
him every day fot the last month past,
as lightly as if nothing had occurred
we were Just lamenting our solitary
state. Where Is Vane?"
"Vane?" he says, absently. "Oh,
YES, he called at Mivarts today, twice
think. Was he to be here? | ctme
in only just in time to dress"
Then he begins ON the soup, and
they leave him alone for little
while.
by the time he has finished, Lady
Letchford has taken her cue from
Rose, and makes an effort to initiate
her light carclessness.
He is TO be treat ed as if nothing had
occurred. Even the butler catches
the tone, and hovers about him with
an earnestly affectiouate o6sequious-
ness, taking care that he gets his ia
yGrtc dishes ami favorite wines;
they treat him as if he were a price,
who had suddenly returned from long
travel aud foreign lands, and as one
who could not be made too much of.
And then, when the fish has come
and gone, Rose begins TO talk. She
does not ask questions, sic puts him
to no trouble, she talks 10 anuse.
Now, it is a difficult thing to with
stand a beautiful woman wnen she is
clever to boot, and who eXerts her
cleverness on your benalf, is simply
irresistible
For some time Heron sits and lis
tens with an absent, wearied expires.
sion: hut gradually, as the dinner
prugresses-a dinner carefully chosen
with a view to his taste, accompanied
by rare vlntagas--his pathy yields and
mcits beneath the sunny warmth of
her beauty aud the irresistible charm
OF her manner.
Lady Tetchford, watching her close
ly. is too clever to spoil the effect by
Joining in the conversation, and mere
ly throws in word here and there.
Gradually, but surely, the charm
begins to work; the cXquisitely
nished, yet home!y room, the beautiful
woman exortiug herself, and yet con
cealing all evidence of effort, begin to
tell; ana not once or twice, but often
the stern lips relax into smile, the
cloud of WEAKNESS lifts from mis-
brow, his lips grow softer and his
voice ess harsh.
For the moment he Almost forGets
those dark loving eyes, with the visit
full tenderness and half hidden pas
sion.
Not till SHE has won smile from
him does Rose Vavasour arise; and
as he opens the door for them she
looks over her shoulder and glanccs
up into his face.
Don't he long, will YOU? ! am 60
Ing to Lady Mcrivale's."
He inclines his head. then says,
suddenly,
Don't 20 tonight"
mo! Why not?" she asks, with a
smile Well will think Of it."
He goes back to his chair and the
butter wings in bottle of the old
Letchford port, and mcorks 1t care.
fully
What is this?" asks Heron.
"'rhe As. Sir Heron; think you
viii find ii in good condition There
IS The Lahtte in town, if YOU would
like It,"
No" saws Heron, leave the port"
And h. throws himself back in an
casyehair.
Meanwhile the two women sit over
the irc Lady Letchford anxious and
wistiul, Rose Vayasour confident and
smiling