Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-07-05

"iIverytnlng!" Karsens said, with a
thick undernote Mildred, Mildred"
he went. on, Il have been blind this ten
days. Now that see is it quite too
late?"
81 don't understand" Mildred said
suddenly prim and pale. She half
turned away her face as she wound
up her thick hair and massed it high
on her head. II must CO." she muir
INJURED. "Dicky has every hairpin in
some of his pockets. He says he means
to keep them SO | cannot go with the
others. My hair, you see, is unruly;
it defies ordinary fastenings, SO unless
l can get the pins back before he thinks
to hide them the chances are | shall
really be prisoner until tomorrow"
All this in a huddle, with flight after
it. Karsens stood staring after the
vanishing figure In a scowling daze. He
was angry clean through. If it was
fate's decree that he should be thus
bowled over, why had it not come to
pass at first? Then he might have had
a chance-now, now, when he had
shown himself understanding ass, of
course she would never look at him,
much less listen. There was also the
man in the locket. She had bluGhed
furiously when Dicky told of him Who
could he be? Some Minton ma likin,
no doubt Though Mildred had baep
strange to him, he knew low she had
grown up there, the light of her fathers
eyes, the stay and comfort of an in
valid mother They had no business to
keep her there. 1t was that which had
made her so silent, so pale and ungirl-
ish instead of beauty as glorious ss
delicate
She was. after all, the wife for him,
yet they had given her no chance. He
had been likewise defrauded. How was
he to know that aught so nunlike could
soften and brighten like a gray sky at
DAWN Until train time he asked him.
self these things and many more over
and over. He meant to have them
answered in part before he got back to
the city. There fate baked him. Al
the very last minute Mildred decided to
stay another day. Dicky howled de-
light and triumph when he heard it
and instantly carried her off from
everybody. Karsens made his adieus
with what grace he might and went
home more than ever daZed.
He did not sleep that night. Next
day betimes he sped him back to Hid,
away. He found the house deserted.
MpS BARTON 1pix-in,y cai1 N
butler Miss Gore? He was not sure.
She might be in the grounds. She was
not in her own room or anywhere
about the house.
Wherever she might be, Master Dicky
was with her. Karsens waited to hear
nothing more He plunged into the
shrubbery, took a short cut that led
to the pine grove and came out at the
edge of it breathless, yet content, for
he heard voices through the murmur-
ing stiffness of it-Dicky's shrill and
gleeful, Nlildred's touched with plead
ing, yet wholly good humored Kar-
sens crept noiselessly toward the pair,
stopped in the ambush of big pine
six feet away and listened shamelessly
to what was said, having much ado
the while to keep himself from laugh
ing.
Mrs. Barton dotted on antiques. She
had astounded the countryside by pay
ing fabulously for all manner of truck,
ancient and weather beaten. Thus 1t
happened she had bought from the
town authorities the old stocks rum
mayed out when the town hall was re-
built and had set them UP In the pines,
arranging them so strollers might sit
on them and hear the tale of them.
Adventures even put their feet in the
allotted spaces of timbers still stanch.
Thus Dicky had learned the trick He
had played it this morning himself,
then persuaded Mildred to do the same.
When her feet were nicely settled he
slapped down the upper half, fastened
it tight and said: "Now you are my
prisoner. will not let you out until
Until what, Dicky, dear?" Mildred
had asked, laughing heartily. She was
asking it still when Karsens came in
sight Dicky seemed bordering deep
~ ~ . hOl ldlL " uSh lWO lOE
one" he said at last. land l want to
ask two. | don't know just yet which
l want worse"
"Oh. well. then I'll go to sleep and
let you find out" Mildred said, pre-
tending to sigh deeply, although Kar-
sens was sure her eyes We're dancing.
Dicky went very near her. You better
not" he said, "'cause if you do |
mightn't have to ask but one"
Indeed. Tell me what they are.
Maybe | can decide which of them you
ought to care most about" Mildred
said coaxingly. Dicky shook his head
II know all by myself now" he said.
"'cause if said you must stay here
always you couldn't. We're only here
for summer time. So you've got 70