Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-05-18

every word can be heard by the two
| listeners. every word burns itself into
the brain of the man, and helps to
deceive him.
For now he hears a mans yo!ce-a
mans voice consoling and soothing
the woman
Had the beauty BROUGHT him five
minutes earlier some phrase of Sgd
rey Dalton's would have informed Sir
Heron that he was listening to Mays
brother; but as it is, there is nothing
to dispel the delusion that these two
who have met in the denseness of the
wood are or were lovers.
To him standing listening there,
with his heart all aflame one moment
and cold as ice the next, her perfidy,
her treachery, were soon proved be-
yond all doubt
Not once, net twice. thrice does she
declare that she has deserted him.
What else can she means but that she
has betrayed and Tilted this unknown
for a richer suitor-Heron himself?
Still in his mental agony Heron
moves 10 lean his hand against tree,
and it is this movement which Sgd
Eey hears and turns to listen to; and.
as he turns, Heron sees his face.
Proof still more damning! 1t is
the face of the fugitive wnom Mays
cry had saved that very morning.
Now now he understands the agony
that thrilled in her voice as she stood
up and pleaded for him. The wretched
being was her lover-she had loved
him. and was here. Here by appoint
ment, too With a groan he remem-
hers her anxiety to be home by sun
set. And the locket He knows-he
feels as sure as he does of death, that
if he had looked inside that locket he
would have seen this mans accursed
portrait
The voices 90 on-growing more
loving, more sorrowfu. more despair
ing each moment.
A hand of ice seems to clasp Sir
llerOns heart. He forgets the tall
figure beside him. feels not the devil
ishly-ioyful cyos fixed on his face.
Proof still more damning! 1t is
strong man in the agony of discover
loved the one woman on whose purity
and honor he would have stalled his
"pu, is false beyond all falscness,
How long he stands there he knows
not, never will know. Suddenly the
voices cease, the awful spell breaks
and he starts forward
But again the han1 restraints.
"EIcron," she whispers in his ear.
He starts and turns to ner, AMI
surely. if she could pity, she would
pity and relent at the sight of his
haggard face ana bloodShOl eyes.
But there is no pity. no reienting,
1t Is the hour of her revenge Tor this
wrctcned Girl she-she, "the beauty"
has bcen neglected, put aside, ReIent.
Pity! Who pitied her?
Heron" she whispers. why should
YOU interfere? Let them 90, they
are not worthy to triumph over you;
they viii do it if you go to them.
He stops and shudders. and puts his
hand up to his brow. Then he turns
to her.
"Nou are right" he says-and his
voice IS SO changed, 50 unnaturally
calm, that It strikes her with a sudden
sharp drcad-"we have no business
hero; let us GO
And, with the old courtesy. that
even in the moment of his agony does
rot desert him. he stoOpS to pick up
her glove which has fallen and takes
hcr hand upon his arm.
Once, once only, he pauses. 1t Is
when a low sob from the weeping girl
strikes upon his ear; shudder runs
through him. and he half turns; but,
with a muttered oath, that makes the
woman upon his arms trCmble. he
moves away.
To be continued