Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-10-26
I'LL LeSIie'S -.L
Loyalty ; :;:;;::


gently into his chair.
1--WE will not look at it this morning
at any rate, until we have had break
fast, dear" she says. 1T is wonder
/ full how much better and brighter
the world and everything in 1t looks
after cup of coffee hut, papa, You
must not work today, YOU must take
a rest"
"A rest?" he responds, mpauoutly
Yes, you know how often You say
that working against the grain is
time and energy wasted And there
is another reason, dear" she goes on,
brightly; we have an invitation for
today"
"a what?" he asks Queru,ously
An invitation, dear We have
been asked to drive to ST. Martin
Last night'-a faint blush rises to
her cheeks-"I ran down to the
beach to--lnd something had lost,
and l saw Mr. Temples friend. and
we went for a sail with old William,
and afterward l saw Mr. Temple out,
side Marine Villa, and they have
been kind enough to ask us to go
with them to St. Martin. 1t was the
duke who asked us" she adds, can
didly. but Mr. Tempe was just as
kind and pressing I hope YOU will
go. dear"
He puts the thin. struggling hair
from his forehead with a nervous ges-
iture.
What are YOU talking about. Les
lie? What duke?"
1T appears that the young man
who went in for Dick yesterday, Mr..
Temples friend, is duke-the Duke of
Rothbury" she replies.
Like herself, he is neither elated
nor awed, but he looks a distinct re-
fEsal of the invitation.
THE Duke Of Rothbury?" he says.
II think I've heard the title some
where Why do they ask us to go
with them? | don't want to go, and
suppose you don't care for it, They
are perfect strangers to
us"
"One has already proved himself a
very kind friend" says Leslie
| gently
'"You mean in buying the picture?
! Yes, yes; but you know how / dislike
strangers and--eXcursions Of this
kind. And If you don't want to go
very much, I'd rather not Besides
! | don't particularly care about max
ing the acquaintance of the duke.
I | am an artist-a professional man
and | do not believe in associating
with persons so far above me in rank.
No, we had better decline I dare say
my head will be all right presently,
and | shall be able to work, and you
can come with me and mix the col
ors, and so on.
Very well, dear" she says, strug-
Cling TO repress a sigh You shall
do just as YOU like. | should Ike to
have gone, and the drive would have
done you good"
Il am quito well, and hate long
drives especially in the company Of
dukes What is he doing here?" he
asks testify And you say you went
for a sail with him last EVENING"
Yes said Leslie, with a sigh that
will not be repressed, as she thinks
Of the moonlit sea and the pleasant
companion, who, unfortunately, has
turned out a dullc-"yes; and he was
very kind and nice and not a bit like
a grand parsonage" she adds with a
smile. HE looked exactly like a
fisherman last night, and talked like
a young man fresh from school OF
college. He is not my idea of a duke
lat all fancy | must have thought
that dukes talked in blank verse and
hahitually wore their coronets and
robes"
He waves the subject aside Will
nervous impatience Il don't know
anything about them, and | dom
want to-" he saws, getting up and fid
getting around the picture I've go
this Sky too deep think he con
llilutS, III ull luuVNlHlE lilNNA'.ls
Leslie knows that It IS useless tC
say any more, and is silent; anC
when the breakfast things are clear
cd away she gets out her plain LITTLE
desk to write a refusal.
put at the outset she finds hersel
in dihiculty, Mr. and Miss Lisl,
regret" etc. sounds too formal afte
thai exceedingly inform" sail las
night; and yet Sic does not know
how to begin the note in the frs
person should she address him a
Dear Duke or Your Grace" o
MY Lord or how
Did YOU ever write to a duke
papa ," she asks at last. playing
tattoo with the pen.holder upon he
white, even teeth.
Never, thank Heaven" he says
ahsently
, Then YOU cannot hep me- sh
5 SAYS with sigh, and ultimately sh