Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-11-23
Continued.

comfortable. why couldn't j come
here-and to her--a year ago?
What's that song about The might
have been? That's how ! feel th.s
morning oh, Lord"
Ho strides on, with his head droop'
ing, In an attitude very unlike that Of
Yorke Auchcster's usual one, and with
out the last light opera song on his
lips, as II ordinarily is; and he 1s
near the station when he hears
laughter of children ahead OF him,
and, looking UP, sees a group that
makes his heart leap and the blood
rush to his face.
Under great oak in the pretty
lane stands no other than Leslie hor
self, with a child upheld in her arms,
and two others Clinging to tho skirts
Of her pretty, simple morningdr
The child held aloft has pulled off her
hat, and the sunlight, MS it com $
through the trees, falls in Hecks u
light and shadow on her hair and up.
sweet laugh, which, though he should
live to 30 as old as the old man walk.
Ing along on the other side or the
lane, YOrkc will never forget and +.
she does not see him.
Shell no turn and 20 back go back
und leave her forever? Better! But
he can not, so he goes on slowly, and
IL IS not antil he Is close behind ler
that she hears him.
She turns, the child Btill held crow
Ing and struggling above her head,
and a startled look comes into her
eyes, and the color lics 10 her face
and then leaves It pale
Good morning" he says
Her lips move and her head bonds
over the child, now lying In her arms
and staring with blue eyes up at the
big man who daros TO address "Mish
LethlIe." Lesbos lips move; 10
doWbt she says "Good-mornlng" In re-
Spouse, thogh he can not hear her
you are early this morning, ha
says, ana he knows that his voice
taltars and sounds unnatural as surely
Ms he knows that his heart IL beating
like Il steam-hNmmer, and that The
longing to cry to her Leslie, | love
you!" IL almost Irresistible.
YES" she snys. at is 40 bcautitrI
after the rain"
She stops, for the words have 10
called that homownrd drive the
storm, his words, all that she has
been thinking of through the Ions,
long night
Yes" he says, vaguely, stupidity.
Then he says suddenly THAT child ta
too heavy for YOU"
"Oh, no; often carry it" sno
falters, bending stIll lower over the
pretty face enshrined in the yellow
cmls
But II s, he says, Lot me take
II, If II must be carried"
She would not let yOu she says
Wen see" he rejoinH, scarcely
needing what he Is saying, and nc
held out his arms.
The mite staros at him. turns, and
clutches Leslie for moment then
with the ticlleness OF its sex. swing
round and holds out her arms 10 him
iorke laughs Immediately ana holda
II Up above his head.
Nov, what shah | do with you2.
he says, hurriedly Take Won fr
London with me? No. for the chtIl
struggles. "lNor that is where am
going He puts the child down. anJ
it toddles Off with the other two
Yes, ! am going to London, Miss
Leslie" he goes on, trying to speaN
lightly, carelossly
Yes" she says with dOwncast cNea
and she stoops TO pick Up her nat
AS she does SO, he stoops too. IN y
get hold of II together, and then
hands meet
hut for that sudden meeting, IN
touch of her hand, he would hay,
gone, and the history of Leslie lisIt
would have been n very different one
but II il the link which the tatci
have been wanting TO make the,
chain complete,
"l.esliel" he cries, scarcely ahoy'
his breath-"Leslie!" and he take
both her hands and holds them rast
and looks into her eyes the dar, gra
eyes which she lifts 10 him with
swift fear and Is 1t a swift Joy
mirrorod in their clear depths
Let me go, she faltcrs wit
trembling lips.
NO, Not--not tin | have told yo
that love you'll"
CHAPTER xI.