Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-03-16


May. while she talks with apparent
ease, has one ear opeu-senSitively and
acutey open to the other two voices
the thin, subdued one of old Lady
Letlhforyi, and the hard, coarse one or
Mr. Dalton.
Yes, my lady" he is saying, i like
this place Can't say I've any fault To
find with il There's everything \
man could desire-soil's gravelly, stu.
walton Ugh, and the 'unting is first,
rate, Noes Sir Heron 'untg-or
course he does, though"
MY sou has been away from home
for some years. The hounds were
kept here for forty years until his
time"
PITY Sir Heron don't take EN-
over again Shamefully mismanaged
now; I--ahem-though of putting up
for the mastership myself, but, of
course, If Sir Heron"
YES, you thoroughly understand the
duties. no doubt"
"Er-well. there doesn't seem much
to understand; suppose it's easily
picked up. 1t seems to me that the
principal thing that's wanted is-ahem
money"
And you have that?" says the old
lady, with fine irony.
"Well-I-er-I wouldn't let money
stand in the way, my lady, It's not
my 'abit to do so. If you mean doing
a thing, do it we'll, say" Mays ears
burn Don't spoil the ship for an
extra bucket of tar, is my motter, and
always has been, And"
At this juncture, and to Mays un-
speakable relief, the door opens,
and Van Navasour comes Incomes
in looking like an Apollo BeNidere,
his his graceful figure clad in evening
dress, which bears Poole's unmistak-
able cut; his short, golden hair cluster.
ing on his white, even forehead, his
muStache shining like FURNISHED gold
with the recent cold water, his blue
eyes twinllling with the anticipation of
the fun that is to be got out of pere
Dalton; but as he comes up to the
group the twinkle dies out, and the
eyes, as they rest on Mays face, glow
with appreciatiye admiration.
Late-as usual" he says, laughing
alphabetically, as he shakes hands.
"'Pon my soul, ought to be fined.
How would it be to deprive me Of my
soup every time | was FIVE minutes
late, and the fish If II got to ten. and
so on? Halloa where's Heron?
AS if in answer, the door opens, and
a servant says, in a low voice:
Sir Heron has come in late, my
lady. and begs you will not wait"
With word of excuse, Lady Letch-
ford lays the tips of her fingers on Mr..
Daltons arm, Vane takes May upon
his, then Rose Vavasour and Carrie
bring up the rear They cross the
hall, pass through another Curtained
doorway, and enter the diningroom,
A portley butler-who loooks like
dukc-and two footmen in the dark
livery move noiselessly about, and the
soup is about to be carried to Lady
Letchford's end of the table. when a
white hand thrusts the curtain aside,
and the staiwart figure Of Sir Heron
strides into the room.
Just in time" he says. Mr.. Dial.
ton, how do YOU do? Pray accept my
excuses, Miss Dalton" and he comes
up to her chair and holds out his hand
His entrance has been 50 sudden
that May whose face was turned to
Vane's, is almost guilty 81 a start,
but as he turns she sees that Rose Va.
vasour's eyes are fixed on her, and
with an effort she keeps back the color
that threatened to rush to her face,
and silently gives MIN ner hand.
And this is" says Sir Heron,
turning to Carrie.
My sister Carrie" says May.
Then he shakes hands with Carrie,
goes to his place, leans with both
hands on the table. after the manner
of an Englishman, says grace. and at
once proceeds to ladle out the soup,
and all with grave selfcomposure.
1t is not until he has handed the last
plubC w tllN lb1Ahiuli, Shl' .hiE Saltoli =
spoon begins TO clink, that Sir Heron
turns to May, who is seated on the
left and then all he says is:
Are we going to have any snow
before Christmas" and this in the
most conventional OF tones.
And as May answers in set phrase,
and looks at his composed face--if 1t
has any expression at all, 1t wears one
of hard, grim weariness-he almost
asks herself If she hasn't been the
victim Of dclusye dream and II the
stalwart figure plunging into the cold,
blue waters Is not the creation OF a
distempered fancy
Not the acutest and most watchful
Of observers could detect anything in
his voice or face which would lead
them to suspect that anything beyond
the most ordinary ciyilities Of society
had passed between them. And yet
May wears the locket which he re.
covered from the water, and his eyes
have seen and recognized Il.