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

nave been KIND since | came here.
The vicar is i'll, and I've no one to con,
suit, so I've come 10 you as l used 70
Sc 10 my own father"
Hilton Hey flushed slightly,
Il take it as an honor, Miss Chill,
tern. l shall be proud TO help you in
any way can"
We'll, then" said Joyce, Il re.
ceiyed this letter this morning, and |
want to know what l ought to do
Hilton Hey took the letter and read
it through. His brow grew dark.
and the veins in his forehead stood
out in little knots. Then he swore
and apologized in the same breath.
The brutes!" he said.
Aren't they pigs" said Joyce, 4
twinkle of amusement for the moment
in her eyes.
Hilton Hey turaed TO her suddenly.
DO you know I'm rather grateful
to the old cats, because it gives me"
you know" interrupted Joyce,
with laugh that was suSpciorsly
like sob, tits the more absurd be
cause of Cecil. l suppose he's the
person should have shown the letter
to, but he'd have been SO furious that
l daren't. He'd have come down by
the first train and set fire to the viii
lage or something"
The letter had dropped from Hilton
Hey's hand and fluttered to the floor
He picked it Tp deliberately. Then
he said in his ordinary voice:
"Who is Cecil?"
How stupid of met" Joyce blushed
hotly. He's the man I'm going to
marry. He's in an Office in town,
and he doesn't get big salary, poor
darling; so We have to wait, You see,
| have no one else since my aunt died.
and I'm poor too, so I'm determined
to get this post, if possible, to help
things on a bit"
He is fortunate" said Hilton Hey.
you are worth waiting for, Miss Chill.
tern"
It was his first compliment to her.
Joyce blushed again.
Cecil is" she said Nov, must
answer that letter, Mr.. Hey, or can
ignore it?"
would you leave it in my hands?"
Joyce looked mp in surprise.
"Of course I would! Only I don't
want you to have any trouble about
it."
Il shan't. OF course, needn't
tell YOU that you can afford to ignore
it, but a lesson world do these-thesa
individuals good"
What shall you do?" queried Joyce,
with interest.
Il don't know yet. But you caA
trust me to do nothing of which yor
or your-Mr.-"
clint" supplied Joyce.
''Mr, Clint would disapprove."
20. yes" Joyce rose to her feet
81 won't tell him about it Just yet
I'm awfully Obliged to you"
"The obligation and honor are on
my side" said Hilton Hey, as he
opened the door for her. AS he came
back into the room he caught sight of
again in the tall pier glass
and stood a moment.
"Yor old fool!" he said huskily.
A little twisted note slid into Miss
letter box that evening with
a soft, small thud, which was the only
intimation of its presence. Miss
Heeley, passing through her hall,
heard, investigated, unfolded and read;
Meet me in Primrose grove tomor-
row at 3:30.-H. H."
Good gracious" she said
Then she slipped It into her pocket.
There is only one H H. in Paxton
who could send this" she whispered
excitedly. He is going to appeal to
me to save him from that designing
girl"
Primrose grove was a wooded dell
a mile out Of Paxton, where the little
yellow blossoms clustered IN sweet
profusion.
+biSo iANCA'N oP'hN Alit li'H' iClioN
ing her dinner next day in arraying
herself In the village dressmakers'
latest creation, and black straw, IN
which wallfowers waved unhappily
And at o'clock she sailed forth.
1t was unfortunate that Mrs
should be passing the
gate at that moment, gorgeonsly at
tired. She explained little incoher.
entity that she was going to visit
friend, and was late, so must be ex.
cused for hurrying on. Miss Heeley
fell back Willingly until the good LADY
had disappeared Then she turned a.
the sound of rapid footsteps behind
her.
Miss Evans also seemed hurried
She passed at a quick, swinging pac
with a Good afternoon" and van.
shed in apparent pursuit Of Mrs.
Miss Heeley's back
ward glance, however, had revealed "a
her the presence Of a distant but al
vancing form which each moment va
shaping into Miss Flint.