Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-07-06
SO Fair, SO false
By Charles 0arvice

By Charles Oarvlce

He goes to the bell, hut he does not
ring It; instead, he turns back to
his old place, and says, in low voice:
DO not go tonight. Stay--for my
sake"
She smiles, and arches her eye
brow2
VERY we'll" she says. Il will II
lou wish 1t. But you must come and
sit down; you are like Banquo's
I ghost"
He smiles grimly, and drops into
his cid chair.
A servant comes in and removes the
tea service. Lady Letchford rouses.
what are you talking about?" she
| says. Have you any news Heron?"
NO" he says. I'VE were talking
about ghosts"
- cheerful topic, Is 1t not?"
laughs Rose. 1T ought to be ac-
compapied by slow music" and she
gets up and goes to the piano, hum
ming softly.
the old lady arises stihly, and MUIR
murng something about her work"
goes out OF the room.
Heron opens the door for her and
then rotires to his chair; as he does
30 Rose begins to lay soft, low-toned
sonata, that floats through the room
IN waves OF dreamy music; then,
without stopping, she gldes into a
song, and again there Is something
in her voice which strikes him as new
ANA strange IT acts as n spell on the
DO says. gently:
do not stop. Sing something more"
Her fingers wander over the keys
lightly. and she sings again; then
she moves back to the fire and stands
behind him, half leaning on his chair
Something, some understandable feel
Ing compels him to turn his head ana
look up ut her, ami as he does 80, he
meets her eyes bent down upon him
with n sad, wlstful tenderness that
sends the blood to his face and back
again, leaving him, as he rises and
bends over her, pale and excited.
"Rose!" he says, in a low voice.
With a sudden glance she turns
away, her eyes tremulous with moist
uro her lips quiyering. She turns
away, her face downcast, her hand
/ fnltering ut the bracelet on her arm;
her fingers temble so that the brace.
II comes unfastoned and falls, with
a dull clink, to the ground.
He stcops and RECEIVERS 1t, and holds
II NJ for moment, then he takes her
hand and slips It over her soft, warm
arm, As he does so, he feels It
trcmble beneath his touch,
He looks up.
What Is tho matter?" he asks, in
Il low voice.
She raises her Dyes and let's them
ON his.
"Why are YOU angry with mc?" she
Wurmurs.
Angry he echoes, with his eyes
nXci on hers, his spirit troubled by
the distress In her beautiful face.
Angry? | am not-yes, | am angry
| ann sick and disappointed. WHAT Is
this about Cornyale, Rose?"
She looks aside. and attempts to
draw her hand slowly from his, but
! he holds II firmly in his hot fingers
What Is IT." he repeats. is this
what they are rumoring true? Can It
! be possible that--that----
She turns her head still further
I away; her long lashes sweep her
face, now pale rs lily; her bosom
hcavcs with what he may well mistake
| for distress
Is il true" he says, sternly, that
he means to ask YOU to he his wife,"
"Gcs," she falters, almost naudihly,
1T rs truo--he has asked me-
He drops her hand and PAGES to and
meelly tent head
Rose" he says, standing over her,
do you know what YOU are doing? p
do you know this man? lie Is old
enough to be your fathers father bad
cuough---"
He pauses, for, with sudden ges,
tme, she looks up at him.
II know Why should care? Heron
no not rcproaoh me: IL cannot bear
q hard word an unlind look from
you'll
! And as she speaks she puts out one
hand, and lays 1t timiily, imploringly
ON his arm. her face turned up to
hirl with passionate pleading
blame him as you will-~call hin,
aelle and unstahle~hut while you
blame, remember that the face so up
turned Is that of the most beautiful
woman Of her day--that the voice pos
sessed AS subtle power to charm ms
Cleopatra of old-that her hand
oaressci aud courted caress--ant
that the man was storm.tossed ant
wealied.
Under the eloquence of that soft
white hand which clings TO his arm SC
anpealingly his resolution wakes
fainter and fainter
Rose" he murmurs, this must no
be'--hv Heaven II shall not hA' +