Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-06-01

ders Involuntary.
His face is white and haggard; 1t is
like the face Of a man who has reeeiy-
ed mortal wound, and who is in
creasing his agony in his efforts to
conceal it: II is the face Of man who
has staked his all on the cast Of die
end-lost IT,
Her once smooth, serenely lovely
conntenance pates and shrinks as she
looks at him, and, almost uncon-
sciously she stretches out her hand
ana touchcc his arm fearfully AMI
timidly.
Heron"
He starts and looks at her, as If
suddenly aware of her presence.
"Wen?" he says, quietly, with the
quiet apathy Of man who has ac-
ceDted his fate. "Well?"
Heron" she says, falteringly 4
] an very sorry"
He smiles a cold, mechanical smile
that is too lfeless to be bitter.
80 am l." ne says, srimly. Then he
opens the drawing.roo door for her
"if sou will excuse me-" he says, y
have letter to write"
She inclines her head and sull
looking at him, Is about to pass in
when, as If struck by a sudden
thought he turns,
Rose" he says, his eyes fixed on
her face with hard scrutiny, l want
to ask you one question"
"Yes?"
Did you lose your locllet tonight
or was It an excuse TO take me TO
That accused wood?'
She falters, and turns white but the
light Is behind her and she nerves
herself in a moment,
Can you ask, Heron?" she says
with sorrowful reproach. Il would
have given all ] possessed to spare
Enough" he says, cutting her
snort. Goodnight"
And he turns away.
As he ascends the stairs slowly, and
with the tagging step of a man ex-
haustcd by some unusual exrtion, his
valet meets him, and makes way for
him with a scared face. He Is an old
servant ANA 4 privileged one. Long
years Of service and almost com
partnership have created an affection
ate devotion on the one part. and
strong liking and esteem on the other
Seeing his master with his white
laggard face and weary gait, the
man stops and speaks:
Are you i'll, Sir Heron?"
No Parks, ! am not Ill, is the re
ply. At least, | think not--I think
not | may have taken a chill"
Parks turns at once and offers his
arm
"A warm bath, Sir Heron. ?"
Heron smiles
Il don't think that would do me any
good, Parks" he says Don't worry
y am all right. III ring if want
anything"
Parks goes down reluctantly, and
Heron goes on his way.
Indesd, II seems as if Sir Heron
had spoken the truth He feels like
a man who has taken a sudden chill
A fire burns in his dressing room
and he draws ac hair up to IT, and sit.
ting down, leans forward, claspiug his
hands ana staring at the blaze
And as he stares, the glowing logs
take the shape of the two faces the
strange man's-the futigive sand
The face of the girl--so fair. so false
who In a few short weeks has crept
into his heart but to make ii desolate,
and In the cracking OF the wood he
hears their voices the soft, sweet,
clear voice revealing her own treach-
cry and proclaiming her own guilt.
Sir Heron had had several bad quar-.
ters of an hour-onc when he lost
three thousand pounds at ecarte to
Sir Jellaby links Of the Blues, at the
Rump Steak Club; another on the
night after the Leger. when, having
hacked his horse heavily, it came in a
Lad third and still another, when he
learned from a delicate little missive,
daintily scented that Madamoselle
Lala@c-with whom he at that time
~ Aht'tANANNA AlN LtN lpSl Ills lltdl N-~ldI
some off with old Lord Mountfarrel.
Bnt this this is the worst quarter
Of an hour he ever spent One hopes
70 win but is not much SURPRISED at
losing az cards horses, even favorites,
sometimes miss the winuing-post and
ladies Of the Madamoiselle Ialage
temperament are proverbially tickle
and uncertain.
But when man gives his heart TO
Young girl in the full confidence of
having won her pure. unstinted love
in return when, in short, a man like
Sir Heron meets ard loves a girl like
May, he feels that he has secured for
himself treasure about which there
is neither uncertainty nor fcIdeness.
Tie had thrown his old life Wild,
unsatisfactory life -hehini him. cast
Il away and buried II utterly ana had
given himself utterly and mrc, rved.
~ - lhis first love ne had ever felt.
Until thls moment he had never