Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-03-23

coiled around her warm, white neck
| the chain TO which is suspended the
! locket of the unknown Sydney" A
bitter feeling of disappointment arises
and wars with his admiration. The
girl whom he thought so fresh and in
nocent is living a life Of deceit and
concealment; for 1t is evident he
augues, that her father knows nothing
Of the man--her loVer-whose portrait
she carries about with her. He. can
scarcely bring himself to speak to her,
and yet--and yet how beautiful she
! looks, as, apparently unconscious of
his gaze, she stands beside him. And
! then the vulgar, self-suficient father,
boasting Of the fortune with which he
means to buy husband for her. A
strong wave Of disgust rushes over
! him, and he turns away resolved to
shun the girl who alone, OF all the
many beautiful and charming women
with whom he has come in contact,
has power to move and tempt him.
/ All unconscious of the conflicting emo
| tons which agitate her companion
May still examines the pictures, one
! by one interested and absorbed An
exclamation from Carrie, who has
been wandering around the room, fit
| ting from picture to picture, in an
ecstasy Of delight, arouses both of
them.
ooh, Sir Heron, do tell me what this
Isl" and she points to an ancient piece
Of armor that stands on q heavy
bracket between two pictures Of cru.
saders.
That" says Sir Heron, coming to
her, that Is an old breastplate, Car.
rie, which was worn by the gentleman
on the right, Sir Richard Letchford
when he went on the crusade"
and that hole in it,"
as the hole which Saladln's battle,
AK made, and through which Sir Rich
ards Likelihood streamed."
Glow awful it looks, doesn't 1t,
May? And what are all those figures
on it?"
Those are the crest and motto of
which Sir Richard was so proud that
he liked to wear them where every
body could see them. Let me get 1t
down for you-shall II"
ooh, do. But won't it be too heavy,
and give you too much trouble?"
Sir Heron smiles, and dragging an
antique chair forward, stands upon 1t,
and lifts the breastpate from its
bracket. 1t is covered with dust,
which flies into his eyes and literally
powders his coat and waistcoat.
ut is time 1t came down. Take
care, Mics Dalton!" for May is close
underneath and the dust is descending
in fun shower.
LET me take It," but he will not let
her touch 1t until he has set 1t down on
tho floor and busted it with his pocket
handkerchief, which instantly assumes
an Ethiopian hue.
Carrie goes down flop beside 1t, re-
CARELESS of her new dress, and touches
the great clean hole with shrinking
finger and shudder OF mysterious de-
light
what a strong man Sdladin must
have beehive read about him, Sir
Heron, in the history of England-to
cut tight through this thick steel. And
how strong Sir Richard must have
boon to wear this heavy thing around
him"
Eyes, they were giants in those days,
Carrie" says Sir Heron.
81 believe It would fl you"
Perhaps you would like me to put
1t on"
The bright flash of longing in Car
rie's eyes Is answer enough. and with
u good humor which would have sur
priscd his mother, he takes up the
hroastplate and slips it over his head.
There should be a buckle some.
whore he says, as Carrie clasps her
hands and moves around him admir-.
mglN
"llcrc II is, says May
l.aughingy, May fumbles at The
clumsy steel strap, 80 absorbed in her
task that she IS quite unconscious that
he has her arm around the breastplate,
and that her warm hand is close
against Sir Hcrons heart But he Is
not, and as he stands quite still, look,
ing down at the bent head upon which
the light falls softly, turning the rich
brown hair into red gold every touch
of her little hand thrills through him.
and he euvics the hard steel which can
bear her white arm around 1t and still
remain cold
THAT is IT," she says, looking up
with smile of triumph,
And as he looks up, that smile
changes swiftly and Instantly into one
of amusement. mingled with admira.
ton, Amusement ut the incongmity
of steel hreastplate in connection
with modern dress.coat, admiration
of the stalwart figure which It in.
closes
Il should make an excellent Guy for
the nth, Carrie. But as It Is not the
nth of November | think will not
take II off, I'm afraid ! must trouble