Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-02-15

Continued

cushion, with duh. blinded eyes.
Here's telogram--a telegram
from one Of the large dealers! lie
wants to see mo In London at once
at once do you hear? Why do you
stare at me Ike that? There Is no
time to lose. We must go up to Lon.
don at once~at once, Run up and
pack our things"
She rose and staggered to her feet
mo. no. 1t is" She paused and
clutched his arm, laughing hysteri.
cally. Don't believe It, papa. II Is
not true. | can explain"
Explain? Not true? What are you
talking about, Leslie? tell you 1t IL
from one Of the first deHers IN Lon
don. Fame-fame has come to me
at last, Get ready at once We VIII
20 by the first train we can catch
CHAPTER XIII.
Leslies heart seemed to staii still
as she listened to her fathers excited
words. What should she do? She
asked herself Should she tell him that
she had deceived him--that the mes
sage from the picture dealer was
mere subterfuge, trick to get him
and her up to town?
But she could not tell him this
without explaining fully without dis
closing the whole story Of her love for
Yorke and the deceit he had practiced
on her--and she shrunk from the or
deal as one shrInks from fire.
She stood pale and trembling, her
hands wllthfng together her brain
swimming, watching her father as he
hurried to and fro picking up some
article and putting 1t down again in
another place, under the impression
that no was packing,
"Oh, papa" she faItered out Mt last.
don't go-do not gooh ! implore
you not to go
Francis LIsle stopped In his Hurried
ndgetIng about the room and stared
at her with impatient annoyance.
my dear Leslie, have you taken
leave of your senses?" he exclaimed
You look half dstraught."
Il ami am! Oh, II you only
knew" she almost sobbod.
Knew WHAT" he demanded, r.
ritahly. What II Is you are talking
about? Any one would think we were
going TOTO Australia instead or
only to London, And not go: Good
heavens why should We not go? !
tell you this Is one of the ilrsl dealers
In London. and--nnd II Is the great
opening | have been waiting for-eX'
pectlng all my life"
1t was uncomfortable. She went to
him and put her arm around his neck
and let her head fall on his shoulder.
"Oh, pnpa, papa! DO not be too con
lident--too hopeful You-you may be
disappointed Life 's full of dsap.
polntments--" Her voice broke,
You may be sorry that you have gone
up, Write-lot me write to this
dealer"
He put her from him almost
roughly,
You are talking nonsense he said
sheer nonsense. Why should this
dealer write to me and ask me to come
up ut unce--at once, mind unless he
had some important commission for
moP"
She knew why, but she could not
answer; she dared not She dreaded
the effect Of the shock which the dis
closure this disappointment, would
cause him, He was trembling with
excitement as II wns, and the reaction
would be more than he could endure.
"There,' he said, with an attempt
al soothing her. Il can understand
YOU being upset and unneryed, II is
only natural l-oven Am n little
or Hurried But do calm Yourself
and get ready We shall go up by
the evening train, Take all our
clothes for We may be up some time
cant tell what this dealer may want
or or where he may send me, There
do collect Yourself and get ready
Watt Give me little brandy
and water The suddenncss of
this this change In our fortunes
has agitated me"
tie brandy aud water The sudden
ness Of this this change in our
fortunes has agitated me"
She got him SOME weak brandy and
water, and She noticed rs he drank II,
row his hand shook.
Then she stole up to her own room
nd began to pack mechanically, like
one In Il dream
Gradually she began to realize that
after all It was better perhaps that
they should leave Portmnris. Norke-
the more passing Of his name across
her mind caused her 4 pang might
come down after her when he found
that she had not gone TO London and
sent him her address, and she felt
that a meeting with him would nearly
kill her. Al all costs that must he
avoided In her heart she breathed
only one prayer-that while life lasted
she might be spared the agony Of see.
Ing his face, hearing his voice again.