Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-30
II Grain of Hope
BY Beatrice Heron Maxwell.

BY Beatrice Heron Maxwell.
It began at an afternoon party,
where as usual, people were feeling
more or less bored, and were getting
on one another's nerves.
The rooms were too warm, to begin
with, and everyone would congregate
In the corner by the ices, so that the
music room was almost deserted, and
the artists were distinctly annoyed
a finding themselves warbling to a
few stragglers.
Il am so sorry for Mrs. Dunstan, -
said Mary Beresford to the man who
had just been introduced to her. Il
am afraid we are not treating her
well Don't you think we had better
go and listen to a sOng?'
Il would rather not" he answered;
but [ am at your command. Only,
will you do me a favor afterwards?
She looked surprised.
Certainly, if it is in my power, -
she assented civilIy. what is it?"
She was looking comeIy and cool
in a green and white dress of some
diaphanOus fabric; and there was an
atmosphere of pleasant repose about
Miss Beresford that people appreCi-
ated without analyzing it.
1t had never occurred to her to
marry any one, though the suggestion
had been made 10 her from time to
time She was well off, she had no
near relations and she had reached
the age of IS while still possessing
the charm for others and the interest
in lie which we're hers at 26. She
was neither a feminine bachelor nor
an Cd maid but simply an unmarried
woman who was eminentIy marriage
able
Il am the vic i'm, or, rather, sup
pose l should say the hero of a rO-
nance" continued the man, and
nave an intense yearning to tell some
one about it, VIII you let ME con-
fde in yOu?'
Mary laughed, and for the first time
this was.
A dark, clean shaven face, keen
and strong, such as you might find
among naval officers; a tall, well set
UP figure; a gravity of voice and man
uer that were redeemed at times, as
at this moment, by twinkle in the
Handsome eyes, and a cleft, indicative
OF humor, at the corners Of the lips.
You must let me know your name"
she said, If you are going to tell me
the story of your life. I didn't catch
what Mrs. Dunstan said.
Lawrence Home he replied, land
( have just met my fate"
"Really?' Mary's amused glance
swept over the crowd round them,
and rested on a girl with straight,
Gear GU profile and dark hair, to
wuom she tansientIy remembered Mr..
Home had been talking when their
hostess divided them.
81 see you are trying 10 guess he
said, but l want to begin from the
beginning Won't you let me off the
song. Miss Beresford. and come to
She balcony over tnere?'
"It is unprincipled, said Mary, va
yering. Mrs. Dunstan asked US 20
80 10 the drawing room"
principles can be carried too far, "
ae argued. Let US be selfish for
once and choose the balcony"
And so you are romantic?' asked
Mary when they were esconsed in
n shady corner.
Not at al by temperament" he as
Sured her; but I have become so
lately. I saw a woman at q concert
and felt so attrac ed by her that
paid no further attention to the music.
Since then chance has willed that
we should often be within speaking
dis auCe Of each Other-iu the street
in a room. at an entertainmeut-and
the attraction has grown with every
meeting; so that when I have re.
catved an invitatian Ia-ely have
said 70 myself. I wonder if She will
be tlere?' She with a capital letter
But we have never been introduced
In-U today. I found her here. !
asked Mrs. Dunstan TO in reduce me
when favorable opportunity oc
Cured. and the thing is done"
And you feel that your fate is
seaIed?'
Mary began to be interested, fol
though his tone was easy and uncon
cerued there was something-she
could not tell what-which seemed &c
show he was in earnest
For better or for worse-yes,' be
said. y am sure she is my alter
ego. the one woman in the world fol
me; but she may not have the same
fee,ing In fact, I know for certain
tha- 30 has no feeling Of any sor
about me. and no consciousness o.
ever having met me before. So my
only hope is to see her constantly
and that is not so easy as it sounds
For with The exception Of our hos