The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-05-27
CHAPTER XII.
Iona HELLER.

- oI1fAi L I'm -hl.
Iona HELLER.
Even in the remotest mountain cabin
one ma find comelinesS-roundneSS of
figure. and lustre OF eyes, and even
perfection of color and mould of fea-
ture. But beauty is quite another
thing. 1t is an atmosphere rather than
a contour and n color; it is a subtle
blending of an things together; and it
is more. There is heredity in 1.-THE
cumulative harm of a long line of fair
mothers and fairer daughters. The es-
sence of 1T eludes analysis; 1t is the
boquet of rare wine, ind~escribable and
indefinable. When one finds it In the
wilderness 1t whispers of old tragedy.
1t is the full blown Jacquenlinot among
the jungle thorns. There has been a
rude transplanting; there is a romance
to tell. though p%erchance 1t has been
forgotten.
NO n could deny that Iona Heller
possessed bcauty-a wild. barbaric type
of beauty, perhaps. yet one that at
tracted attention instantly and held 1t
by a force that was little short of UNI
canny A single glance marked her as
an exotic. Il child of the South, of the
Latin lands-with checks of pale olive,
with eyes such as only the daughters
Of the Mediterranean ever possess, and
with hair ~abundant and soft and glis-
tening In it's perfect blackness. With
the u full upon it it was still an abb
solute black. The supple figure. 1.-the
and cat-quick. the arms rounded for
the dance, for the fling of the ta1nbou-
rine or the castanets, the feet and limbs
light as the daughter of Herodias, the
neck and head for toss and coquettish
pose--every line and feature was of
this earth. a JOY to see, but of the mo-
ment alone. A curious type for old
Poppy Miller's cabin in the Run. a type
clearly o evolved amid the Seven
Mountains.
No wonder that the valley'folk. who
had caught only glimpscs of this girl.
whispered among themselves, and no
wonder that Tom Farthing. alive n
81, went nome from the Run in a tlut-
ter. He spent a day in searching for
a preteXt for seeing her again, and he
found one.
II would require tact. he unused, to
conquer her shyness. Doubtless he
would find difficulty in seeing her at
ture and as timid But the evening
changed the face of things. She had
not avoided him at all; she had been
self possessed and at her ease: and
there had been In her every attitude
and intonation the stateliness of one
who is condescending g~raciously. He
was the menia and she the daughter
of the house. 1t mystified him and
haunted him. AS he walked home
through the twilight he could think OF
slolIllilE clSt. " -Couli Il II llkt
that live at Poppy Miller's. in that
squalid cabin?
That was the beginning of visits. He
went almost every night. He carried hel
water from the creek: he sawed he
wood: he walked With her in the twilight
Then all in a moment she changed likt
an April day. AS by an impulse she
dropped her a%loofness and reserve anc
made a comrade of him. 1t took hi.
breath away. 1t sent him home power
l~.. -. .-,..-t l,o,, rr~,1 lt, IA,
He was as wax in her hands: HI
changed with her every mood, and he
moods were infinite. Now he was JOY
Gus aud contident-he could win he
yet, for she loved him, it must be; thel
swiftly he would despair, for she wa
infinitely far away and he was blu
an episode: then for a tense momen
he would feel like one who wakes il
a grip that holds him rigid, fight as h
may-but it was only for the moment
Once he found her dressed in
strange, clinging costume of yellow
!, brilliant n glittering, her arms bar
to the shoulders, and her feet in curiou
; sandals. Her hair was knotted In wild
/, gypsy fashion. A dash of color at tn
crown, a sparkle of beads at the throa
> he could only stare at her.
!, Don't you like the dress?" sh
/ called.
But what is it?"
. Just a dress. See!" She spran
up ana spun arOti!d TIL the snort ski
a stood out like a bell. You never say
, me dance. Look!' She caught up
!. tambourine-like thing with tiutterin
streamers. flung up her arms in joyou
q abandon. and glided and flashed an
: spun. Her eyes We're full upon hin
( They seemed unnaturally large an
brilliant, and always looking straigf
into his. a m and she sank upo
the roc!-.
Wonderful! wonderful" he bur:
4 out. strangely exhilarated. He coul
q not take his yes from her.
But what kind Of q dance is it?' /
, asked eagerly. What is it?"
It's just a Dance"
e But where could you ave learne
it:"
II never earned It,"
II "Ah. but you must"
II Its in the blood. It's k breatl
Ing"
The blood?-what do you NEAR
a What blood?" He leaned forward ii
q tensely.
See; here's another" Again ]
n watched the flash and weave of h
bare arms, the twinkle of her feet. u
g cling and swing Of her garments. II
rhythmic thump, thump and clatt
seemed beating IN his throat. tt
streamers floating and circling b
d her head and throat and breast.
leaping in exultation above her, daz
him. He began Nto feel strange al
unreal, infinitely far off. and ever tho
eyes were full upon him. They seem
d to be growing larger and more blac
h When she stopped he drew Q iol