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

CHAPTER XII.
Iona HELLER.
Even in the remotest mountain cabin
one nay find comeliness-roundness Of
figure. and lustre of eyes. and even
perfection OF color n mould of fea-
ture. But beauty is quite another
thing. 1t I: an atmosphere rather than
a contour and a color: it is a subtle
blending Of all things together; and it
is more. There is heredity in 1.-THE
cumulative charm Of a long line of fair
mothers and fairer daughters. The es-
sence of it elude analysis; 1t is the
boquet of rare wine. indescribable and
~indefinable. When one finds it in the
wilderness 1t whispers of old tragedy.
1t is the full blown Jacqueminot among
the jungle thorns. There has been a
rude transplanting; there is a romance
to tell, though perchance 1t has been
forgotten.
No one could deny that Iona Heller
of beauty, perhaps, yet one that at
tracted attention instantly and held it
by a force hat was little short of UNI
amy. a single glance marked her as
an exotic, a 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 sun full upon it it was still an abb
solute black. The supple figure, 1.-the
and cat-quick, the arms rounded for
he dance, for the fling of the tambou-
rine or the castanets, the feet and limbs
light as the daughter of Herodias, the
neck II head for toss and coquettish
~pose-eNery line and feature was of
this earth, a joy to see, but of the mo-
ment alone. A curious type for old
~ -. 4 -.s. Il: H. At-- ~
clearly not evolved amid the Seven
Mountains.
No wonder that the valley folk, who
had caught only glimpses of his girl.
whispered ainong themselves. and no
wonder that Tom Farthing. alive INC
81. went home from the Run in a fut-
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
all: for she was wild as a forest crea-
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 mental and she the daughter
d IN WV, WAY ~ ~ kIllll AtAt
haunted him. AS he walked home
through the twilight he could think of
nothing else. How could a woman like
that live at Poppy Miller's. in that
squalid cabin?
That was the beginning Of visits. He
went almost every night. He carried her
water from the creek; he sawed her
wood; he walked With her in the twilight.
Then all In a moment she changed like
an April day. AS by an impulse she
dropped her aloofness and reserve II
mad a comrade Of him. 1t took his
less to Danish her from his thoughts.
He was as wax in her hands; he
changed with her every mood, and her
moods We're infinite. Now he was joy
Gus and contident-he could win her
yet, for she loved him, it must be; then
swiftly he would despair, for she was
infinitely far away and he was but
On episode: then for a tense moment
he would feel like one who awakes in
a grip that holds him rigid, fight as he
may-but it was only for the moment.
Once he found her dressed in q
strange, clinging costume of yellow
brilliant and glittering, her arms bare
to the shoulders. and her feet In curious
sandals. Her hair vas knotted In wild
gypsy fashion. A dash OF color at the
crown, a sparkle Of beads at the throat
he could only stare at her.
Don't o like the dress?" she
called.
But what Is it?"
Just a dress. See!" She sprans
up and spun round till the short Skin
stood out like a bell. You never saw
me dance. Look!' She caught up {
tambourine-like thing with tlutterint
streamers, flung up her arms in joyou.
abandon. and glided M flashed ant
spun. Her eyes We're full upon him
They seemed unnaturally large anc
brilliant, and always looking straigh
into his. A m and she sank upo1
the roc.z.
Wonderful! wonderful" he burs
out, strangely exhilarated. He coult
not take his eyes from her.
but what kind Of q dance is it?" h
asked eagerly. What is it?"
Its just a dance"
But where could you have learne,
ito"
II never learned IT."
"Ah, but you must"
TITS in the blood. It's / breath
ing"
.The ~blood?-what do you mean
What blood?" He leaned forward in
tensely.
See; here's another" Again h
watched the flash and weave Of he
bare arms, the twinkle Of her feet, tn
cling and swing OF her garments. TIL
rhythmic thump. thump and clatte
seemed beating In his throat. TIL
streamers floating and circling abou
her head and throat and breast, o
leaping in e%xultation above her. daze
him. He began Nto feel strange an,
unreal. infinitely far off, and ever thos
eyes We're full upon him. They SCENE
to be growing larger n more black
!, When she stopped he drew Q Ion