Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-03-17
CHAPTER. i.

my dear Jack, / rather like you
Firstly, because you are my brother
though admit that's rather your mis-
fortune than your fault; secondly, be
cause you are good-look.ng, which Ii
certainly attributable to luck rather
than merit; and lastly because you are
a lazy. good-for-nothing, which, nc
doubt, forms the bond OF sympathy be
tween u.s.
The speaker is girl In her teens
She is seated on very much worn
tombstone, of very much worn
churchyard. attached to a still more
worn church. The stone is a high one
and permits the young lady to swing
her legs, displaying a pair OF very
neat ankles, in the stocking OF one OF
which, alas! there is hole. through
which pink-white skin stares ou'
like a watchful eye-fxed, like the
young ladys own, upon the sea, which
comes very near, indeed, to the churcn
yard wall, and lies like a millpond IN
the golden glow of the sunset.
The person addressed is young
gentleman year or SO younger tnan
the girl, good-looking, tall and straight
He is not only good looking, but poreo
looking but as he turns his eyes from
rne saa and rests them on the face OF
his sister, they shine with lazyt
half-amused admiration.
But the expression does not In any
wav embarrass the girl, for. the eyes
of most people are wont to grow au'
miring when they rest upon MISS Do'
lores I4atimer. The face Is that OF
brunette-dark eyes, little asqui'
line nose, small, perfactly shaped lips
and hair that, though almost black, Is
soft and feathery, falling and tumbilng
about the low, white forehead IN
manner that creates maddening de-
sire to put it straight with 9, kiss; q
desire that is instantly suppressed Dy
the straightforward half-defiant and al
together -witching play OF the dark
eyes. which flash and soften all In a
moment beneath the shade Of the long,
black lashes. She Is dressed-Mlss
polores Latimer-in well-worn serge
that has been all to evidently length
ened by a kilt-for Miss Dolores IS
still growing. A hat, battered and rib
bonless, is stuck on the back OF her
shapely head, and jacket caught by
one button-the rest are missing
embraces lovingly her straight little
shoulders and neat little bust. She Is
Thin and supple, as young girl should
be. but there is a distinct hint Of COM
ing perfection in her figure, and the
hands-clasped on the edge. OF the
tombstone to enable her to keep up
the swaying motion of her legs
though brown and freckled, are tiny
and shapely.
No doubt at an early hour OF the
morning the dark, feathery hair was
Gone up in neat coornet, butt Is
evening now-it has escaped some or
it's bonds, and falls, delicious black
waterfall, upon her rough sailor jacket
Her voice is clear and sharp as
girls in perfect health, and full of ex-
preston. and when she smiles a row
OF pearls seem to smile with the lips
through which they peeped and the
eyes above them. Take her altogether,
Dolores is as bewitching and tantaliz-
ing a specimen of girlhood trenching
on womanhood as one would wish to
see.
And lastly, you are, like me, lazy
and good-for-nothing, dear boy!"
You are not very complimentary.
Lorrie."
Take carei" she says, jerking her
leg away. That's the second time you
have narrowly missed tanning me for
life with those clodhopping boots! |
wonder why hobbledhoys always kick.
like donkeys. Not complimentary? To
myself, do you mean? Nc, Jack, | am
not complimentary, am truthful You
and /, dear boy, are bad lot, or
should it be lots? | am sick when
hear of pupsie; my heart aches for
him. However, such a respectable,
such very respectable man, could
have been curs-blessed with such a
couple OF children as you and me-
you and /. isn't it?--passes knowledge
or understanding. Here is pupsie as
polished and refined as-as a dining
room sideboard, burdened with son
who is born duffer and girl who is
a regular tomboy! If it wasn't for
Margaret expect he'd 60 quite out of
his mind. What pity it is that
we're not like Greta, Ell, Jack? Why
can't we be clever and quiet and nice
and well-mannered, like her, Jack?
Any one would know that she was the
rector's daughter, while us-or wei
say, Jack do you think we really are
pupsie's children? Do you think it pos
sible we We're changed in our cradles
What rot you talk. Lorrie."
"But is it rot? Isn't it rather good
idea? I'm sure I'm more like gypsy's
child than a respectable English
clergyman's. And as for you-well, you
are fair enough-not to say carroty-
but some gypsies are carroty, you
know. Jack! Perhaps at this moment
l ought to be trapesing after one of
those vans with the basket and brooms
hanging round it-y0u know. Jack
instead of sitting here waiting for pup
sic and Greta to come out of church!
think should rather like it.. she
continues pensively, the long, black
lashes completely hiding TIE witching
eyes. 1T must be so nice never to have
to worry about ones dress. not to