Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-06-23

never danced with her yet, and the
blood rushed to his face as he fancied
Eimsel: whirling to the music of the
Waldteufel with Lorrie-dear, sweet
Lorrie-in his arms.
Whistling a few bars of the melody
he sat down to the luxurious break
fast, and was counting up the days
to the end of the long, dreary month.
when Rawlings entered with the let
tiers.
Guy turned them over eagerly, and
his face frightened as he saw one
with the Carshal postmark. Lorrie
had written at last, and there would
be her photo inside-her own photo
this time, not that of the black big
shop.
Jack is not the rose! But he has
been near her. and I must be con-
tent with that, l suppose"
But the smile died away, and his
face grew pale as he read the scrawl.
There was a good deal about the
coming race, but it was not that which,
sent the color out of Lord Guys face.
The sting was in the postscript.
Have you heard that Seymour Mel
ford has got mashed by my sister
Lorrie? Fact! He has asked the gov
ernor and got his blessing, and so, l
suppose, the affair is as good as
settled. Nice having rich Croesus for
a brother-in-law, isn't it?'
Guys hand fell upon the letter as
if he would drive it through the table
as wei a. ont of his mind.
1t was true, then! She had been
false to him. Threw him over with
out word, too. A black and bitter
feeling came over h NJ, and curse
pom all women rose 10 his lips.
With a sigh he pushed the plate
from him, and, rising, fell to pacing
the room, with pain at his heart
that seemed as if it would choke him.
It was true, then! The girl had
deemed all truth, and innocence and
purity had Tilted him for ''good
match" as coolly and easily as if she
had been a garrison hack of half-a-
dozen seasons. With a groan he
leaned against the mantleshelf and
laid his hot forehead upon his hands.
"Oh, Lorrie! Oh, my darling! And
so soon, so soon! Would to heaven I
HAD never seen you! shall never get
your sweet face out of my hearth
never, never!"
The door opened and Rawlings en-
tered again.
Lord Guy turned angrily.
why the devil don't you knock?"
Il did, my lord" said Rawlings, re-
spectfully.
Then knock louder next time.
What is it now?"
"A telegram, my lord!"
Guy took it and tore it open alb
sently; then he uttered low, bitter
laugh that startled Rawlings out Of
his presence of mind.
"Oh, my lord! -what is it," he
asked, anxiously.
Guy stared at him, then laughed
long and loudly.
ooh, not much: he said, wildly. II
hope you haven't put any money on
Gypsy, Rawlings ?" mockingly; 'be-
cause if you have, ne was poisoned
last night.
ooh, my lord! 1t isn't pOssible!"
Its more than pOssibIe-it's a
fact!" retorted Guy. Read it for
yourself
"They don't know. Or course they
do not! They never do!"
"The horse was watched might and
day, my lord"
Would to heaven they had poi
soned me instead"
1t was not of the horse he was
thinking so bitterly, fond as he had
been of it, but Of the loss of Lorrie.
rs there anything I can do, my
lord?"
mo. What is to be done? Yes, you
can telegraph and offer a reward OF
a hundred pounds, and say that 1 Will
be up by the next train Get Things
ready, will your.
Rawlings went off sorrowfully, and
Guy sank into a chair.
Lorrie gone from him forever, his
horse dead! What else was there that
could happen? Almosts as IL in am
swer to his bitter question, Gillow
stole into the room.
"The earl desires to know, my lord,
if you could come to him at once"
He followed Gillow along the cor
ridor, and entered the earl's room.
His father was seated i'm his usual
place, his hand resting on an open
letter which lay upon the small
table beside him. The old mans face
was gray rather than white, and as he
raised his eyes Guy saw that they
were heavy and dull, as If with some
intense pain.
The earl waited until Gillow had
left the room, then signed to Guy ia
take a chair, and for a moment saI
in silence, than he said, in a voice
hollow and sad and yet perfectly I'm