Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-07-04

is closest to man has the best chance
With him. Opportunity is much-very
much. Secrecy is everything
why should YOU not both have done
so?" she resumed bitterly We are
all human
why should we not have done what
what is ii that YOU meaL?" de-
manded of her
why, there was she engaged to Mr..
Belknap. as | am told. and there were
you engaged to Il certain young lady
by the name OF Grace sheraton very
far away. And you were conveniently
loSt-very conveniently and you found
each others society agreeable You
kept away for some weeks or months
both Of you forgetting, II was idyllic
ideal You were not precisely babes
in the woods You were man and a
woman, | presume you enjoyed your
selves after very possible little fash
ion. do not blame you. say |
might have done the same, should
like to know it for time myself
freedom do not blame you. only"
she said slowly, lin society we do not
have freedom Here it is different |
suppose different laws apply, different
customs
Miss Grace" said i. Il do not in the
least understand you, You are not the
same girl left"
NO, am not. But that is not my
f,.,.
much as a man? Have not right as
much as you? Have you not been
free?"
''One thing only want TO say" re-
joined. land Il is this. which | ought
not to say at all. If you mean any
thing regarding Ellen Meriwether. ]
have to tell you, or any one. that she is
clean-mind. body, soul. heart as
clean as when saw her first
DO you know, like you for saying
that." she retorted, II would never
marry man who knew nothing OF
other women--l don't want milksop;
and | would not marry man who
would not lie for the sake of n sweet
heart, You lie beautifully, DO you
know, Jack, | believe you are bit OF
a gentleman. after all!
But tell me. when is the wedding to
be?" This last with obvious effort.
"Iou have not advised me"
"Oh. beg your pardon ! meant
your marriage with Ellen Meriwether
l supposed. of course. you had quite
forgotten ME"
ELLEN Meliwethcr Is already mar
ried," ] said to her. with calmness
which surprised myself But what
surprised me most was the change
which came upon her face at the words
the flush-the CLEAN of triumph. of
satisfaction. | guessed this much and
no more-that she had had certain
plans. and that now she had other
plans. changed with lightning swift
ness, and by reason Of my words.
Lieutenant Lawrence Belknap and
Miss Ellen Meriwether were married,
| presume. some time after | started
for the east" | went on. But they
were never engaged before our return
to the settlements II was all very
suddenly arranged"
How like n story book! So he for
got her little incidents with you-all
summer-side by side-day and night!
How romantic! ! don't know that |
could have done so much had / been
man, and myself not guilty of the
same incidents. At least. he kept his
promise"
There had never been any promise
at all between them"
Then Captain Orme was quite mis-
taken?"
Captain Orme does not trouble him
self always TO be accurate"
AT least, then. you are unmarried
Jack?"
Yes, and likely to be for some
years"
Now her face changed once more.
Whether by plan Of her own or not l
cannot say, but it softened to more
gentle-shall say more beseeching
look? Was 1t that again was at her
side. that old associations awakened?
Or was 1t because she was keen,
shrewd and in control of herself, able
to make plans to her own advantage?
| cannot tell as to that. But | saw her
face soften. and her voice was gentle
when she spoke.
What do you mean. JackT' she
asked
If there was not love and caress In
her tones then | could not detect the
counterfeit, | reiterate, if | should live
thousand years | should know moth,
ing of women, nothing. We men are
but toys with them.
q Had it been left to my Judgment to
pronounce | should have called her
emotion now a genuine one. Mocking,
cynical. contemptuous she might have
been, and it would have suited my own
mood But what was ii now on the
face Of Grace Sheraton, girl of a proud
family. woman once had kissed here
at this very place until she blushed-
kissed until she warmed, until she
But now know she changed once