Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-06-20
The
CIRCLET
a Singular Case OF a
Woman's Modesty
By JU LA c. DAN \
By JULIA c. DAN \

Have you met the American beau
ty, Hcrbert?" asked one
What American beauty?"
The one who has recently come to
London. Miss Denton. She Is all the
rage"
No; | have not even heard Of her.
But since she is creating sensation
| should like to meet her. Tor curl.
oSity. II for nothing more. 10 you
know her, and will you present me?"
Yes, know her and will be happy
to present YOU. But let me tell you,
who are such Stickler fer birth, YOU
who claim kinShip with the Towards.
that these Americans have NO real
blue blood in them and this Miss Den.
tons origin Is uncertain, It Is wills.
pered that she comes of very ordinary
stock, aud the source from which she
Inherited her fortune. II 1t Is known
in America. Is not known here, | have
heard that there is a story about how
she came into her Inheritance, but
whether II involves disgrace or credit
to her, or neither, don't know"
This is all interesting and exciteS
curiosity Eut why do you think 1t
necessary to tell it to mef"
Because these American women are
carrying off many OF our best men for
husbands. and don't know but that
If | present you to this girl she may
do the same ny you. Being your moth
ers friend. feel more or less respon-
sihle for YOU You Percys have no
record of any one of your family hav-
ing made a misalliance. You don't
want to be the first to do So"
Herbert Percy smiled
Yes. yes. continued his friend. IL
know that YOU are thirty-tve and a
member of parliament. but ut what
age is a man safe from a woman?"
"l'll not hold you responsible Now
for the Introduction"
The two went through the rooms TIL
they saw n woman OF perhaps twenty
five surrounded by flock OF men, each
of whom was trying to get word with
her. while groups of British spinsters.
was not the beauty Percy had been led
to suppose, nor did she bear herself ns
a belle-seeming to shrink from rather
than court the attention she was re
ceiving. But while awaiting an oppor-
tunity to be presented Percy watched
her, and her presence kept growing on
him. He was puzzled to know in what
that something about her, far above
the ordinary. consisted. That II existed
he was sure. He did not create 1t by
his Imagination. He saw 1t and felt 1t
and was ready to acknowledge that It
was superior to anything there was In
himself. When an opportunity occur
red and he was introduced to Miss
Denton he discerned at once that what.
ever was the source of her social sue
cess her heart was not enlisted In a
social triumph The attention she re-
ceived rather annoyed than pleased
her
~ have been waiting long while"
said Percy. "for an Introduction and
have been delayed by the men who
have been swarming about you fear
ed would never get an opportunity"
Being an American. I'm curiosity
| wish 1t We're not so would have
many of whom have been very kind to
me. but the men crowd about me be-
cause | am new"
Percy was amused The girls sin
cerity he did not question, but he did
question the kindlinesS OF the ladies'
modesty and had the art OF showing
sympathy in whatever degree It might
be required Other men seeing the
American engaged in earnest conversa-
ton with one of Londons most de
sirable parts RETAINED from interrupt
ing their chat. and they spent most OF
the rest of the evening In each others
company.
This is not story OF courtship. 1t
IL rather the story OF an incident and
what that incident led to. Herbert
Percy fell under the influence against
which her friend and introducer had
warned him and without knowing any
thing about Miss Dcnton's origin or
how she acquired her fortune, became
engaged to her.
There was an adornment that Miss
Denton was never seen without when
she wore what is called full dress That
was at times u band Of black velvet.
at others band Of gold on her arm
midway between the elbow and the
shoulder When the occasion admitted
OF sleeves she wore them. leaving or
the circlet Perhaps for this reason
1t was not especially noticed that this
portion Of her arm was never uncov
cred. few, however, had remarked 1t
and attributed II TO the wearer's desire
10 give herself an appearance Of those
antique beauties who hourished In
Rome or Egypt or Greece some 1000
years ago.
Herbert Percy noticed the circlet at
his first meeting with his 6ancee. and.
though he had no thought Of Miss Den
ton wea ring II for the purpose that has
been mentioned. he certainly consid-
cred that it effected such a purpose II