Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-09-05
Ne
Blond Giant:
Ii is Not Safe to Jump at
Conclusions
By CLARISSA MACKlE


Mark Ellsworth bought n magazine
Of the train boy and settled comforta-
bly, back in his seat The book opened
of itself at one of Euuice Wards
charming little love stories, aud Mark
scanned the columns eagerly for the
paragraph that introduced the incvita-
bic man in the case, He was vcNcd
with himself even aS his eyes fell upon
the offending paragraph
As usual in EuniCe'S latest stories
;he hero was everything TO he ad-
mircd manly, lovahle and big and
blond and handsome,
Mark slapped the pages together and
east the magazine from him, staring
moodily at the hectiug scenery, He
was rather below the medium height,
dark and pale and square iawcd and
very American, Quite the opposite VI
Eunice Wards ideal MS depicted in her
stories or course the big fresh faced
English type must he the sort OF men
Eunice admired. for her heroes were
all of that description,
The train drew to n stop before II
little terra Gotta station, and Mark
gathered up his traps and FASTENED
out into the October sunshine.
lie had cherished a vague hope that
Euuice might be there to meet him
once in the earlier stages of their ac-
Quaintance she had come for him--but
no. Mrs. Raymond, his hostess. sat
alone In the motor smiling warm well
come.
"Eunice was coming, too" she said
rs they sped along the oiled road to-
ward Windymere, but at the last mo.
mcnt Mr.. Punderson reminded her OF
promised walk. so she went with
him"
who is Mr. Punderson?" asked
Mark crimly, Not Percy Rainier Pun
derson, the poet chap?"
YES; and you will like him so
much," returned Mrs. Raymond enthu
slastically. her dark eyes flashing one
I glance at his stern profile.
NO doubt" said Mark dryly. Hes
+ an Englishman, isn't hep"
"Oh, yes"
Big and blond and something of a
giant?" There was an unconscious
note of anxiety in his deep voice.
why, yes-in way" laughed Mrs,
Raymond as she gave him her hand
alighting. Il didn't know you men no
ticed each others looks much"
I'VE don't as II rule" returned Mark
deliberately, but we observe and ad-
mire poets as we do women. you
know"
You will like MIR. Punderson," pre-
dicted Mrs. Raymond, as she directed
him to his room.
Mark Ellsworth was sure that he
must detest Pundcrson the poet. AS he
dressed for dinner his fine forehead
was creased with a dark frown ms he
went over the months OF his acquaint-
ance with Eunice Ward. He had been
bosom friend OF Dick Raymond's be-
fore that gentleman's marriage and
since then had been IA frequent guest
at Windymere. Eunice was Mrs. Ray
mond's cousin, and 1t was at Windy.
mere that Mark had met and fallen In
love with her among the winding paths
of that most fascinating OF homes.
The presence of Percy Rainier Pun
derson at Windymere was significant.
Mark had heard of him as n dreamy.
soulful individual aud he could not as
sociate Mrs. Raymond's description Of
the Englishman with the dropping.
anaemic poet his imagination had con
jured.
Eunice gave him n cool little hand
and "A fleetng glimpse of sea blue eyes
that were hidden ut once by thickly
fringed white lids.
We had about given you up" she
said rc,roachfully. you've promised
to come down every Saturday for the
past month aud now, the first week in
October. our expectations are at last
realized" The mock regret in her
tone quite hid something that Mark
was too miserable to recognize.
i've been very busy" he said an
sentIy, "and in town the weeks do slip
away. You have not been dullY" His
eyes invOluntarily turned toward Pun
derson's broad back.
mot at all" she cried hastily. mir.
Punderson is quite as ardent pedes
trian as | am and together we have
tramped over every road In Mereton,
coming home with the most appalling
appetites."
IL hope you will walk with me" said
Mark, speaking more wistfully than
he knew
''Of course" she replied quickly. II
know the Ioyelicst place in the country
side. We viii start tomorrow morn
ing while the others are at church"
The prospect Of having Eunice all
to himself for several hours put Mark
In the best Of spirits and during the
course Of the evening he came to Ike
the big quiet blond giant who seemed
a living representation Of the heroes
who marched through the pages Of En-
nires stories
As they struck into a long amber
lighted wood road the next day Marx