Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-02-27

him during the Niutcr. His summers
are spent usually ON his ranch in the
west. We d.ued togcther two days
ago at the Hare ana Tortoise. just be
fore he left for the west"
You will pardon ne If say that It
is wholly to his credit that he has for,
sworn the professions and identified
himself with the honorable calling of
the hushaudmau."
We met MIR Virgins while travel.
ing abroad last summer" iutcrpoSed
Cecilia, meeting my eyes quite frankly.
Met him. Did You say met him
Cecilia? On the contrary, we found
him waiting tor us ut the dock the
morning We sailed" corrC,tcd Miss
HOLSTER, land we never lost him 4
day in three months of rapid travel
| had never met him before. but can
not deny that he made himself exceed
ingly agreeable. If. as | suspected, he
had deliberately planned To travel on
the same steamer with my two nieces,
! have only praise for his conduct,
for in these days. Mr.. AmcS. it warns
iAS hN''AA " iAlN NN'tAi- AtiNt NAttN AtiS~
something of the old chivalric ardor III
Their affairs of the heart"
I'm sure Mr.. Virgins made himself
very agreeable" remarked Cecilia col
orleSSly
For myself" retorted Miss Hollis
ter, Il should speak even more strong
ly. He repeatedly served us with tact
ana deicacy | had formed SO high
an opinion Of MIR Virgins that learn
ed with SinCerest regret that his an
ceStors Were Tories and took no part
in the struggle for American independ-
enCe. There are times when | serious
~ question The wisdom of the cooniSts
in breaking with the mother country,
but certainly no man of character In
that day could have heSitatcd as to his
proper course"
Then. as though by intention, Miss
Hollister dropped upon the smooth cur
rent of our talk n sentence that drove
the color from Cecilia's face
"Hezekiah and Mr.. Virgins We're the
best of friends" was Miss HOLSTERS
remark.
Cecilia'S eyes We're on her plate, but
her aunt went on in her blithest fash
ion:
You may not know that lleZekiah is
another niece, Cecilia's sister. She
was named at my suggestion, for my
father. there being no son in the fam
lily, and | trust that SO unusual Il name
in young girl does not strike you as
indefcnSible."
"On the contrary, it seems to me
wholly refreshing and delightful. AS
| recall the Sunday school of my youth,
HeZekiah WAS II monarch of great au-
thority, whose luminosity toward Sen
nacherib WIS justified in the fullest
degree. The very name bristlcs with
spears and is musical with the trum-
pets of Israel Nothing would make
me happier than 10 meet the young
lady who bears this illustrious name"
"As to the your knowledge of ancient
history. Mr.. Ames," began Miss Hol-
lister as she helped herself to the
cheese-sweets. | noted, We're not in
cluded in the very ample meal l had
enjoyed-''it is clear that you were
well taught in your youth. | am not
surprised, however, for | should have
expected nothing less Of Il son Of the
late General Ames of Hartford. As to
meeting my niece IieZekiah, | fear that
that is at present impossible While
Cecilia remains with me Hezekiah's
duty is to her father, and | must say
in all kindness that IIeZekiah's ways,
like those of Providence and the GUS
tom house. are beyond my feeble UNI
derstanding. In word, Mr.. Ames,
HeZelliah is different"
'Hezekiah" added Cecilia, with
feeling, lis Il dear"
please don't bring sentimentalism
to the table" cried Miss Holister.
MIR. Virgins once informed me in a
moment of forgetfulness-it was at
Fontainebleau, remember, when
Hezekiah persisted in reminding one
armed French colonel who was hang
ing about that we named cities in
America for Bismarck it was there Mt
the inn that Mr.. Virgins contided to
me his belief that HeZekiah bears a
strong resemblance to the common or
domestic peach. As Il single peach at
that place was charged in the bill at
10 francs. the remark was i'll timed, to
say the least, But Mr.. Virgins was
50 contrite when rebuked him that
allowed him 10 pay for our luncheon
no small matter, indeed, for Iieze-
kiah's appetite is nothing If not ro-
bust"
Miss HOLSTER gave so many turns to
the conversation that | could reach no
conclusion As 10 her feeling toward
Virgins or HeZekiah HOLSTER and, a.
for Cecilia. / was unable to determine
whether she was a prisoner at Hope
field Manor or the willing and devoted
companion Of her aunt.
In this bewiIdered state Of mind,
while we fingered over or coffee, the
servant appeared with "a card for each
of the ladies. saw Cecilia start rs
she read the nume.