Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1921-06-30
ASA MAN SOWETH
BY ALYCE KNOX.


voice of the World, ''he was wild over
her, and finally she discovered that she
loved him."
Eyes, yes, go on" said the Curious
Person.
'They were perfectly happy for
some time; but one day he met her
sister. She had just finished school,
and it seemed to him that it was the
first time he had ever seen her, when
really he had known her nearly all
his life. He forgot all about Louise,
for he saw no one but this sister.
The vain girl was very much delighted
with the turn of affairs"
EYES," broke in the Curious Person,
married Louise, and they lived hap
PLY ever after?"
I'VE were very much surprised"
continued the Voice, dreamily-with-
out noticing what the other had said,
when his second engagement was an
nounced. We looked at each other
blindly, and the same words arose to
all of our lips: What will become of
LouY
'The wedding was apparently
grand one. Many of us were present,
but we could not help feeling the
gloom that hung over all. Someone
whispered that Lou was dying-SlOw-
ly, and at that time 1t seemed pos
nd fhn
pale face of the bride we almost be-
lieved it. We were all glad when it
was over. Each heartbeat said, Mil
lie has him now, anyway
did she die?" queried the Curious
Person.
NO" Numbered the World. ain a
few years she came back and took her
place among us. She appeared as hap
Ply and carefree as ever. Years went
by. She spent most of her time with
her brothers children.
"One morning she awoke to the fact
that her sister was a helpless invalid,
and that her two beautiful daughters
needed someone to care for them"
"Well?" said the Person inpatient
ly, what did that have to with her?"
'She thought the matter over care
fully and went to them"
"Was that her revenge?" inquired
the Person. did she want to show
her sister what would happen as soon
as she was out of the way?'
II think not" said the World, "she
saw her duty and she did it bravely.
1t was terrible undertaking; she
watched year by year the icy hand
which spread over her sister. How
could she but feel glad that she had
been spared? Thus the years went
by; years so full that she had no
chance to think, for she worked I'M
ceasingly for her sister or for the
girls she had to mother. The years
ended yesterday-frOm now On she
will be always before my eyes"
"Oh, she died?" queried the Person,
II wonder what he felt"
.
After the last hack had gone, Louise
sat musing. She knew what the world
was saying, but it did not even annoy
her. She knew that the world had
been watching her for twenty years
but she did not care. Slowly she arose
from her musing; she must go to her
girls, she was all they had now, and
she loved them as any mother might.
NO" she spoke softly, II will never
leave Them"
One afternoon as she sat sewing on
the cool and shady veranda, she heard
the gate unlock, and wondered who
could be coming. Louise had returned
to college, and Dorothy couldn't be
home from school so soon. When she
heard the steps she knew who it was,
for they were the same steps she used
to listen for twenty years before.
Charley must be home early to-
day." she unused.
Yes, Charley was home early. He
knew where Louise would be, and he
went straight to her.
Louise" he said, "this has all to
end some time, When are we going
to be married?"
"Married?" echoed the woman.
Married? What do you mean,
Charles?
He thought he saw through her lit
tie scheme. She would misunderstood
him for just minute, she meant to
appear puzzled she was teasing him !;
all women liked to tease
"Why. LOUISE he said, but got
no further
II am never going to marry yOu,"
she said calmly and coolly. Louise
had always been calm, sweet and
beautiful, but never cool.
But-but-yOu loved me once" he
stammered.
Love" she said rising quickly.
"Love! You forget that you, also,
loved me once-thought you did,"
He WINGED, land l still do" he
said. Il only thought 1 loved Miliy
but when she became i'll, / discovered
that I didn't"