Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-06-16

closed, and silence-.that strange, awed
silence which death always gives to
room-had settled down on the pretty
back parlor, with its draped piano, and
chairs set gravely in . row against the
wall like pail bearers, and the one central
figure, which made everything else fade
[ into insigniicance, lay ~ white and still
| as if NO passion had ever stirred its
pulses, DR.. Colby and Ralph came softly
out, and closed the door - carefully as II
the quiet figure had only lain down for
an hour, and they were fearful Of waking
him. }sent4s.l is8l.sis essssg stsa
/ DIR. Colby went out, and q servant took
but Victor came out and took Ralph's arm
and led him into the parlor. III IN
DeVries stood by the window, looking
modify out Fannie was crying soffly
her head lying on the arm of the sofa, but
she looked up and smiled family, and ex-
tended her hand. Ralph took it between
both of his and said, gently: .sjnH
"This is very hard for You, my dear
young lady, and ! can say nothing to
comfort you; but you have my deepest
and warmest sympathy" .sgf-aa) l,aa
"Thank you," she whispered, casting
troubled look toward Althea. -
Involuntarily Ralph followed her glance.
Althea's face was slightly averted, brs he
could see that her eyes, though bearing
traces of tears, were glittering and angry,
| and there was hint Of some passionate
feeling in her face which was not all grief.
She turned, as If aware Of his scrutiny
and was fretted by it.
II think death in a family Is preferable
to disgrace, Mr.. Anderson" she said, INK
family defiant tone.
"I DO not understand you," ne faltered,
a vague presentiment that it had some
thing to do with Stella, suddenly oppress-
ing him. l4Et -
"Then I will explain. Perhaps you have
heard that Miss Blake was employed
here as a servant-perhaps you noticed
her leave the room after you came In.
| She could not leave till she was sure he
was dead, though ordered her to do 80,
twice." aas. e .tnl. NI j" ~
"Please don't, Althea," Fannie said,
deprecatingly. fl. i.}t79- ~
But she continued, without noticing the
interruption: h7ftN"Nt H2l
II was bad enough to have her in the
house when we did not want her, know
ing that she was using her specious arts
To entrap one who was no match for her
crafty subtlety, and Turing him on till he
was on the verge of disgracing himself,
his family, and the honorable name he
bore, and when heaven, as ii shocked at
his folly and weakness, took away his
! life, il was more than at least could bear
with composure, to see her sitting there
with her fiery, brazen eyes,"
"AltheaT Victor interrupted, sternly,
"you forget yourself Our father had .
right to ask Miss Blake to be his wife, and
she had right to accept his offer II she
chose. will not have her abusedp the
sunny blue eyes flashing, and the girlish
face growing suddenly strong and tirm.
"Perhaps you had better marry her your
SELF" she sneered. II presume her affec.
tions are transferable; those of such per-
sons usually are" ,l ~ ,.f-,... A.ss.
Ralph turned abruptly, perfectly re-
gardless of etiquette, and rushed into the
hall. His fiery temper was in arms, and
like q two-edged sword, 1t cut both ways.
He hardly knew which he was most angry
| with: Stella for her hcartlessness, as he
mentally called it, or Althea Montford for
denouncing II. He was, you perceive, in
q very unreasonable and paradoxicsl state
of mind, not to say uncomfortable-very,
excessively uncomfortable well. 80.
| A hand touched his arm. II was = hard
piece of self denial to resist the impulse TO
throw 10 on. He did not feel as If be could
bear another word. He had been 80 null
| OF hope, of happy plans, of eager antici-
PATTON and now! But there was quiet
mesmerism in the white, flexile hand that
rested on his arm, and something, like .
breath of soft cool air, swept across his
perturbed spirit. ffl5t"'
"You must not go away bearing such
an impression of Miss Blake as Althea has
given you," said the quiet firm voice OF
| Victor Montford. "She has always dis
| liked Miss Blake, for some reason, and
she il very bitter where she dislikes. l
want you to remember that believe Miss
Blake guiltless of using artifce to induce
my father to ask her to be his wife.
Perhaps she is not the only girl, who,
poor and friendless, would accept the Ofier
he made. think 1t strange, maybe, but
do not know her heart, nor her motives,
and ssM not Judge her. Ln .a'''i
at the quick light that came into his COM
paniOn's, and the hearty grasp In which
| he caught his hand. " He IL ~ generous
fellow" he thought "snd l am. glad for
her sake" But the her" did not have
reference to Stella. nor even to his sister
Althea, an afraid. aEflst .ri.a.ii.t
.HShe will not stay here, now,-Mies
Blakey", Ralph asked !; trying to speak
carelessly. with all that tempest Of feeling
surging through, his soul, ~ ts ~
"She shall stay here As long @ she
pleases. ! am master here, now. WAS
twenty-on yesterdsy-and she shall be
protected" the blue eyes dsrkenipg again.
"But do you think 1t would be pleas
ant \" asked this arch diplomat -4
"No,"' the fine face cloudiDg, 81 am
afraid not. Fannie, can answer for her.,
but -" ~. 49,,
T"Let me suggest better course, Ralph
interrupted, my mother would be de-
lighted to have her come there,and II il not
as though she was q stranger TOR you
know she stayed with us thst night she
got bewildered In the storm, and she has
never been there since, and II would be
real Kindness to 1us, and relieve you Of .
little embarrassment just at this time. :
Other arrangements can be made alter
wsrd, you know" ~" ~
"You are very kind, and II she likes
the arrangement she shall accept your
friendly offer. I feel however, thai -