Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-06-16
quickening at the possibility Of such . de-

MontfOrd House. MIR. Gilbert MOntfOrd
and Mr.. DeVries are in the back parlor.
ITS likely we are to lose Miss Blake
"Lose her! What do you means' asked
Montford, starting up The was very ex.
citable Of late.
20, nothing very unusual; refer to
her intimacy with young Anderson. When
young lady goes out and walks two
hours with young man Immediately mp
on his arrival In town after several days
absence, there is but one conclusion, viz (:
that they are greatly interested in each
other"
"It'sa lie, you're jealous because she
prefers me to you, and you've made up
this whole story" cried Montford, with
rising passion.
Devrles coolly stepped to the bell cord,
and moment after Susan Dale came in.
She looked so conscious, and was 30 ready,
that g naturally suspicious person might
have fancied the whole thing had been ar
ranged between her and DeVries, but it's
not likely it had. 3 ''
"By the way, lassie." said DeVries, in
sn Indifferent tone, did anyone call here
for Miss Blake, yesterday afternoon
why, yes, that young sea captain, An.
derson."
"Did he come in of course he did"
mo, sir, he did not He expressly
stated he wished to see Miss Blake alo,as,
and she very readily went off with him,
and did not get back till quite dusk.
They've walked out together afore, too,
guess" ~
"Never mind, it's Of no consequence.
That will do, Susan" DeVries said, quiet.
ly, and the girl went out. pl
"Well?" DeVries said, turning round
II say l don't believe she cares for
him." WAS the suiien answer
90, well, itdoesn't matter to me, I'm not
smitten. Only if she drops off some day
without asking leave, you will not be sur
prised, suppose, now that you have had
fair warming" sttis. #.l.I ..t.
"Stop. here, ring that bell +" cried
Mo atford, springing up, and obeying his
own order s..rt
"Send Stella Blake here.' he ordered
peremptorily Of the servant who answered
the summons.
In moment she came in, looking faint
ly surprised, but otherwise cool and un-
moved.
"Now call Victor and the girls" he
said, turning to DeVries, who obeyed a
little reluctantly. -.'#-
They were in the front parlor and had
heard the summons and met him at the
door. "You have gone too far" Althea
whispered as she passed him.
a. want you all here" Mr.. Montfo-d
said, looking round upon them as they
came in 81 am going to do an unusual
thing, and as I've been under guardian
ship so long, II might not stand II hadn't
the proper number of witnesses"
His face was pale, but his eyes had a
strange, almost insane glow in them, and
his hands trembled convulsively IS he
walked across the floor to where Stella
sat s.rs E
miss Blake" he said, pausing,' / ask
you here before these witnesses, to be my
wife. love you better than anybody in
the world, and will be good to you, and
stand between you and the hardness OF
the world, and when / die-for Tn much
older than you, I know will leave you
half my fortune, and more u you say 30.
Will you accept my offer y he asked
eagerly. 1911
A swift, quiverinR fame shot across her
face, and she gaspcd, rs IL her breath was
going from her, then she looked up and
said In firm, clear voice q.
AZ accept your offer, Mr. Montford"
The blood rushed To his face, he put out
his arms toward her, when with cry Of
alarm Victor sprang before him and
caught him as he tottered and fell for
ward Ills. ,..
sOuick! open the windows, don't you
see he Is in fit!" he cried, staggering
with him to the sofa. l ..,.......,
CHAPTER XVI.
Full OF his new resolution, eager with
hope and anxiety, Ralph Anderson was
hurrying up the drive leadingto Montford
House, utterly unmind,ul Of the fine snow
that blew in his face, frosting his hair and
beard, and nesting about his neck IS II 1t
were cold and wanted . cosy place to get
warm in. r...tl-..lt- ...E
Suddenly, rousing him somewhat from
his absorption, . carriage dashed past him
up to the door, and Victor, followed by
another man, sprang out and ran up the
steps, and vanished into the house A ser
want came round and took the horse by
the bride to lead him TO the stable.
Ralph sprang forward and touched the
mans arm.
"Thcre's nothing the matter, / trust ?"
glaDcing toward the house, thinking only
of her, fearing only some Illness or 'acci-
dent had befa1len hey. ~ t"'
"Why, yes, sir, there ISL the man re-
piled. "Mr. Montford IL In it, Mr..
Victor thought nobody else could go for
the doctor 80 quick as himself, and per.
hnps they couldn't, don't say though |
hev driv horses, I believe" The man led
away the horse with an injured, but re-
signed expression on his face, which was
quite touching. HatiF3 y .'fINlH
Ralph did not stop for ceremony; he
never stopped TO consider il 1t might not
be intrusion, but walked directly up the
steps and into the hall, pausing an instant
then following the sound Of voices which 4
came family through the closed doors,
till he reached the back pArlor. tlZlI
4" He is dead" the doctor said, rising,
and laying the neryeless hand back on the
breast. II have long known Mr.. Mont
ford was subject for apoplexy. He has
had slight attacks before, I believer" ,
eyes," Victor said, family; then look
ing up and seeing Ralph. he added Il
"Come in, Mr.. Anderson; you find US IN
affection, but you are no less welcome"
and he came forward and extended his
hand with grave cordially.
Like lightning it flashed through Rslph's
brain what HtAIla had aid a. well as