Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-05-26

/. the door. and round mahogany table in
| the centre Of the room with two leather
covered "ofice chairs before it, and a
heavy mahogany writing desk, and cab
met Of the same material and make, con-
stituted the movable furniture. There
were shelves across one corner on which
was piled old, yellow newspapers, creased
and diisty; and several dogs cared vol
umes OF old books which Lad been stored
there evidently toget them out Of the way,
as they certainly contras,ed rather unpleAs-
antly with the elegantly bound volumes in
full Turkey" which graced the library
shelves s7ii aiac' ~
Now, there was certainly nothing one
would naturally consider attractive to q
young girl in this m,lsty little store room,
or "of1ce-room," as was called. There
were no pictures, no odd or curious relics.
or bits Of antique workmanship, NO hooks
among the dOgseared volumes of adven-
ture or romance; nothing, in short, in the
place that girl of Stella Blake's age and
evident tastes would be likely to look A.
But one evening, while the family were
at tea, in the dull, wavering light Of q
grey November twilight, Stella Blake
crept carefully up stairs to the library,
through the long, dark passage, to the
"office room" door, and, taking key
from her Dress fitted it into the lock, and
turned it with a quick, resOlute hand.
Opposite the door were two windows set
but little more than . foot apart, and at
the right Of them door that opened into
q narrow hail which ran the length of the
east wing, from which opened two or three
bedding, and unreasonable clothing She
OF 1u nd -
this door it was locked, which seemed to
satisfy her. The curtains were buff linen );
she drew them up to the ceiling, and then
at the left of the windows, and opposite
other of the yellow, time stained papers,
them eagerly with her eyes. 'lf'l
What marvellous eyes they were as they
CLEANED through the fading light! Miss
way when she called them uncanny."
Indeed, there was rather supernatural
look about the entire face as it turned it.
self to the light, leaning over sometimes
in sort of feverish eagerness till the
warm breath on the glass dimmed the al
ready dim light, but never once looking
short, but straight at the old, old papers
A fierce, fiery red burned in the cheeks,
and the lips were firm and compressed,
and the scarlet shawl folded over the
bosom rose and fell in short, sharp undula-
tons. Sam 3t,lfa5 s srr tt
Suddenly door opened and shut, and
then slow, careless step came up the
stairs. With the speed of lightning she
al ha ho< inf IN ~
spraDg across the floor, and out into the
library passage just a. the east door
opened, and Alfred DeVries came into
the dusky little "ofiice room" Mr.. De-
Vries looked suspiciOusly atthe drawn.up
curtains; then he went across the floor
and tried the other door very much as
she had done that, and looking equally
satisfied at finding 1t fast. .-.3.t- 5us
There is no knowing what she might
take fancy TO do, and it's well enough TO
be on the safe SIDE" he said, undo! his
breath, as he took little bunch of keys
proceeded to lock the writing desk, the
cabinet, and the two small drawers in
the table.
This done, he drew down the curtains,
locked the door on the inside, and taking
the key, inserted itin the lock of the other
door, turned it, went out, locked it after
him, and went down the passage to the
library.
In the meantime Stells Blake had pre-
ceded him, and when he opened the
library door she looked up al him with an
indifferent glance from her seat by the
window.
care you q book-worm, Miss Stella"
he said, lightly, "that you haunt the
library sof' 1t would be rather pleasant
to be a book in that case, to be devoured
by such pretty lips" ~
He said this coming towards her all
the time,:s and Just as he stopped speak.
ing, stopped also directly in front OF her,
looking down at the slight, graceful figure,
the pure oval of the outlined face, and the
heavy coils of jetty hair encircling her
head like crown w - w &T
a"I never read some books;I do not
think Mr.. DeVries would be in the slight
est danger" she said coolly, rising 70
go out.
But suppose he courted the danger
what theny" ua ~
She was going past him he put out his
arm and caught her round the waist.
There was ringing box on his ears,
which half stunned him.
"How dare you, sir I" she cried. stamp
ing her foot; 'how dare you insult me in
this way, Mr.. DeVries =" &gaGs
Even through the dusk and gloom he
saw the stormy glitter of her eyes, and the
angry red surging in her face. How royal
she was In her WRATH How different
from Althea Montford. For an instant
the thought Of wooing this little tempest
of bringing all the fluctuations Of which
he could boast to bear upon the fiery, pas.
sionate young heart, flashed through his
brain alluringly. But another instant Of
rejection showed its folly and impossi
blity.ss Il would not be very pleasant liv-
ing in the house with Althes should he
attempt such thing, even II he was sure
that he could keep his present position
with Mr.. MOntford. But slstterly Victor
had shown symphonic Of restlessness
Once he had ssid that when he attained
his majority, in December, he wished TO
be made acquAinted with al the details OF
his fathers affairs, 20 a. to prepare him.
self to take charge Of them 1T no distant
day. He wss little afraid Of the straight.
forward, opeh-hesrted, fearless young fel.
low. He could not hold him 40 he held
his father, by fear and superior will.