Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-06-02


them, that her voice faltered and her eyes
dlled with tears. -
How terrible it would have been if
1she haddied-the pretty little creature
she saic, in gush of feeling. Life is Just
as'dear to pocr simple little 'servant-xirl
IS Y Is to you or me- / am 90 glad You
found her, dear Ralph ]" the glistening
lashes sust lifting, the scarlet lips parted
and trenulous.
Blsnche has got soft, womanly
heart he thought, with tenderer feel
I4g toward her than he had felt all day.
suppose Mr.. Montford will be willing
tdgivs you half his kingdom, he win feel
20 grateful toward you" abe said mo-
meRt after, faint smile struggling
through the tender sorrow of her face.
II co not wish for any part of Mr..
Montford's kingdom" he replied, quickly.
Since you are q king yourself, and
your kingdom is the seat" she asked, with
bright glance. II am so glad you are
sailor Ralphr
AID SO am I I wish was thousand
Leagues from land now" he said, impetu-
ously, striking Bess sharp cut across the
ears with his whip, as if she were in some
way toblame for his not being there.
A sudden pale flame shone for an in.
slant In Blanche Arnold's downcast eyes !;
or was It possibly the reflection of the am
Der glow where the sun had just gone
down?
Thsre had been something of a scene
at Montford House the evening of the
storm when Mr.. Montford returned and
found Althea had sent Stella up to Ar
Mods in the storm and only Fannie's as
surance that she had in all probability
stopped with Mrs. Bugbee, as it must
have showed hard when she got there,
and the night had shut down 30 early, kept
hin from starting of up there in the
stom.
Itwas not cheerful evening at Mont
ford House. Althea sat at the table and
PRETENDED to read book of poems, but
there was an angry glitter in her eyes
which the spirit Of harmony failed to ex-
ercisS and one got the impression that
the melodious world did not get past them
into her heart
Devries was evidently laboring very
hard t, be perfectly indifferent. He had
his face well under control at every point,
and Victor, who had unconsciously fallen
to observing him good deal of late, could
see not so much as the simplest expression
Of qualification on the impassive face
And yet he felt instinctively that he was
secretly rejoiced at Miss Blakes absence,
and though he tried to fight back the
thought, he was equally sure that he was
hoping she was out in the storm, and that
she might never return. 1t made him
nervous, this horrible suspicion, as well as
thepossibility that she might be at that
moment lying white and stiff under the
snow. He could not sit still, and like his
father, more than once resolved to set out
in search of her.
Fannie, who never saw any dark side
to anything, was the only hopeful and
contented one among them-I mean hap.
PLY hopeful, not hopeful Of evil, as pos
sibly some of them were.
But the morning brought Stella back
safe.
DeVries was standing by the window
when Mr.. Montford drove up with her.
He set his teeth hard together when he
saw them, but he did not move nor speak
as Mr.. Montford lifted her out and brought
her up the steps; only once he lifted his
eyes expressively to Althea's face, and
dropped them again, instantly. Perhaps
he was afraid that even she should see all
there was in them at that moment. But
> moment afterward he was congratulate
ing Stella upon her escape, and looking
Ing bRps,sans;G9 Il spd sSd held
! council Of wal in the back parlor. The
rest Of the family were In the sitting
room, and Miss Blake, instead of being
with the other servants, was with them, q
breach of etiquette of which Fannie
seemed quite oblivious. 1t was nothing
unusual for Althea and DeVries to spend
IN evening alone, and SO no one suspect
ed the nice little arrangement in progress
Of connection.
"If Mr. Montford should marry this low
girl, II would make i very unpleasant for
you, dear Althea," DeVries said. You
zee these sort of people are sure to put on
airs if they succeed In getting above their
station by any means, and they will stoOp
10 most any means"
II would not stay in the house an hour
after SHE became ito mistress!" Althea ex-
claimed, psssionstely.
II would not allow you TO. You do
not think would, hopper" he said, in his
softest tone. "But do not like TO think
Of Ter driving you from your own right
fal Inheritance"
"Inheritancel I will not give up that
to her. Papa shall give me my portion"
"But, my dear Allie, suppose she should
objectf You see what an influence she
exerts over him now. You saw - well
ss the lover like tenderness with which
he brought her into the house this morn |
ing. Do you doubt that he would do her |
bidding. whatever It happened to be, II
she should marry himi The property ID
All in his hands, might perhaps have
it little different II had fore.
seen this thing. think there was time |
when he would have settled certain |
portion on each of his children; at least |
think had influence enough to have per-
,uaded him." he glanced covertly at her
when he said this. He had never yet |
known Just how much Of the past Althea |
knew.
A slow cold psllor settled down on her
lace, AID her eyes grew hard and steely |
In thef expression.
"Ysu can do IL now" she said, in q
low, loarse voice. HE will not dare re-
fuse" hH
"Hs has refused this very afternoon,
Althel," he answered, slowly. :" think
be is perfectly reckless and Indifferent.
Il hasbeen 40 long, you know, since"
"Y&, / know" she interrupted, nerv- |
vously; "please omit ell mention Of what
-. ~, The pae< l. An~N and h,,ried