The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1870-04-08
MAEGgf-N kNENL.
CHAPTER ". Continued.

intercepted on his way, and then
made to play at whist. ,u
She cried that night, and wonder
ed why in county house gentlemen
should be SO. carefully kept away
from the ladies. 1t never occurred
to her to wonder why she cared SO
much about Sir Stephen! Ho seem
ed her enc friend in that great house,
and she thought of nothing more.
The next morning she was too shy
to 60 down till Mary was ready, aud
then it was so late that most of the
gentlemen had gone out shooting,
and Sir Stephen had again been i'm
pressed.
The day passed much in tho same
way as the day before, save that
Aimee was much pleased and amused
by being allowed to help to. arrange
and ornament the house for the even.
ing's dance.
After tea Miss Ashley was SUM-
moncd to her mothers room.
"Sit down, Carolipe,' said Mrs.
Ashley. as her daughter stood impa-
tiently before her.
81 really can't stay, mamma
Mrs. Hardwood wishes some of the
flowers to be altered in the ball room,
and Mary asked me to help her.
They must manage without youj
my dear, for little.' :
The tone was so serious that Caro-
line saw no help for it, and drew a
comfortable arm chair to The fire.
"lou are twenty-six, my DEAR
go, | know that
''Hush, Caroline. 7 wish to speak
seriously to you on a subject I know
you dislike. But how can | avoid
doing it, when see you deliberately
throwing away such chance Of hap
piness?"
II beg yonr pardon mamma, if you
mean Sir Stephen Eastwood. It's
the greatest nonsense l ever heard.
He does not care for me in the least.
"He does. But he cannot show it
while your manner to him is SO cold"
"Ho's despera tely in love with
Miss Barlow, SO that settles the
question.
"impossible that sort of thing
never happened out Of novol!'
II believe many poor governesses
do delude themselves with wild ideas
Of romantic heroes. but Miss Barlow
is very d tfercnt. She is going iuto
the world bravely, without any non-
sense in her head, and | think she
will be rewarded at once by meeting
a sensible man who can see and ap-
prcciate the beauty Of her character, "
Mrs. Ashley was not in the least
touched by this outburst.
Il don't believe it, she said
"Sir Stephen is far too much a man
of the world to do anything so fool
ish.'
II don't think it foolish. But |
really oannet stay any longer. an.
sick of Sir Stephens name. +" And
Caroline made good her retreat at
last.
Mrs. Ashley in wild despair, hur-
ried to Mrs. Harcwood's boudoir.
80 my dear Mrs. Harewood, such
dreadful news Caroline tells me
Sir Stephen is in love with Misa Bar
low
"What nonsense!' Mrs. Hare
wood calmly answered, adding, rath-
er sharply, How came she to say
anything on such suhject!'
"Why, her manner to him is 50
ccld, | thought it better to speak to
her before -.!ight, and then she said
that
1.-The idea is absurd. He has far
too much sense even to have thought
of anything SO ridiculous.
Mrs. Hareweod spoke severely,
and looked SO naughty vnd unsympa-
thetic that Mrs. Ashley left the room
in despair, feeling rather ashamed,
and not in the least convinced.
Down stairs. Mary, Caroline, All
NEE, and one or two favored young
ladies were experimenting; and; in
deed, working hard themselves, in
the Encouragement Of the flowers
Mrs Hardwood had desired. Very
lovely the room looked when it was
done, and then Caroline, prompted
by some kindly impulse, turned to
Aimee and asked, what are you
going to wear to-night!'
MY clean white muslin. l have
nothing else, Aimee answered; add
ing, timidly, 'Do you thinks it
rery dreadful to wear high dress?"
Caroline laughed good naturedly.
mo, indeed; you will only look as
if you were not OUT
"And please-you are SO kind
do you think | might have some flow
ers for my hair? was afraid to ask
Miss Harewood.' ...
Certainly. I'll manage that. and
bring them to your room and put
them in for you, if you like"
Aimee thanks were fcryent.
She did not speak to Sir Stephen
either before or during dinner, but
the moment she entered the ball
room he came up to her. > '..'
She really looked very beautiful
The simple white dress suited her
style of beauty, and her hair did
credit to Miss Ashley, who had felt
littlo sad and very much amused,
IS she wrcathed those white roses for
her unsuspecting rival.
Aime Q bad seated herself on sofa
by her slde now, and Mrs. Ashley
who was close to her daughter. saw