The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-02-03
taisrciIanp.
sroR4- OF An INKSTAND.
with .hc rnlss.aud left out.

Or ny in place where you hap
De, 70 80 10 scent it out
3D.. al day - the most glorious one for
q rria. lC,-t-- falling with THAI steady.
.-8aotoloUs drip, lip, drip: not a soul in the
house ta- oUssal' and We - snug il dis sp!en-
did OLD library"
Nag Hastings : lido ! au indef,-igable ro-
nance hunter. She was asways looking Tor situ-
atoms where the romJutie pEedominated. She
would have succeeded a draIaati.t, without a
doubt She YVES apparently as happy mortal
could D, IL tie nothing. "a question, nestled in
the depths Q. my scarlet lounge, perfectly Ger
tain TIA! she locke lioturysque IA her dark
green street suit, relieVed by the very iaintiest
linen.
Come here, pet ~ ID she; and bunch OF
white wocl, with blue yibbou tied al one end of
1t, marking . spot whcl Il u do :, neck would
be, trotted mysterlou-ly 70 ward her. What pro-
pelliEg power there cuul ie in the shngly thing
was wonder never could get over. but some
now 1t managed 70 sprir, into Mag's arms, and
then the silence assured me that my story was
expected.
Inc surroundings were favorable for story.
telling, II Is true. The room heavily wainsco. I'd
with dark wood the cases of books OF all times
and OF all varieties the long windows richly
craped with scarlet broclde lined with exquis.
l.e lace; the thick soft carpet of mettled green ;
the Turkish lounges, the quaint chairs, luxuri.
and in inches and corEers-bronzes that told old
stories of mythology; the eneravings on the wall;
the little gems IN OIL selected Tor their wonder
fui coloflne-an autun.n scene, burning ship,
group or German lUasAnts; the glowing fire Of
aea.coal and the polished hearth and fender
all appealed 10 the love Of the beautiful and the
picturesque, while the cold. Hnceasing rain, the
bare, gauAt trees, the dripping shubbery, and the
blanched grass drove the thoughts within for so.
Lace and amusement.
The inkstand that Mag Hastings refer,e ed to
was " pretty affair in Swiss carving. 1t repre-.
eehted TWO little peasants carrying water the
buckets suspended from pole resting in a hand
O. each. VI course the water.pals were the ink
receptacles, and the pole was the pen-rack 1t
Was poetic and realistic at the same time and as
pretty d trife for a library table as one would
wieh to see
''The story j. sad one Nag said I. ~ will
give You the blues for the rest OF the day"
- much the better She answered with a
true ." matte love OF the horribie-..so much I'll.
Better. I'd Ike to be stirred up % little. | ter
I'm too comfortable. littlo dash of imagips.
tive sorrow Is needed to relieve THIS perfect en-
loyment. / little shade throws out the good
points Of anything, You know. Isn't il so, pet p
and she piuclld Che little appeudage digIifeI
10y She name OF tai, till s'1rp yelp came out Of
the soft white mass IN hex arms There. [ told
youto, pet; low ycU'L know what true repose
is"
when ! was in Veniee--" commenced.
Ia Nen,geH' exclaimed Ma, sitting bolt an
right, and sl,i = the little dumping of IL noodle
push that brought ont most spiteiuI y,lp.
when were yga ever IN Neuioe?'
why you know, Mag that WIS abroad
more than two years. In TACT, | had Just return
ed when you and became agguaiAtel," Ireplied.
wondering iittle At sae unusual interest she
appcsrea to take in the commencement of NV
story
"Oh, knew that she replied. bat never
heard YOU say anything about Veniee;" again re.
clning and closing her eyes, a. much as to say,
GO on. ala vt loss to conceive what made
Il. ao iDoll-- as t. disturb myself for so s!yht a
tAioH as the mention Of a torei N and dcfunct
city,
Wei, wnon I was IN Nenlcc--I believe it wa,
the second Mouth %. my stay tAore--Charles
came IA one d 5 >Chsr.es, my busbAnd] IRON a
long tramp about the PilaZXO L0redaL the C.'d'
Oro--you know which l mc4u--tle one built in
Tho siAte~u.- century, i'll tie oriental style. and
resorted 70 by Mile. Tsglioni, the celebrated
dancer"
"Oh, yes sid Mag, impatientiy. Il know all
about III. layen | been there? wasn't born
there: haven't / always lived there didn't the
doec Of Venice christen me didn't 1 draw nv
first breath on the Bridge of Signs? and wasn't
oAe 81 MILF. IaghOIis pupils Go ahead and
tell me what Charles said when he came back
IRON his tramp about the Ca d Orc. But never
mind the architecture; I'm not going 70 build at
present"
L had seen Margaret in many strange moods.
but never felt her to be utterly lncorrigibe AZ
upon this occasion. However, resumed with.
out appearing to notice.
Charles came III, and said, hastily, Nell, tell
Pedro to get up nice lunch Just as quick as he
can. have brought an iuvalld horne with me.
ana II can | shall persuade him to stay awhile
with Us. | have taken strange fancy to the
fellow, and should like to have him where we
could take a little care of him He will certain.
~ die il somebody don't take TN interest in him
80 hurried around, and after little while Pc.
dro and l.
"Oh, never mind the lunch :" Interrupted Mag
again, without opening her eyes, and with liz.
tie tremble in her voice, which could not up.
derstand. "Proceed with the man Animals
always interest me more than food"
You would not call Austin Benedict an ami.
MAJ II yoG could see Aiia Once," replied, little
Indignantly, anu was about to add that did not
WIS., Charles mixed up with that species eth.
CT, when over went the lap.dog on to the lopnre,
and Ma said ipitably:
= believe ".t' animal thinks have nothing to
90 but to make my lap into a bed for his con.
'ehiehee % on, Nell Austin Penedict! Aus.
'li Dtheulct IS q good name. / will bet nv new
N"''''Fe NS ihaN three cents that his character
was as stony az his cognomen A man called
'A"st'I beI'dl.t would DO what he thought was
righ'' II " 50 doing 1t killed him and everybody
he was acquainted with! / wish Won wouiI
ring Tor some w'ae, NCll. | am as cold as death
40 not ge' rN, thoogh-ani please go on with
your story AVA
Yes resumed, you are quite rrbt ,bort
3 q v Ir OF ! ~;