Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-07-22

afraid Lady Wells will ask me-"
Il wont betray you," said Lord Pei
ham, more and more amused.
This naive little girl was something
new in his world. There was some
thing about her. too, which reminded
him of his favorite sister. He felt that
jamie would have liked her.
He took her back to her mother,
feeling very much as if she were lit
tie child confded to his care.
Poor little girl" he was thinking to
himself. 'Is she SO very plain?'
He had really scarcely noticed her,
had asked her simply out of compass
sion for her loneliness" with no interest
in her personally whatever. She had
amused him, though. He smiled again
as he recalled her naivette.
After an interval his thoughts re-
CURED to her.
by Jovep he thought, "I'll take her
for some refreshment."
And very much to her amaZement,
and her mothers surprise she was es-
corted on her lordship's arm to the re-
freshmentroom.
All her shyness was gone, as far as
Lord Pelham was concerned. She
chatted away freely, not for a moment
imagining in her simple little heart
that he was critically considering
whether she really was SO very plain.
81 suppose she is" was his mental
rehection-'I suppose she is-and yet
don't know. / wish she'd look at me.
She may have eyes under those lids, }"
But Lizzie was not yet sufficiently at
home with him to look at him. She
answered his questions freely, and was
easily led on to give graphic descrip-
tiOns Of her home life; of the brothers
who teased her, and the sister, year
or two younger, who was longing to
come out, and who was such a regular
beauty.
so fair, you know" said Lizzie, with
touching reflection upon her own dull
and freckled skin, "and with such love
ly large, blue, open eyes"
''By Jove" thought Lord Pelham,
81 wish she'd look at me. I'd like to
see what her own eyes are like
But this wish at least, was vain. Not
even her gratitude shy Lizzie was
overpowered with gratitude for Ill his
attention-could give her courage TO
look up at him.
He remained near her, chatting, till
the carriages were announced, and even
fingered to place her cape around her
shoulders, and bid quite cordial good
night to her parents; but, after all, his
curiosity was not satisfied.
ssAnd so Lizzie did dance" said her
elder brother next day, rs the ball WAS
eagerly discussed.
.Dancep said her father, in nigh
good humor should think SOL
Danced with Lord Pelham, above all"
yes" said Mrs. Morton, reflective
ly, at was very good natured of him.
] heard him say something about com
passion; he was sorry to see her so
lonely"
Lizzie herself was SO convinced that
this was the case that she was not the
least annoyed, only when she went up
stairs she stayed a moment longer than
usual before her glass, and, raising her
heavy lids, looked herself straight in
the face.
He's very good natured," she
thought. 81 wish | were not SO very
plain"
Lord Pelham's curiosity about those
eyes was singular He found himself
Specializing more unreasonably on the
subject, and wondering what color
would suit her face.
Almost any color, he was forced to
admit, would do. The dull, sallow
skin, the Informed nose and wide
mouth, no eyes could wholly redeem
them, and probably the fringed eyelids
were n compensation.
Well, well, what did il matter? He
supposed they should not meet again.
Why should they2 He did not intend
remaining in the neighborhood, ard,
had he intended it, he mad no excuse
for calling.
But they did meet Somehow, on
Sunday morning, 4 sudden and most
unwonted impulse seized Lord Pelham
to attend service in the village church.
lie went in late, little embarrassed,
If the truth must he told, ut his own
action.
He sat very quietly III the corner of
the pew to which the old verger con-
Quoted him, and only felt ut home
when the droning choir began the
Psalms. Then he looked about, and
soon caught sight Of Mrs. Morton's
handsome face.
"By Jove what Il pretty girl p he
Thought, as his eye wandered past to n
rosebud Of girl 1.-The beauty evi-
IDENTIFY, of poor Lizzie's tale-and next
to her sat his shy friend herself, the
downcast lids more dropping than ever,
the dull complexion more leaden be-
side the bright blue eyes and pink and
white Of the pretty sister
Still, Lord Pelham's glance rested on
the plain face Of his earlier acquaint-
ance. The service seemed wonderfully
short, and when the congregation left
the chancel he found himself side by
side with Mrs Morton.
Going our way?' she asked, in the
porch; and So. naturally enough. ne
accompanied them homeward even
walking through their park up TO the
very door.
MIR. Morton is i'll the conservatory,
if YOU wish to join him." Mrs Morton
ventured to say. her motherly heart all
in a tlutter for here, she decided, was
chance for pretty Rose
Ana Lord Pelham did care, it APP
peared, and had chat with the master
Of the house, found sundry points of
interest III common. and even STAYED
for the family dinner,
Horribly unaristocratie he must
think ust' feared Mrs Morton, as she
explained that the early dinner ena-
hled the servants to 80 To church
Little, Lord Pelham cared for her
chatter. he was wholly occupied with
the plaln face opposite to him.
In vain pretty Rose hridled and
hlushed; in vain she peeped up ut him
with her most hewitching air. He was
only conscious of one fact about her.
which was, that she snubhed her elder
sister
81 did every one else, it appeared to
him: for when Lizzie ventured the re-
mark which she rarely did-it was
generally met with, "Oh, | dare say
you think SOL
The neiehborhood began to talk very
soon after this eventful Sunday in the
Morton'S life. Lord Pelham remained
ut his friends-Sir Harry W ells's-md
came 80 often 10 the Lodge. evinced
such an interest in all Mr. Morton's i'm
provements actually invited the boys
10 his manor for the September shoot
ing that he seemed almost like one Of
the family
Ono dac ~ tba aarlv uiptar u.ba,,