The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-10-27

eyes, and heavy dark brown hair tina
dropped low over her forehead, whicI
!. was low, but broad and full. Sh,
talked some, when her sister, who al
, ways took the lead in everything, wa
not talking; when she was. she busie,
herself very contentedly over some sor
of worsted embroidery.
1t Miss Blanche Arnold had searched
the country through she could not hav,
found better foil to her clear, rar,
beauty, than either of the Miss Mont
fords furnished. Something of thi.
thought crept into Ralph Amind. but b,
rather fancied Miss Fannie, despite hel
plainness. Her thin. sallow face light
ed up when she talked, but more espec
tally when she smiled. and contrary tc
the general judgment, he called hel
much better looking than her sist er. ant
he didn't feel so much in awe of her
and while Miss Althea and his cousin
were examining Cape Jessamine,
whose snowy blossoms filled the room
with its heavy perfume. he ventured to
ask her the name of the young lady who
showed them in.
Young ladyp Oyes," she said with
a faint smile. "a pretty, bright-eyed
little girl, wasn't it? It is a new maid
servant my father hired yesterday. We
don't usually take servant without a
recommendation"
"Nor would we now, if I had ma
way" interrupted Miss Althea, in Sc
we're tone.
'But she wished so much to stay,
You know" interrupted Fannie, depre-
catingly.
80, it's the young person who an
swered the bell that you are asking of.
is it?' said Blanche. ..Do you know?
Cousin Ralph, here, was quite struck
with her; if you will believe me, girls, :"
and she laughed little soft, musical
laugh.
"She looked very much like one
used to love, who is dead now," Ralph
said, gravelv, his eyes darkening Just a
little, and faint wave OF color sweep
ing to his temples.
Forgive me, dear cousin Ralph"
Blanche said, laying her hand on his
with pretty, penitent gesture. Il shall
be so unhappy if you are vexed with
me! l was only in jest" and the gray
eyes looked up into his with such a
grieved, troubled look, that he forgave
her instantly, and was more fascinated
than before.
at is something rather strange
about this girl, mean," said Miss
Montford. "She came to the office and
asked for my father. so the postmaster
told Victor this morning. She asked to
see him when she came, and Dale, think
it was, showed her into the library
where papa was. alone. The first 1
knew he came into the dining-room with
her, and said he had engaged Miss
BlaSe-her name is Stella Blake-as
waiting-maid, and general assistant
about the house. l demonstrated, and
told him we needed no more servants:
but / think the girl must have bewitched
him with those uncanny ewes of hers:
he declared that we did need her, and
she should stay. And so, if he chooses
to pay her, suppose he can, and she
will stay"
''She is very quick and handy, and
has exquisite taste in arranging a table,"
Fannie said, quietly.
Almost unconsciously to himself
Ralph gave her a pleased, grateful
glance. She smiled slightly, and the
thin, sallow face flushed Just little.
Just then the door opened, and Mr..
Alfred DeVries walked leisurely and
quietly into the room.
Ralph had never seen him since that
September morning, eight years before,
when standing on the dripping, wreck
strewn beach, he had watched him
kneeling by the little ledgy mound of
sand and kelp. And yet he should have
known him anywhere, he said to him.
self. The tall. elegant form was as
1.-THE and graceful, the step as assured,
the hair as dark and abundant, and the
full. jetty beard as glossy and hand
some. Itseemed so strange, when he had
changed so much. that this man looked
as if time had stood still with him. But
there were faint lines here and there
about the eyes and mouth which had
not been there eight years before, but
with the casual glance he had then had
of him, he did not notice about that.
The general contour and expression of
face and form were the same.
When Ralph shook hands with Mr..
DeVries and looked in his eyes-those
curious, metallic, yellow-brown eyes-it
flashed into his mind instantly what
Viola had said concerning their being
lust the ''color of her bronze slippers"
81 viii ask him about her sometime"
he thought to himself.
Some one outside broke out whistling
''God save the Queen" and a moment
more light foot-step ran up the long
marble steps, passed through the en-
trance and hall in gay, breezy way,
and opened the door. He stopped |
short, and colored to the roots of his !
curly auburn hair, upon seeing that |
there was company, or rather upon |
seeing ochO the company was. Ralph,
who had nothing else to do Just then,
watched him, and saw how eagerly, but
'hyly, his eyes sought Branches, and I
ne fancied she, too, colored just a
little He felt more vexed and an
moved than he would have believed it
possible for him to feel about so simple
/ thing.
Then Miss Montford said. smilingly,
cooking on the fair, handsome young
ace, which was frank and open as the
lay, with little, quick, fond look:
Captain Anderson, this is my young
brother, Victor"
He came forward with easy, genial
rankness, and extended his hand.
There was something peculiarly sweet
md winning about the boyish face, for
lie did not look his twenty-one years.
md the little twinge OF jealousy that
lad just trembled across Ralph's con-
ciousness shrunk away out of sight be-
ore the pleasant smile and warm hand
hake of this youngest and fairest of the
louse of Montford.
Il am so glad to see you,'' he said,
blanche has told us SO