Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1884-11-22
NINE. STEPHANIE.

Algy Talbot. after much weary
1odging-hunting, found rooms to suit
him at last in South Audley street. Not
an important circumstance, apparently,
for the rooms were but required pro
tenn, while his family mansion in
G%rosvenor Square underwent redec-
Grating; yet the fact was destined to
affect his whole after career.
IA lucky fellow, Algy!" was the
constant comment of his friends, and
they numbered many of both sexes.
His luck consisted of his good looks,
his popularity, his unfailing spirits,
and, last but not least, his immense
wealth.
But there was a crumpled leaf even
in his luxurious couch of roses, though
he kept his trouble to himself, and hid
his sorrow beneath the mask of gayety.
THAT lovely house ought to have a
Mistress a frisky matron said to him
one day, though in truth it was the last
thing she wished to see come to pass.
Algy laughed the matter off with a
merry retort, and believed implicitly
that, at the mature age of three-and-
thirty, he and love had babe adieu to
cdCu OIIlcT 1OT oSeIIuOE6.l
1--WE been hard hit once" he said
to himself; Il shan't run the risk
again. and he sighed a little regret
fully as he shaved his firm rounded
chin, and let his eyes wander sadly
across the street to the empty house
that faced him. The blank windows
began to appear as the emblem of his
W life, the vacant rooms served but
to remind him of his own u~ntenanted
heart.
One day, to his great joy, the bill op-
posite was taken down, and the prem
Uses handed over to the workmen. He
found himself almost unconsciously'
watching the progress of their labor
and hazarded an idle conjecture as to
the future owner; while yet his own
house was in a state of paint and white
wash, this dainty little abode was COM
plete in its freshness. The wooden
door had been replaced by a glass one,
across the panes of which Madras
muslin was closely gathered in deli
cate folds. The one large window was
draped with curtains of eastern stuff,
cunningly parted to reveal large palms
in blue pots. The house, from its out
ward appearance, might have been the
pretty nest of a pair of turtle doves but
for the two words, mime. Stephanie,"
which glittered in large gold letters
over the door. Only those two words.
Nothing to enlighten the passing crowd
as to the nature of the trade and occu-
patton of this mysterious individual.
But that Nine. Stephanie was not al
together unknown was speedily mani
tested by the string of carriages so con-
stantly standing before her door. Algy
became interested, in spite of himself
nay, more, absolutely curious. He
longed to part those tantalizing
curtains, and take a searching glance
at the room so artfully hidden from the
range even of his opera glasses. His
interest was still further excited by the
daily appearance of one female form so
enveloped in a long mantle hat no
trace Of figure could be distinguishable,
while thick veil covered the face. That
this woman came every morning at II,
and issued forth again at 6, speedily
convinced him that she was graceful,
and the plaits of golden hair peeping
from beneath the simple black bonnet,
revealed that she was young. He be-
gan to conjecture of the face so per-
sistently hidden, and eve to long with
surprising fervor for q glimpse Of the
beauty he felt certain was concealed.
One evening he sauntered to and fro
before the house at the hour he knew
she was likely to take her departure.
His heart beat fast as the door opened
and the well-known figure issued forth.
Her garment almost touched him as
she approached, but, at the same mo-
ment. another form appeared in the
distance, and a shrill voice exclaimed:
"Ah, Nine. Stephanie, mile pa, dons,
Mime. Stsphanie turned and re-en-
tered the shop. Algy had never con-
nected this mysterious daily visitor
with the gold letters, and the truth
was a revelation to him. He strolled
to and fro, meditatively, awaiting her
second advent, and then deliberately
followed her across Grosvenor square.
He saw her glance up at the scaffold-
he heard sigh. Was she aware he
was following her? He could not tell.
She neither slackened nor increased her
pace, but suddenly hailed a passing
hanson and jumped in. He failed to
hear the given direction, and there was
not another hanson in sight; So, with
q sigh of disappointment, he aban-
,done1 his search and returned to his
lodgings. Tomorrow he would try
again, the shop could not disappear in
the night, neither could Stephanie neg
lect h1r business.
But many days elapsed before he saw
again the w~ell-known form, and he
grew impatient at the Illustration of
his desires. He marveled at his own
keepness in the matter, but could not
shake off the haunting memory of the
golden hair and graceful figure. At
last he discovered by chance that Nine.
6tephanie had altered her hours of en-
trance and exit. He had risen early to
Join some friends in a country expedi-
ton. when. glancing from his window.
he say tbs familiar form gliding in at
the shop door, In a moment his re-
solve was taken, Sending off a hasty
line of excuse to his expectaht friends,
be sat down to await q more onyen
tionaI hour in which to pay the oppo-
site abode a visit. Penetrate that
sanetllm be would, and, if possible SEQ
Nine. 6tePhanie face to face, free from
: all disguise, Satisfied by an untiring
watch that she had not left the premis-
as, he sauutered across aho4t$ o'clock,