Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-01-22

tell me what you mean about Miss
| WilmotP'
II mean nothing, old fricnd,n said
Horace. You know | have ii aim
less way of saying the first thing that
comes into my head. VIII you come
and dine with me at the club to-
night?'
| mot tonight" said George. you
see it is Roses birthday, and / prom
ised the child TO stay at home.n
.sAll right; another time; them said
Horace. shaking hands with his friend.
Here, children" and he scattered a
handful OF silver on the carpet, making
a precipitate retreat. to get away from
the Babel that ensued.
He laughed heartily as he went down
| the steps, and then his face grew sud-
denly grave and thoughtful.
.'lf | ever hear any man say word
| against her. I'll knock him down, .
he muttered, while an angry flush suf-
fused his face.
Horace did not know how soon he
would be put to the proof. That very
evening he heard one of the club loung-
ers talking of the woman he admired
in way that nude the blood Jingle in
his veins.
He had always hated Richard Dobell,
and could scarcely keep his hands off
him as he listened to what he was say
ing to his companion, rapid young
masher, with an eye-glass and pain
fully stiff collar
''Fact, pom HONOR said Dobell,
glaneing at Horace, who had just en-
tered the smoking-room and taken up
his position where they were stand
ing.
.'But she is so particular" returned
the Washers Regularly snubs fell
lowr'
cit is all on account of this widower,
depend upon it. said Dobell, with a
sneering laugh. ..She thinks of no.
body else. .Mabefs widowcr,' we call
him. Ha! har'
But people say he is welded to the
memory of his first wife," said the
masher, who had a soft head, but not a
bad heart.
at is the girl who is enamored
won't answer for the widower,n OBJ
| served Dobell, as he lit another cigar.
/ How Horace longed to choke the fell
low! But he restrained himself and it
was not until Dobell was leaving the
club that he accosted him.
"A word with you,' he said stcrnly.
"Well, what is it?" asked Mr.. Do
bell in surprise, as he glanced at Hor-
aces compressed lips and flashing eyes.
| ut is this, said Horace, sternly.
You were speaking with most unwar-
rantable impertinence of one of my ac-
| quaintances tonight. and If there is a
repetition of the oifense, | will thrash
you ike dog
people will talk" observed Dobell
with an uneasy laugh,
They had better not in my hear
ing said Horace sternly. Good
night to you"
And he strolled away confident that
Dobell at least would not offend him.
He had not gone far when he heard
footsteps behind him, and bland voice
said
''Allow me to thank you in the name
of my stepdaughter.
"A woman's name should be sac
red" he said lightly. "A fact that our
| friend Dobell does not seem to under
stand. | was merely suggesting to
him that silence was golden.
iou siiftii GSCtJC HUH IlN 0Tdll-
tude so easily" cried John Chesterton,
linking his arm Familiarity in Horace's.
Come and dine with me in day or
! two; w II take no excuse"
The mans fulsome gratitude would
have been displeasing to Horace had
he not possessed a beautiful stepdaugh-
| ter.
He accepted Mr.. Chesterton's invita-
ton, and in a few DAYS presented him
self at the house with his heart beat mo-
quickly.
Horace had not thought much of
Mabel until she had entered his friends
room with three motherless children
clinging to her skirts. Mere beauty
of form and feature would never have
won his heart.
John Chesterton received him with
efl'usion, but Mabel was as cold as an
icicle.
Her heart was swelling w til indigna-
ton, for she knew why he had been
invited to dine with them, and it gave
her the feeling of being on view.
Il am glad it is over she said,
when Horace had taken his leave.
She WIS standing by the fire with
stool, and discontinued look in her
face
You are glad what is over?n cried
NJ. Chesterton.
The infiiction of Mr. Ray society,""
returned Mabel. ''He is really most
tiresome person."
1t was on the tip of the stepfather's
tongue to tell her of the little alterca-
ton he had overheard on the previous
night, but he thought better of it.
He was no fool, and knew that it
would rather have increased than as
suaged Mabel's anger
Mr.. Chesterton was away on BUSH
ness the next day, and Mabel took adj
vantage to invite Mr.. Fenton's children
to tea.
"a story! story" they exclaimed,
when the tea and bread and jam had
been consumed
sit down then-be quiet" said Ma
bel, taking little Rose on her lap.
The girl made u pretty picture as
she sat in the big armchair, with the
other children nesting at her feet; and
so Horace thought as he entered the
room unannounced.
81 did not expect visitors" said Ma
bel. coldly. ''How very stupid of Craw-
| ford
Crawford is not to blame,n cried
Horace quickly; s'but since / am here
may not make one of your happy
| party?"
He spoke very humbly, with his
hand on the door, as if expecting that
his plea would be refused.
Mabel's anger evaporated as she
looked at his beseeching face.
1T is the children's party-ask
them" she said with smile.
But Horace did nothing of the kind.
He was quite satisfied with the per-
mission he had gained, and drew a
chair up to the hearth with the greatest
alacrity.
I'VE must make Mr.. Ray tell us a
story, children, observed Mabel, with
a mischieyous sparkle in her beautiful
eyes.
But Horace managed to escape the
infiiction, although he told pretty lit
tie story to one pretty blushing pair of
ears before the evening was over-a
story ever new in the endless succession
| of lovers.
MIR. Chesterton always believed that he
had brought about the match between
Mabel and Horace, and would have
laughed at the idea of ..Mabel's wild
ower' and his olive branches having
| anything to do with il; but Horace