Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-02-27

full arrangements are attended to-.
After all was over, Mabel settled
down again to her monotonous routine
of work. Every week she scrupulously
laid aside a portion of her earnings
and carried them to Mr.. Gwinne, who
took them from her with apparent in
difference.
The child had made contract with
him, and out of respect TO her the
man of business carried it out to the
letter.
At last the final payment was made.
AS Mabel turned to go, after thanking
her benefacter, his voice recalled her
to his side.
Little Mabel" he said, II have
been an interested spectator of your
manner of life since you and | made
our bargain. / have seen your cheeks
grow pale for want of the food you
persisted in denying yourself, that
you might bring your weekly hoard
to me, and wondered if one SO young
would be able to carry out SO high a
resolve. You have succeeded, and all
your life long you will have it to re
mnember. Now, your part is done, and
mine begins. Give me your hand, my
child, for Randolph Gwinne respects
you. More than that he loves you well
enough TO ask you to be his adopted
daughter. Come and make your home
with me. You shall have every ad
vantage that bountiful means can pro-
vide. You will have no objections,
Chauncey, my boy, will you?' as his
grandson came into the room.
A few words explained his meaning
and Chauncey turned his handsome
eyes indiferently toward the hesltat-
ing girl 1t was not the first time they
had met-as Mabel was conscious III
every fibre of her sensitive being, but
Chauncey did not remember her.
So the careless but good -patured
''Of course, grandfather, one more
or less does not matter in this great
house. sank deep into Mabels mem
Dry, to rise again to the surface and
influence her future long after Chaun-
cey had forgotten them.
SO it was that Mabel was dOmiciled
at the Gwinnes. A govcrness was
engaged for her, and music and paint
ing lessons soon occupied the time not
engaged in her studies. Thus a year
passed on.
Ono morning the daily paper was
brought as usual to Mr.. Gwinne, as
he was sitting at the breakfast table,
slipping coffee.
Suddenly an exclamation from him
arrested Makel's attention.
He had read notice asking for the
knowledge of the whereabouts Of one
Rachael FreelanG, whose marie
name was Wynne. Her only surviv,
ing parent had died, and she, if living,
was sole heiress to a large fortune; if
dead, her children would inherit.
'Well | remember poor Rlchel,"
said Mr.. Gwinne musingly. She
was the handsomest girl / ever saw.
She gave up all for love, and made Il
.clandestine marriage with n man OF
whom her parents disapproved Poor
Rachel | wonder if she is alivep
Mabel rose from the table, and went
to Mr. Gwinne. She was very pale,
but her eyes shone with excitement
''Rachel Flueland was my mothers
maiden name. Oh, my kind benefac-
tor, how little you knew whose child
it was you were befriending! But for
you she would be sleeping in name
less grave"
Truly, the ways OF God are mys-
terousm said the kind hearted old
gentleman, taking off his spectacles TO
wipe away the sudden mist that blur
red them.
Mabel had no difficulty in proving
her claim, as her parents marriage
certificate was found among some pa
pers slowed away in an old chest. SO
the orphan waif adopted by Randolph
Gwinne was now independently
wealthy in her own right.
Mabelwas now fifteen. She had
not changed much in personal appear
ance during the year of her stay at the
Gwinnes' She was still slight aud
rather understood. Her complexion
was rather sallow, and though her fea
lures were regular, she was undenia-
bly, plain. Her luxuriant shining hair
| and lustrOus eyes, were, however,
sufficient to redeem her from positive
| ugliness.
| ChaunCey was still student, com
ing home only for his college vaca-
tons, and then burying himself IL his
beloved books, so that he was only
visible at meal times.
Suddenly Mr.. Gwinne's health fail
ed, and he was ordered abroad. Mabel.
and Miss Clay, her governess, accom-
panied hIm. They remained away
from home three years.
Then word came to Chauucey that
they We're coming home. They were
tired of travel, and Mr.. Gwinne had
quite recovered his health.
Chauncey met them at the station
He was handsome and Indifferent
looking as ever, but was truly, in his
whole appearance, a king among mea
to Mabel's partial eyes.
AS the little party he had come to
meet drew near, he gave his grand
father cordial shake of the hand.
and turned towards Mabel, to find
himself confronted by tall, stately
girl, with flashing dark eyes, set in a
face of such loneliness that he was,
for n moment, daz2led.
Il beg your pardon, Thought it was
my cousin" he said, turning to the
other lady.
But when Mss Clay's familiar fea,
lures met his eyes, he asked:
where is Mabel2 Have you left
her bclnd2"
Don't you know me. Cousin
Chauncey2' asked merry voice be
side him, and the beautiful apparition
he had mistaken for stranger put out
her gloved hand in a half playful,
half friendly way.
From that time the young Students
torture commenced.
Mabel, who had left home a half
grown girl, had gained with maturity
the rounded suppleneSs of fern as well
as the queenly dignity of = young
Diana; and with the rich color, which
had chased away the pallor of her
checks, had come that delicious, deli
cate complexion SO rarely seen with
dark hair
An older and more experienced
Judge of beauty would, years before,
have seen its promise in those regular
features, and straight, though at that
time, angular outliues-but to her
adopted cousin i. was surprise.