Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-01-15


be said, looking at her fair face with
such fierce love in his eyes, that her
own eye-lids dropped beneath the in
tensity of his gaze; Il saw your aunt
and cousin 60 off to party, and I OBJ
served that you were not with them"
No; didn't care about some of the
people," she replied indiffel emily; "but
the day is so fine that l am rather sorry
now that I didn't 60 with them. The
river is so tempting for a good skate,
and it is very stupid staying at home
alone"
Let me take you out for the day." he
said eagerly; "let me taste the happi-
ness of spending one more day in your
company,-the last l can ever hope to
spend so, perhaps; for leave England
this week, and it is more than probable
that l shall never return"
In her heart she cared nothing about
his leaving England, nor. indeed, what
became of him; but she wanted some
excuse for yielding to his entreaty, and
she assumed an interest she was far
from feeling, as she said with some
thing like dismay-
Leave England! Where are you
going?"
ITO China" he replied, with grim
sadness; Il muckered my life couple
of years ago, and I shall never do any
thing here. 1 am offered a good ap-
pointment out there and l mean to
start afresh. My chief regret is that I
must go alone"
She knew what he meant, but her
love for him was dead, and she not only
had no idea of exiting herself for his
sake, but she would not allow him to
entertain the hope of her doing so, and
she now said lightly
Men go to those remote places alone,
and they find plenty of English people
out there. l have no doubt that you
will get along capitally. l read novel
about SON Englishmen in China the
other day, and it was SO interesting it
almost made one wish to 90 there"
"Almost?" he repeated, looking at
her steadfasty.
yes, not quite" she responded; "but
we can't stand here all the morning,
and I am afraid that / must not ask
you into the house"
"If you ask me l will come" he said,
while look of proud defiance flashed
across his handsome FACET am not
afraid of your aunt, or of your cousin;
nor of ten thousand like them"
NO, probably not" she responded
with smile; 'but then you are not
obliged to live with Aunt Mary and
Beatrice, and | am, which makes all the
difference; / should never be forgiven
if invited you into the house in their
absence, after-after what happened"
lie muttered something under his
breath, which she made point of not
hearing, then, recovering his Self-cOn-
troll, he said
probably you are right, the house is
your aunt'S, and it is her privilege to
say who shall be received therein; but
you are not her exclusive property,
Rose, and you are all that | care for in
this plaCe-yOu will come with me for
skate on the river, won't you?"
Il am afraid, ought to say mo-" she
replied, playing with the cord of her
muff.
"There is no reason why you Should"
he pleaded; you know l will take care
of you, and you have just said that you
will be duh and lonely here by yourself.
Let us have n little party all to our
selves, | will get little hamper packed
with luncheon at the hotel where [ am
staying, let us have one more happy
day together, Rose, it will be something
10 look back upon with pleasure and
satisfaction in the long years of exile,
that are before me-"
At this moment she seemed as if she
were on the point of saying something
further on the subject of Captain Cal
vert's merits, but she checked herself
suddenly, merely adding III an asserting
tone
VERY well, so be it."
Then they agreed where they would
meet an hour later, and the girl entered
the house, while he went to make ar
rangements for the proposed excursion.
Il am doing one of the maddeSt
things that any girl can dol" said Rose,
n few minutes afterwards, as she adj
dressed her own reflection in the look
ing-glassl q don't care 4 siXpence for
Willie Calvert" she went on, land
shall compromise myself seriously by
going out alone with him after what
happened last year; but l must do
something desperate to-day, | must
show them all that l don't care for any
of them; L shall go mad if l haveto stay
here all alone all the weary hours be-
tween now and night;-besides | have
promised Willie, and always keep my
word"
Then she made some slight change in
her attire, and with Il strange feeling
which she could not altogether analyze,
she walked through the rooms she was
most in the habit Of using, gaZed at the
portraits of her parents, and seemed to
be almost unconsciously taking leave
of tho home that had sheltered her
from childhood.
TO BE CONTINUED.