Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-02-12
> s | X { $ >.
CHAPTER III CONTINUED.

sex: some woman threw him over in
his salad days. l conclude poor old
boy! But to continue. / advanced on
the enemy with fear and trembling
though determined not to show it: so |
surprised the fortress, which succum-
bed without firing shot.
Il did it in this wise. Went down.
bag and baggage, and made friends
with an awfully snutfy pair of ancient
retainers of my uncle, whose duty it is
to look after him and his belongings,
for heis much too stingy 20 keep IN any
sort of an establishment; and though
the Abbey is a fine old place, it is in a
frightful state of dilapidation, no part
habitable, with the exception of few
rooms in the left wing, which my uncle
occupies. Won't Charlie have to spend
lot of coin putting the place to rightsl
"But to proceed. l had been at the
house of my amiable relative for some
few days before he was aware of the
fact, for he never comes out of his two
rooms. A week after my arrival, how
ever, 1 rept softly to his door, and, it
being a little way open, l peeped in,
and saw the Honorable Dillon Grey
seated close to miserable fire, stirring
and slipping what appeared to me a
large goblet of rum punch.
"Then he exclaimed, loudly, Con
found this punchl That old fool, Bal
ley, never can make it two days alike.
Ahl no one ever did concoct a punch
like poor young Frank FOrtescue; l
wish he were here now!"
"a happy thought came to me. The
Frank Fortescue alluded to was my
dear father, who for years before his
death would have none but his Little
Bell' mix his grog; and thus, with long
practice, 1 had become perfect in the
art. So, without another moments
consideration, walked into the room,
and standing so, that the small glimmer
from the fire fell on my face, said, de-
murely, Shall I mix it for you, sir?'
You should have seen the face, CisI
[ almost laughed aloud as, starting
back, he exclaimed, Who the dick
l mean, who are you, my dear?'
"'Pretty girl, pretty girl,' he mutter-
ed to himself, his wicked old eyes
twinkling as he took my hand and
pressed it affectionately, evidently
thinking was a new housemaid of Mr..
Sam Weller's description-'plump and
| well made;;' for, after a moments
silence, he chuckled, Nice girl-pretty
girl-good shoulders-good fgure!'
when L had given him some few
minutes to admire my charms, took
the glass from his hand, quickly brewed
him fresh drink, and then told him to
taste it, and tell me who l was.
when he had taken long and care
full sip, he answered, Why, this is
FOrtescue's punchl Come nearer, child;
lneel down. Ay, and you are Fortes-
cues daughter! You have Just poor
Franks saucy blue eyesl Well, why are
you here? thought some aunt had got
you to take care of. am sure 1 don't
want any women here, though you are
very pretty, my dearl"
Not needing his flattery, 1 told him
| the truth as regards whose custody
was in, butI fear fibbed slightly as to
the Abbey, for I informed him that
nothing but intense anxiety for his
health had made me penetrate these
northern WildS.
"The old dear swallowed the fib, and
from that instant we were fast friends.
l ousted old Mother Baily from her
place, and became my uncle's nurse and
companion, and to confess the truth 1
really do love him now fOr@imsef,
and not for his belongings, and would
not have left him hadSt not been for
your piteous letter, begging me to come
to you.
$50 much for being first-rate punch
mixer" continued Bella, gaily; "but as
you may suppose, having got into his
good graces myself, l was anxious for
Charlie to follow in my footsteps. The
Fates befriended me; for Derring came
to stay with some people near US, and
called one day with his host, Colonel
Carlyle Clayton, bringing, at my sug-
gestion, a present of game; for you
must know dear, my old uncle likes
good things when he has not to pay for
them.
"The bait took, and Charlie still fur
| ther won goldon opinions by prescrfb-
ing for favorite hound of my uncIe's,
who was very i'll indeed.
Every day Derring came to see this
thriceblessed dog, and my belief is that
the naughty boy made the poor brute
worse before he made it better, in order
to come oftener. No matter; his great
| attention to man or beast proved as
eficacious as my rum punch had done;
for, behold! one day Mr.. Dillon Grey
discovered that he could not live with
out US, and that we must both stay with
him for good and all.
"Artful Charles expressed his grief at
being obliged to go, and urged poverty
and duty, saying that if he gave up the
service he should starve.
"'Starve be blowedl I have enough
for US ALP came the delicious though
somewhat inelegant reply. Charlie here
again rendered his hearty thanks and
regrets, and mildly suggested it would
scarcely be proper for him to live in the
house entirely with SO charming a
young lady as myself unless we were
united in bonds of holy matrimony.
"Thereupon the green old fellow said
| he would make me his heiress, and that
| should marry Charlie as soon as he
got his troop. We, of course, over
whelmed the old dear with thanks, but
came to the arrangement that Charlie
should rejoin his regiment at once, and
| that should stay at the Abbey.
HE has settled three thousand a-year
on me, so we shall not starve, shall we:
why, Cissie, I have talked you to
sleep. [ declared" cried Bella, as Ethel
raised a pair of suspiciously sleepy
! looking eyes to hers
4 do not believe you heard a word
about our marriage, but Charlie shall
| tell you all about it when he comes to-
| morrow.
4 am tired, and so are you, dear.
There goes the clock tower; it's strik.
| ing one, so It's Christmas morn, and be
Iieve me, dearest, from my heart I sim
cerely wish you merry Christmas and
a happy New Yearl'
Thus saying, Bella stopped and
pressed long, warm Kiss on the girls
white, wan face, and left her.
CHATTER iy.
! In nhymns of joy unknown before conspirc,
The praises OF xsSeemtng . icy ~
Peace upon earth, and unto men goodwill"
Thus sang Bella to herself, as she
4 IfS@fa hc1d ar,1