Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-01-29

L certainly would not waste the time
Ii fetching gloves, while l might send
LOT them, and remain with YOU
Notwithstanding the CLEAN Of happi-
ness that filtered across her face, Miss
bell, with her usual pretence of want
OF feeling, replied eontemptuously,
keep your pretty speeches for others,
they are wasted here. But 1 will wait
no longer. Ethel, you must take Mr..
Bellows arm for an arm We shall as
suredly want down that frightfully slip
perry path to the lake,, and will be
kind enough to accept Mr.. behring's
support. Now, one, two, three! quick
march,"
Just as they had descended the grand
Old oaken staircase, Cyril, who had left
them some few minutes before, came
up to them, saying. BY George, Cisl
what a girl you are to have sent Vane
away just when we want him to help
decorate, as if you had not another pair
of gloves to put on, There's the poor
dear old gov. swearing like trooper
because he and his men are all too heavy
thanks to our October home brewfng)
to mount the steps, and | am too short
to be of much good Now, Vane's legs
would have been just the thing"
Never mind, dear Cyril. l daresay
papa will get someone to do it; good
bye, for we must really go, or it will be
dark before we set out. Are you COM
ing?"
Where are You going to my pretty
maids?"
why, to skate, of course, inpatient
ly replied Bella.
Not for me, then; am much too
busy. Goodbye"
And he left them. to return to help in
decorating the hall with the traditional
holly and mistletoe.
Lieutenant Derring and Miss Fortes-
cue walked on III front. making the
clear, bright air echo with their merry
voices. In the rear came Ethel and her
attendant swain, certainly more sedate
than those ahead of them; and Bob be-
ing naturally Of thoughtful, quiet dis
position, was nothing tempted to break
the unusual silence that had fallen on
wait one moment, Mr.. Derring,
please. | am sure | hear horse trot-
ting along the road" said Bella, hating
in her walk. DO you, Ethel?" she in
quired eagerly of her friend who came
up hurriedly to her side. "Harkl it is
approaching, am sure. l wish Icould
see who it is" and she ran lightly up a
steep moss-grown bank, in order to
crafty her curiosity. Ethel, come here
quickly. See, it is Captain Vane's man
who is riding towards u.s."
By this time they were all standing
on the rising ground, anxiously await.
ing the advent of "Vane's man." who
when he perceived them, pulled UP his
painting horse, and, dismounting, gave
a letter into Ethel's hand, saying, al
you please, miss, master would like ar
answer as soon as possible"
With trembling fingers she tore open
the envelope, while the two men fell
back in order to allow the girls to read
the contents together, which ran as fol
lows
'The Barracks, Carlingford,
Christmas Eve.
DEAR Miss CARLINGFORD,
"In few hours all England will rims
out the wish of peace on earth anC
goodwill toward men, Is there to bt
peace and goodwill between US? If you
will write the one little word yes
will freely forgive you the want of feel
ing you expressed towards me this
morning, and strive to forget it. If you
cannot consider we are friends, Just
write the size of your gloves, and l viii
proceed at once to town in order to can.
Gel my debt.
Yours, faithfully,
'DEsMOND VANE."
All the blood of her long dead ances.
tors rushed to the girls face as she read
what she considered, in her feminine
WayWardneSs, an insult to herself. Her
eyes flashed, and her voice trembled as
she said, with her little pearly teeth
tightly clenched, "IIe! forgive me, in,
deed! as if cared for his forgiveness:
rs if wanted ever to see him again.
Bell, give me, a pencil quickly, I've lost
mine!" And snatcling the gold case
from her friends hand, she tore tha
blank half sheet off the unfortunate
letter, and making the stump of an old
tree serve as an imprOmptu table, she
wrote in clear, steady hand, "Sixes.
Then folding it, she fastened the paper
round with long blade of grass, and
said to the groom, Take this letter to
your master at once"
The man, touching his hat, remOunt-
ed his horse and instantly disappeared.
Here they come, Cis: keep up your
courage, or they will see something is
wrong. You are quite right in what
you have done, and [ hope you have
taught Master 'LongIegs' not to be SO
fast in the future in offering his for
giveness before it is sought"
The here they come" of this youth
full adviser, referred to the two men who
were now Fastening towards them.
Assuming All indifference which she
was far from feeling, Ethel entered in
to the spirit of playful badinage inter-
changed so often and with such studied
lmpOllteneSS between Bella and Charlie
Derrlng, as theynow altogether retraced
their steps hOmewardS. the girls COM
ing to the mutual conclusion that so
many DELAYS having occurred it was far
too late and dark to venture on the ice.
Several hours subsequently, after
their maids had left them for the night.
Bell softly entered Ethel cosy, holly
wreathed room. Could the gallant cap
tain only have seen his little sweetheart
now, with bare white feet peeping from
the neatest of satin slippers, her golden
hair flowing. far down the pale blue
cashmere dresSing-gown, her sunny eyes
for the moment flooded with a deeper,
truer light, he would, if possible, have
been far more in love with her than
ever.
Come, CisSy. cheer up" she said,
kindly, as she knelt before the fire, and
drew her friends sad little face on to
her shoulder. Il shall indeed believe in
miracles if l see go, who are always so
gay and merry, dull and miserable.
Why, you are actually crying, I believe,
and spelling your pretty eyes, all for
the sake of anugly old Daddy Longlegs;
how very silly you are, Ethel"
Bella, dear, do go; you vex me, and
do not wish 10 talk even to you to-
night. am sure" the poor child con-
tinued, her lip trembling, Il never spent
such wretched, horrid Christmas Eve.
You actually deserted me, and would
speak to no one but Mr.. Derring, in
stead of coming to my rescue. Could
you not see how papa and mamma, how