Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-03-04
Helena, Montana, Thursday, March 4, 1886.

Isabel fastened to the door, eager to re-
ceive her instructions. Moody stopped her
before she could open it.
''You are in . great hurry to get to Mr..
Hardyman, he remarked.
Isabel looked back at him in surprise
you said just now that Mr. Hardyman was
waiting to tell me how to nurse Tommie."
Let him watt" Moody rejoined, sternly.
''When l left him, he was sufficiently oc-
cupied in expressing his favorable opinion of
you to her ladyship."
The stewards pale face turned paler still as
he said those words With the arrival of
Isabel in Lady Lydiard's house s. his time had
come exactly as the women in the servants
hall had predicted. At last the impenetrable
man felt the influence of the sex; at last he
knew the passion of love-misplaced, ill
starred, hopeless love- for woman who was
young enough to be his child. He had al
ready spoken to Isabel more than once in
terms which told his secret plainly enough.
But the smouldering fire OF jealousy in the
man, famed into flame by Hardyman now
showed itself for the first time His looks,
moro thsn hi.-~o,'d. ue..' IL na .-'',--l
a woman with any knowledge of the natures
Of men to be careful how she answered him.
Young, giddy, and inexperienced, Isabel fol-
lowed the tiippant impulse of the momenG,
without thought of the consequences. I'm
sure it's very kind of Mr.. Hardyman to speak
favorably of me" she said, with pert little
laugh. 81 hope you are not jealous OF him,
Mr.. Moody"
Moody was in no humor to make allow
ances for the unbridled gayety of youth and
good spirits. 81 hate any man who ad-
mires you" he burst out, passionately, 81 let
him be who he may."
Isabel looked at her strange lover with I'M
affected astonishment. How unlike Mr..
Hardyman, who had treated her as a lady
from first to last "What an odd man you
are" she said. "You can't take a joke. I'm
sure l didn't mean to offend you"
"You don't offend me-you do worse, you
distress me-"
Isabels color began to rise. The merri-
ment died out of her face; she looked at
Moody gravely. q don't like to be accused
of distressing people when l don't deserve it, :"
she said. 81 had better leave you. Let me
by if you please"
Having committed one error in offending
her, Moody committed another i'll attempt
ing to make his peace with her. Acting un-
der the fear that she would really leave him,
he took her roughly by the arm.
You are always trying to get away from
me,n he said. II wish knew how to make
you like me, Isabel"
81 don't allow you to call me Isabel" she
retorted, struggling to free herself from his
hold. 'Let go of my arm. You hurt me-"
Moody dropped her arm with bitter sigh
81 don't know how to deal with you" he
said, simply. "Have some pity on mel"
If the steward had known anything of
women tat Isabers age he would never have
appealed to her mercy in those plain terms
and at that unpropitious moment. PITY
s--sas-repeated contemptuously. rs
that all you have 10 say to me after hurting
my arm! What bear you are!" She
shrugged her shoulders and put her hands
coquettishly into the pockets of her apron.
That was how she pitied him! His face
turned paler and paler-he writhed I'M
der it.
"For Gods sake don't turn everything l
say to you into ridicule" he cried. ''You
know l love you with all my heart and soul.
Again and again have asked you to be my
wife, and you laugh at me as if it was joke.
haven't deserved to be treated in that cruel
way. 1t maddens me-I can't endure it!'