Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-01-08

frankly said, she would always for her
part prefer Beatrice's chances Of happi-
ness to those Of Rose.
Meanwhile the details of the proposed
party have been discussed, and Mr..
Danvers has gone away to give invita-
items to other friends and acquaintance,
who will no doubt appreciate them.
What has come over Rose to-day?"
asked Mrs. Blessington, with a glance
in the direction of the spoilt beauty;
@she gave Ralph a fit of the blues before
she sent him away, and she has quite
offended Mr.. Danvers by something she
seems to have said to him."
"He was quick enough to take Of
fence" replied Beatrice; "she expected
to be pressed, and persuaded, and en-
treated to go to this ball, while he GER
tainly did seem to jump at the first ex-
preston of unwillingness to accept the
invitation, as though he did not want
her-it may have been that he was get
ting up the party specially on her 40
count, and that he was mortified at her
Indifference"
Clever young woman to make such a
guess!
This was just the true state of affairs,
the party was being got up principally
for Rose Thornbury's enjoyment, and
hence the impatient annoyance Of the
man who was undertaking all the
trouble and expense of the affair.
When he reached home he was still
sufficiently mortified to allow his sister
to make shrewd guess at the state Of
bis feelings, and that young lady deter
mined to punish Rose Thornbury still
more severely for her unpleasant be-
havior.
Rose was no favorite with Miss Dan
vers, while on the other a d, the latter
was very fond of Beatrice, and she had
heard this morning to her satisfaction,
that Rose was positively engaged to
Ralph Pasten.
That Ralph was handsome, good
natured, easy going, ne'er-do-well was
pretty well known among his friends
and acquaintance, and some surprise
was felt at Rose Thornbury having &C
cepted him.
1.-The reason why he proposed to her,
IS to me clear enough" said Miss Dan
ver's informant. Rose is an exceed
ingly pretty girl, and she has four hun
dred a-year Of her own, and as Ralph
has little more than expectations, sup
pose he thought he would like to have
something certain.
But four hundred a-year is nothing
for two people like them to marry up
on" objected Celia Danvers.
mo, it is not; but he is sanguine and
thinks he shall do great things in the
world, not that he ever will; and Rose
is certainly not the woman to help him,
her bad temper and her overbearing
manners repel those whose friendship
would be worth cultivating."
These remarks required to the mind
OF Celia Danvers when her brother came
home from calling upon Mrs. Blessing
ton and her nieces, and she felt she
would gladly do anything in her power
sooner than have Rose for sister-in-
law.
The day of the party came, and the
guests mustered in full strength at The
Cottage, which was the name of the
somewhat extensive building in which
the brother and sister lived. Most of
them had come over early in the day,
for there was to be some skating before
dinner, and the river which was firmly
frozen ran by the end of the lawn.
Beatrice Thornbury and her aunt
were among some of the earliest arri-
walls, and their host and hostess from
the first paid them marked attention.
Just as the whole party seemed to
have mustered and most of them had
put on their skates, Beatrice was sur
prised to see Ralph Pasten arrive in
desperate hurry and look somewhat
confusedly about him. Miss Danvers
caught his eye and smiled, and he at
once joined her.
Il was afraid l should not be in time"
he said; Il have been in London for
some days, l only returned late last
night, even then didn't hear of your
party, and it was only half-an-hour ago
that happened to observe an unopened
letter among some of my papers; it
turned out to be your brothers invita-
ton, and got ready to come at once"
you were just in time" replied Celia
Danvers with smile, "and think we
shall have a delightful afternoon, the
weather is all that can be desired; we
propose to have luncheon in Eagles
Glen, it is very romantic spot,-you
know it, of course?"
Il am afraid l must confess my igno-
rance; L really know very little about
the romantic spots in this neghbor-
hood, and though have often heard of
Eagles Glen have never seen it."
Then your pleasure in going there
to-day will be all the greater" respond
ed Celia, and she smiled and seemed
so much interested in him and in his
tastes and pursuits that he quite forgot
Rose Thornbury for the time, and he
talked so earnestly to his appreciative
listener that anyone watching their
faces and not hearing what they said,
would certainly have regarded them as
very dear friends, il not something
more.
To BE CONTINUED.