The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-04-26
CHAPTER TX.

ADOuC uvO o CLOCK III Inc aItcfnOOH, Sn
went for stroll along the shore, returning Ii
half an hour. As she approached the house
q carriage rolled down the avenue. and
pleasant faced, elderly lady. of perhaps six
ty, stepped out, and with decided Englisl
accent, smilingly said:
miss Rochefort, believe." at the sam,
time holding out her hand.
Natalie could scarcely restrain a smile a
being called by that strange name: but sh,
took the proffered hand and said, quickly:
Eyes, and this is Mr.. Fox's aunt"
miss Bessie Strong finished the other
as she gazed admiringly and encouragingl,
upon the handsome girl before her
Natalie was as much attracted to Mis-!
Strong as the latter to her, the manners o
the charming lady being so easy and gra
cious-the grace of the old school that al
ways was so fascinating to the Princess.
The girl then, half timidly, half reproach
fully, ventured the remark:
Il rather looked for you and Mr.. Fox yes
terday. Why is he not with your
..Yes!" replied Miss Strong. with Sigh,
accent Of interrogation; Il had intended
coming yesterday, but my nephew was sud
denly called away on a matter of business
and left me to arrange certain affairs al
home. Otherwise, we would certainly have
come"
They conversed pleasantly for some time
each liking the other better as the visit
grew longer.
AS she arose to 60. Miss Strong said
lightly and half jocularly:
Il must send my errant nephew TO apollo
gize for allowing you So long to remain ex.
pectant. do not know when he will re
turn. 1t may not be for several weeks
Poor fellow! he was greatly worried about
something or other. l tried to make linn
tell me what it was: but he would not"
Natalcs countenance became grave in 9
moment. (Ah. Mr.. Fairfax. your plan was
effectual, none could have been more effect
ual. He who secures wonan's sympathy
and pity without causing her to suspect that
he is endcavoring SO TO do, or even that he
is aware Of the existence of this sympathy
and pity is on the highway to win her love
Your shaft was well aimed, and vent home
to the mark
After Miss Strong had left. Dolores ap
preached Natalie with the question:
''Little mamma, where is Mr.. Arthur
Foxl"
HE has gone away. my dear. and arhaps
will not come back for a long time
Without her being aware Of it, Natalie's
voice was tinged with sadness, and whether
it was that the child was affected by the
lugubrious tone, or by the news, she began
to weep
ssWon't my Mr.. Fox come back for long
timel Why did he go away! Max, he's
gone away, and he didn't come to say good
bye to US, either. Isn't he naughty"
Natalie thought SO, too.
She found ..Stella Mea" Ia copy of which
she had furtively made for herself), and
sang it.
She began to question who this Mr.. Fox
was He had said Fox was not his real
name, and that he was DESTROYS of privacy.
This little musical composition of his pos
sessed a certain amount Of merit. yet she
felt sure that he was not "A professional
musician. There was something. too, about
the man that continually reminded her OF
some former acquaintance, or some one
whom she had seen at some previous time.
Who it was she was sorely puzzled to dis
cover.
For day or two longer, life at Eld-Field
went on in very much the same quiet, I'M
disturbed way.
Natalie returned the call Of Miss Strong.
The latter informed her that she was really
quite worried about the absent nephew.
He had not written her even once since his
departure. She had not the slightest no
ton as to his whereabouts.
All that evening Natalie was singularly
distracted. She could not rid her mind
(nor did she care toy Of thoughts about
this man.
Do not imagine, good friends, that she
was in love with Fairfax, or even supposed
she was. Had a cannon been suddenly
fired of beside her, 1t could not have
startled her more than the statement that
she was in love.
She was a supplemented, unaffected and
sincere girl. She liked Mr.. Fox; thought
their respective tastes were sympathetic.
and believed that each could understand
the other. Her interest went out toward
him in purely friendly manner. But. il
lustrious reader. it NUT be admitted that
this interest was of such nature that
some trivial occurrence, some accidental
news, some carelessly uttered word or un-
guarded tone Of voice, might sud- My cause
her to wake up to, and be almost stunned by
its hitherto hidden and unsupported depth
The factor love was, at present. an unseen
quantity in the calculations of the Princess
race Of the Hohenzollerns.
One morning, day or two after hel
visit to Miss Strong, Natalie was reading to
herself in the MUSHROOM and Dolores pay
ing with the clumsy, patient Max.
A light, quick step was heard upon the
walk, outside. Max, in an instant, prickct
up his ears and listened anxiously.
tenor voice was heard humming the air of ;
lively song. Max leaped up, oversee
Dolores in his eager haste; rushed through
the hall; sprang over the door, the upper
half Of which was open and, In his wild JOY
almost knocked over the new conner, wht
was heard speaking affectionately 10 The
animal and calling him by name. Dolores
too, had recognized the voice and, quiekl,
picking herself up, ran out and graspet
Fairfax hand, crying gladly:
my Mr. Arnold Fox has come back
Come, little mamma: here he isl"
Natalie, with sparkling eyes and bright
color in her checks came quickly and eager
~ forward and took the outstretched hanc
of her visitor, who held Dolores upon his
shoulder with the other.
Fairfax had never seen her looking moro
lovely. S.e was radiantly beautiful. l,
required all the will that he could summon
TO carry out the part he had decided TO play
and not to assume the natural role Of the
lover
"Oh, Mr.. Fox, your aunt and all of u.s.
who ''all Of US" were she didn't explain
shave been so disturbed by your absence
"Ah?n returned he, with slight rising
infection. Il am very sorry TO have made
such disturbance. When ! returned re
ceiyed orders to proceed directly over tt
Eld-Field, and make ample apologies for my
sins and dclinquencies. / hope have Miss
Rochefort's forgiveness'-this last with Z
graceful bow and frank pleasant smile.
Natalie replied in the same merry vein
Certainly, il Mr.. Fox will promise never
to do so again."
Il promise, and faithfully will fulfill" he
returned, again bowling with neck chivalry
Here" continued he, taking roll OF
music from hi" pocket, 'are several songs
that have just received, compositions OF
an old friend of mine, a college chum, John
Castro, and a most charming fellow. am