Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-04-12

Maurice, come between five and six,
and ask for me-Miss Della"
Il know" said the stranger. '.All
Monte Carlo knows who Miss Della
Mulholland Is"
so they do. mostly" she answered,
with unconscious arrogance.
The team was henceforth incre ased
by one, but it soon became plain to
all who was the leader. Fitz Maurice
made the running in his quiet. I'M
demonstrative, reserved way; his po-
likeness and attentions did not, how
ever. exclude at times certain proud
humility. as one accustomed to tender
homage where homage is due. Per-
haps in her heart Della would have
preferred more freedom and less re-
spect; but q secret instinct told her
nevertheless that whatever road he
selected she was certain to lead him
10 the goal she had in view. and. as
she said: It's the way of all the
Britishers."
Lord Fifz Maurice had not actually
made an offer of marriage to Miss Null
holland-which. perhaps. so limited
an acquaintance did not warrant-but
he contrived to make his devotion very
perceptible whenever he was alone
with her, which was not infrequently
the case now, as Della had quiet. but
indisputable. way of indicating to the
Vicomte, Marchese and Baron that
they were de trop. which they could
neither ignore nor resist; and Della
knew that whenever she chose she
could bring her Britisher to the point.
Shire wd and practical by nature and
education, she had already. by an at
tentive study of Burke. ascertained the
status of Lord Fitz Maurice IN his
native land; and if she regretted that
he was not an Earl. the antiquity of
his family and his alliances in the Peer
age were such as to compensate for
that inferiority. OF his relatives he
spoke little. if ever; but as Della felt
herself perfectly able to cope with
them and to hold her own, however
they behaved to her in the future,
she felt little interest in them.
She heard occasionally of "our
place in Suffolk and "our box in the
Highlands" and was so far satisfi ed.
Yet. as Burke is inconvenientiy silent
about the rent-roll of the nobility, and
she could not very well ask the ''dear
man how much he was WORTH" she
resolved to prosecute a little private
inquiry on her own account So one
morning she started early for Men
tone, walked to the hotel where her
noble sultor resided. and with the
most m after of-fact GOODNESS, proceed
ed to question the concierge about his
lordship.
The man was communicative. Eyes,
MILFORD has had the granest suite of
rooms since Christmas; ne spent his
money like a prince. had the best of
every thing and paid for it ruby on the
nail. All! Milford was so Britannia,
he had all that superb apartment real
ly only for himself and his valet de
chamber-his man of confidence; and
Milford was, after all, more often alb
sent than in it
That's so," said Miss Della And,
having provided herself with a return
ticket, she forthwith returned to Monte
Carlo in ;state of blissful security.
On the evening of that same day Lord
Fitz Maurice met her with an unus ual
disturbance of manner and restless.
eager look in his serene blue eyes.
Without preamble. he led her to a
sheltered arbor in the gardens. and
asked her point-blank: DO you love
me?"
why do you ask?" said Della,
feeling the crisis had come but I'M
willing to commit herself by q hasty
avowal
Observation-Disclosures oblige me
to discontinue my daily visits to
Monte Carlo, because 1 may have to
leave even Mentone at an hours
| notice; and to avoid-delays-ob-
stacles-if you love me, give your
self to me by an immediate-a secret
marriage"
Cert inly not" said Della, calm
| ly. There is no earthly reason why
| we should not become engaged in the
| orthodox fashion, and get married
| afterwards, with breakfast, brides
| maids and choral service"
Lord Fitz Maurice bit his lips.
But if l should be away weeks
months-with the sea between usP"
THAT would be bad. certainly, but
| l guess we've had about enough of
this place and will be moving up to
England shortly. Wen meet you
| there
You do not love me-" he said,
| presently-not despairingly, but. as
if weighing some contingent possible
| ty-''or else you wouldn't be SO cruel.
You refuse TO be my wife?'
Not at all. I'll marry you. There's
my hand. But what's the use of an
informal, stupid. secret marriage? Pa
and ma are willing enough. You are
of age, of course, and, on the whole.
would much prefer wedding in Lon
don to one in this outlandish place.
With true arlstocratic Difference and
gentlemanly delicacy. Fitz Maurice did
not urge his wishes further. He
limited rather darkly at the dangers of
representation, the insecurity of part
| ings; but Della treated the question in
such a sensible, practical manner,
even abiding in pretty, pouting,
bewitching way to settlements and
all that lawyers fuss, you know"
| that he was fain to take more hope
full view. and it was agreed that, if he
had not returned in fortnight. Della
would take her parents to England
without further delay.