The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-03-15
CHAPTER VII.

AND IF SIZE DOES, HOW ABoUT THE OTHERi
Dick was not clever fellow, but he, GER
tainly. was not q fool He essaycd to make
a mental estimate Of both girls, and sue
ceeded wonderfully well.
The Princess. he acknowledged. was .
woman of singularly fine, pure and lovely
character deep and strong III her affections,
smp,e-minded and guileless, yet not devoid
Of what is commonly known as strong COM
mon sense.
Deep and loving where she loves but that
she does not love, l am positive. ! could
swear to it,"
With an her soft womanly traits. she was
too susceptible TO the sin Of pride. 1t had
unconsciously become matter of pride with
her to show no interest in mankind. With
no other woman, except Lydia, would she
have spoken SO freely: and, even with that
friend, she could scarcely depart from her
pretty, proud. little reserve, without visi-
bic effort at unbcnding. Her bushes were
clearly not because Of her interest in the
man, but proceeded from a sort Of shame ut
acknowledging, and even at entertaining,
that interest
But" said Dick to himself, "na char
mamie. your interest Is at present contcm-
platiye. What that interest might develop
j !
say But l do say that Mistress Lydia il
mos. dertdedty interested in this young
man, and that it would require but slight
effort on his part to deepen that interest.
| And, if she loves, 'shc loves forever Her
| natures strong. but Graves something upon
which to exrend that strength; can't exist
without it. Natalie lives in the realm of her
1 imagination and does not ask for sympathy,
delighting in her arts. Lydia is strong, blu,
looks for sympathy and love. and something
upon which to expend sympathy and love. in
return. She couldn't find what she wanted
among those frivolous tops Of society, and
now Fairfax has appeared, and unconscious
~ touched the deep chord that never before
yibrated. Well. they'd make q splendid
pair. and he'd be q fool not to try for her
| She's worth four of the other in my opinion
although acknowledge that's saying grea,
| deal.''
With this sage and indisputable conclu
sion Richard was about to retire. by push
| ing himself backward, until he deemed i,
| safe to stand upright, as he saw move
mcnt in the camp below that indicated prep
aration for flight. However, his attention
was arrested by o sentence, half suggest
| i've, half-timid, and altogether remarkable
/ venturcd by Lydia: Il had thought OF ask
ing Mr.. Fairfax to cali with ne ct Chatea,
Dor"
/ Il came here with the intention of receiv
| ing no visits but those Of my oldest friends,
said Natalie. frigidly; land see no reason
why should alter my intention. Besides
my dear Lydia. leave Chateau Dor in
few days, at the latest, for Lake Maggiore.
| Lydia said no more, and the two girls
| evidently both feeling little uncomforta
bic, and yet both striving to conceal theil
emotion, prepared to depart
| Dick, now executing his retrogradc move
mcut, arose and found Fairfax-who BY thi.
| time had recovered his cquanimity, ant
shaken OF the bliss aroused by the fail
| Natalies words-in the midst OF some ca!cu
| lation or other. using his knee as tabl,
and leaf Of his diary as note-paper
| Have they started, Dick!" asked he. sud
| denly.
No, but they are on the point Of start
ing"
Fairfax turned to the left in the mali
road, and whipped up his horse to create
speed.
Are you not going back to the village.
queried Richard.
WATT" laconically answered the imper
turbable Fairfax.
| A short distance from the brook h
refined up and drove the chaise among tn
trees. He then led the way to the road
| The noise OF Gathering hoofs coming nearer
caused the pair to retreat behind the bushe
that had sheltered Fairfax the Afternoon
previously. The were ensconced none to
| soon.
The two girls appeared directly, and rod
to the pool, where they allowed their horse
to drink. Natalie lcapcd to the ground an,
stood by Medji, holding the reins in he
hands. Fairafx took note OF this. and ais
of the fact that the servants again delaye,
their appearance.
1T is to be hoped" sadly remarked Ma.
allie, THAT those servants will not forge
any thing to-day. Catharinc has just con
! fessed that Dimitri and she had alread
passed the brook and gone into one of tn
woodroads to gather some wild flowers
when they suddenly missed my camp-chair
and, to save time, made short cut through
the forest, coming out by the brook wher
you sec the opening yonder." fThis mad
clear to Fairfax the M stery Of the suddel
disappearance Of the servants yesterday.
Possibly they may have dropped m
knife. although / am saro L put it in M,
pocket, just before starting" AYE. SO 70,
had, fair maiden, but even Processes hav
holes in their pockets.)
With that she began, absent-minded- v, +
hum. But Lydia, interrupting her, gayl
trilled:
az know not what it meaneth,
That IN 20 sad to-day;