The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-05-10

gazed at Lydia, as il studying her face.
She ct last concluded to make friends with
the stranger Max too had been viewing the
newcomer with doubtful eye, but also de-
cided upon peace. He rose, shook himself,
and walking up to Lydia, raised one ire
mendous paw in token Of amity.
My name il Dolores my little mamma ID
up stairs. Who are you, pretty lady,
You may call mo aunt Lydia / love
your little mamma too, and want you to
take me upstairs to see her.
"But she is i'll and mustn't be disturbed"
"Yes, but have come to make her well
Come little Dolores, take me up, or shall
go by myself"
evil you make her we'll! Come, then,
aunt Lydia, l want my little mamma to get
WE'LL Pausing suddenly she looked in
quiringly up into Lydia's face. and said:
..Do you know my Mr.. Arnold Fo.."
Eyes. my little one, do. Why
because, il you can make her well. /
wish you would bring him back too. don't
want him to go and my little mamma cried
because he was going
"Well, dearie. / will see what can do"
Lydic began to suspect that matters be-
tween Natalie and Fairfax had gone even
further than she had supposed.
Hand-in-hand the pair went upstairs, fol
lowed BY Max. who seemed to think it his
bounden duty to attend Dolores wherever
she went Nataiic.s door was shut.
Lydia knocked. No answer came She
knocked again and more loudly. Still no
answer Pushing open the door, she looked
in.
The room was darkcned. A figure. with
loosened hair streaming down over her
back, with clasped hands and head bent
down to the coyerlid, was kneeling at the
bedside. 1t was Natalie.
Lydia stopped down and whispered to
Dolores to go and speak to her. The child,
placing her hand on Natlie's shoulder, said
Little mamma, wake up. Aunt Lydia
wants to see you"
Natalie slowly turned pallid face toward
Dolores. Her eyes were dimmed by weep
ing, and her cheeks tear stained. Slowly
arising. she absent mindcdly took the child
by the hand and moved languidly toward
the window, apparently absorbed in thought,
and not aware Of the tall figure standing
motionless in the doorway. She raised tho
curtain and sat down in q chair beside the
window, with Dolores in her lap, oblivious
to all about her, and talking rather to her
self than the girl, in a half-conscious,
dreamy state.
Dolores, my dearest, we must 60. Do
lores, we shall sec him never again neyer"'
she added, emphatically, and. unconsciously
began to repeat the refrain Of an old ballad:
"For love that from the heart hath fed
Returns gain no more.
No more again, no more"
'sNatalie!" said clear soft voice, "Are
you not going to speak to me.''
Even this did not seem TO awake her from
her rcverie. She slowly and YEARLY raised
| her head and looked mechanically and I'M
intelligently at Lydia, not appearing to
realize who it was.
Natalie! - again said the same voice, a
little sharply, and with a tone Of alarm in it.
Natalie, arouse yourself. It is !, Lydia,
come to take you away
/ Little mamma broke in Dolores, lit is
Aunt Lydia come to make you WE'LL
/ Natalie appeared to be waking from q
stupor She stared, rubbed her eyes, and
then CLEAN Of intelligence shot over her
face. She cried out:
LYDIA and attempted to arise and rush
toward her friend. But she tottcred,
turned deathly pale, and fell forward into
Lydias arms. The latter laid her gently
upon the couch, and, by dint of mild restor-
atives, had the pleasure of seeing the poor
girl return to consciousness. The eyelids
opened again. and the dark. lustrous eye.
recognizing luc koOu odLllslTltstIi, uc>tIllSu
with affection.
II have been foolish, very foolish. dear
est said the invalid. "Have / not! / do
not think ever tainted more than once be-
fore in my life.' Then, as if the same un-
pleasant thoughts returned. she added:
.And you will help me to get away from
here, will you not. must go-must."
/ Here she attempted to rise from the
| couch but found. to her surprise, that she
felt extremely weak.
young woman said Lydia, very play
fully, my command is that you lie
perfectly still until your lunch is brought
upstairs 1t is now trific after one
o'clock. What is your maids name.
Blanche. is it not"
YES replied Natalie. looking up at her
friend with some surprise .How came YOU
to know it,
"Oh. know everything. my dear
| Calling out cheerfuly. Blanchei
Blanche.'' She soon heard from below,
the answer,
/ Coming. Madamoisellc."
Never mind about coming upstairs.
now. Only hurry and bring up the lunch y
Blanche, wondering who was the owner
of this strong but commanding voice. went
into the kitchen to prepare lunch. A note
soon came to her from Fairfax, bidding hel
be in readiness to depart lat moments
notice. 1t informed her that the Lady
Lydia Broadacres, hereafter, would assume
the management Of affairs.
. 1t must have been the Lady Lydia WHO
spoke to me,' said Blanche to herself, won
deringly.
Lydia, meanwhile, sat down and penned /;
hasty line to Miss Gulnare. 1t read thus:
- have not only been successful in my
efforts, but have found, as was inclined Il
suspect, Miss Rochefort an old friend Of
mine. will lunch with her and be with
you later in the afternoon
Lydia said nothing with regard to Fair
fax or the abduction and, Of course, Natalie
did not refer to either.
Gradually the color returned b the Prin
cess checks, and she came to realizing
sense of the present. But, ever and anon
Lydia observed that some chance remark