The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-08-08
1SABE Il:
From Shop to Mansion.
The Romantic Story Of D Dress
Makers Rise IN Life.
Copyrighted, 1851. /
CHAPTER II.


Oracle tripped lightly down the stairs,
dressed In . dainty silk Of cerulean blue,
her 0oeting hair fastened back with silver
dagger; Issbel followed her, dressed simply
and elegantly in plain black silk. Q fichu of
creamy real lace about her neck, in the
hcecy folds of which shone the diamond
iocket, her only ornament, and Mr.. Fall
concr, quite rested from his bath, cheer
fully brought up the rear
Caroline met them at the footof the stairs
and ushered them into spacious drawing
room, elegantly furnished; little, old lady
was sitting on sofa, her hair, which was
snowy white, was arranged in little curly
puts on each side Of her white temples; her
eyes were deep brown, and her small
mouth had : peculiarly sweet expression.
She, too, was dressed In heavy black silk,
cut low 1t the throat, and filled In with fold
on fold Of vhitest, Aeeciest lace, and on her
breast glittered diamond locket, the ex-
net counterpart Of that worn by Isabel.
She arose eagerly ~ Isabel entered,
Oracle hiding shyly in the shadow Of her
dress, and took astep forward, her small,
white hands extended.
ssCousin Isabel, this is Mrs.. Pembroke
said Caroline, and Isabel stepped forward
impulslvely, and took the quaint, appealing
little figure In her strong young arms with
. loving caress, - she whispered fondlv:
my darling grandmother am 80 happy
70 have found you at last" a. tho happy
tears rose to her eyes.
The old lady held her on at arms length.
and looked At her through . mist OF tears.
"You are more Darlington than Penn
broke" she said ct last, brokenly, s.but
can sec my Alicia's beautiful hair and her
lovely eyes"
sAnd I hope, dear grandmamma, YOU
may ind Alcia's heart also: said Isabel,
patting the wrinkled little face lovingly.
"Yes, yes, my child's own loving ways"
murmured the old lady, moro to herself than
let me introduce you to Mr.. Falconer,
the best husband in the world, !" resumed
Isabel, leading Mrs. Pembroke to her hus-
band.
..Oh, it is well that you found my child
before did" said the old lady, with shake
of her small head; ''for il had found her
FIRST should have been 10th to have given
her up even TO the best husband ia the
world" repeating lsabers words with an
arch smile.
- account myself the luckiest OF men
that was SO fortunate, then, madam" he
replied
II fear this happy meeting would never
have been otherwise" said Isabel, .sfor the
train Of events which have led TO 1t all
seems to have been developed since my
marriage" Her eyes wandered uneasily
around; there was another meeting which
she was looking forward to with mingled
feeling of tender impotence and dread
dread lest her fathers state should be worse
than she had anticipated.
Major Darlington read her heart intui-
lively, and said, quietly: My brother Is
not at home just at present. but will be in.
think, after dinner
The bell rang ~ the moment, and they
filed out 70 the large dining-room, Major
Darlington with Mrs. Pembroke upon his
arm, and the rest in their proper order
The old lady>s bright eyes sought her long
lost grandchild's face continually through
the meal, and she seemed to be living in
the past as she listened to her voice, and
noticed with quick eyes every motion and
gesture, many Of which reminded her Of
her beloved daughter. Eyes, like, very
like Alicia" she murmured, rs they re-
turned to the drawing-room.
Isabel and her husband were in the libra
~ and Major Darlington was showing his
books, . subject upon which he was enthu-
siastic, when q sound of footstep ut the
door caused them to look up. IL wars .
slow, uncertain step, and 1t paused upon the
threshold.
Isabel was standing by window In the
full light, and the eyes Of the person stand
ing there were fixed mildly upon her. 1t