Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-09-18

lSs d ulhOCu-ludAoE.S$ pA0 WH0 QulG0
aware that her son Leo and Stella
!fancied themselves in love with each
other, but that was, of course, ridicu-
lous, as neither had any money. She
tolerated the idea with perfect good
humor, but always had her eyes open
for a good match for either.
Atdinner the Admiral, Stella's uncle,
and Leo were informed Of the invita-
ton. and received it with satisfaction.
His father and served together"
remarked the Admiral. HE was q
good deal my senior. A bit of a
martinez, but, by Jove! he was tanned
at home. He was frightened out of
his soul by his wife, who was a hand
some tartar, with will like iron. Her
son looks as if he had inherited some
of it."
Nov. Uncle George, you are not to
say a word against himr' cried Stella.
1--WE are going to eat his bread and
salt on Saturday." and she laughed de-
lightedly. E1 "
IL suppose it is you. my DEAR we
may thank for this hospitality" sal d
the Admiral, jocularly. Leo frowned.
Later in the evening. when the
elders were playing bezique. Leo whis-
pered to Stella: II am not going to
have you flirt with this chap. Remem-
ber,1 miss.'' $685.
She smiled at him with her innocent
blue eyes SIS it likely?" she said;
and they squeezed each others hands
in token OF confidence.
When Saturday arrived, and Stella
found herself on the box seat beside
Standish~-Mrs. Grey having declined
the post OF honor-her delight knew
no bounds. Standish's stern face was
illumined by pride and pleasure-every
look into those smiling eyes seemed
like draught from some pure spring
of happiness. He was beginning al
ready to love her intensely, and he had
made up his mind absolutely that she
should be his Standish seldom thought
| it worth while to exert his will on tri-
fling matters, but whet1 he felt strong
desire to attain q purpose, he would
move Heaven or hell to compass it.
He had taken it for granted that
Stella was free and heart whole, so
when at dinner he saw Leo looking
jealousy at her, and Intercepted the
loving, reassuring smile she sent back,
he experienced sudden and violent
pang. But he had sufficient self-con-
troll to conceal it, and before dinner
was over more parties had been planned
for the following week. On Wednesday
| they were to go to the dance at the
New Club, and the Admiral felt the
least they could do was to ask their
host to dine with them on Monday.
''How heavenly it would have been,''
said Leo, when they got home, ''if the
mater had gone in front and you and /
had sat behind together!'' And Stella
concurrcd.
Standish did not sleep we'll that
night. He had conceived q violent
passion for Stella, and he meant and
willed that she should be his. But
the thought of the cousin, who
was a good-}ooking lad, chafed
| and irritated him. It was ridic-
ulous to think there could be any
thing between them more than boy
and girl fancy. The Greys were not
we'll off. Leo was only a clerk in the
Foreign Office; he could not marry her.
But Standish could not endure to think
that any one had SO much as breathed
upon his lily. His2 Yes. his! When
ever his will had been reused he had
| never yet failed to obtain his obi Get.
| Instinct told him that he must not be-
tray his passion to Stella; he knew
that it would brighten and repel her.
1t was hard task when his arm was
round her in q waltz and his heart
beat so near hers, but exercised i'm
mense self-command, and when his
eyes would have betrayed him he
averted them absolutely from her face
! He soon became the friend of the
house. Leo, no longer Jealous, con.
ceived the strong liking for him that
It IL ClUU uSldSUlC anu lEtIlh lct2
often feels for a man considerably his
senior. Standish gave him constant
dinners, lent him horses to ride OF
drive, supplied him with choice cigars
| and took him about. The end of the
season was drawing on. Standish be-
gan to find his position unbearable
1t was the first time in his life that he
had played a double part, and he hated
it. He had always been a man of honor
now he was going to descend to base
means. And yet he swore to himself
that his love, as he called it. was the
purest and best part of him, and he
vowed to love and cherish this
fair creature as the apple
of his eye, and to develo1
every good and generous quality 70,
her sake-once he possessed her! 81
Standish set himself to serve two
masters: hell first and Heaven after
He found out Leo's weakest spot
which, poor lad, was a tendency tx
gamble. Standish led him slowly ant
surely on-racing, card playing, ever