Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-10-04

walk toward the house, switching at the
flowers with his Tiding-Whip as he went
along, to Bertha's great annoyance.
Nor was he yet to reach the presence of
his lady-love without encountering an
enemy.
Pinch seemed impressed with the
idea that he was fulfilling the whole
duty of good dog by lying upon the
steps leading up to the front door,
blinking in the sun. with one ear cooked
up to listen for intruders. Pinch had
taken a great aversion to the Honorable
Mr.. Fancourt; and now, as soon as he
saw him, he sprang up snarling and
showing his teeth. Sarah stood with
the open door in her hand, ready TO ad-
NIT the visitor.
BE quiet, PINCH" she said-''Ge
down, SIR"
But Pinch found it necessary to give
vent to his feelings by making an mag
mary onslaught on the Honorable Mr.
Fancourt's boots as he went up the
steps.
Il wonder your mistress can keep
such BRUTE" said that gentleman to
Sarah, as he entered the passage.
1--WE don't consider him a snappish
dog in the general way. SIR" returned
Sarah, who rather Sympathized with
Plnch's feelings, not liking gentlefolk
who treated servants las if they were
dirt" as she confided to Martha
1.-The Honorable Mr.. FancOurt," she
announced. throwing open the draw
ing-room door before he had time to
reply.
Mrs. Dalton's reception was cordial.
She met him with outsCcetched hand.
II am so glad to see you" she said:
at is quite an unexpected pleasure. |
thought you had gone off to the moors
probably, and forgotten all about your
friends here"
There are some not easy to forget"
Fancourt responded, with a glance at
Lena.
Lena was languid, and rather cool.
AS she had told her mother, she knew
perfectly well what she was about, and
how to regulate the thermometer of her
manner.
FancOurt took a seat near Mrs. Dali
ton, and opposite to Lena. The CONVEX
SatiOn turned on ordinary tOpicS-the
close of the exhibitions and the opera.
the different places of autumn resort;
and Mrs DaltOn's plans for the ensuing
months were inquired into.
I'VE shall be Lord Alphington's
neighbOrs for a time" said Mrs. Dalton.
'In the course of September we are
going to spend a month at the Larches,
with our old friends Sir Stephen and
Lady Langley"
Oh-ah-exactly," Fancourt STAN
mered, as his cOuntenance fell. "Rath-
er slow down there, isn't it? Can't you
manage to go to Scarborough, or TrOu-
vile, or somewhere where there's
something going on? There's deuced
good fun at some of those French wat
ering-places, I've heard. 1 thought of
taking run over; but [ shan't care for
going unless you are going tOO-'pon my
honor, | shan't."
4ou are complimentary" said Mrs:
Dalton, smiling benignly. but an old
woman mustn't take such fine speeches
to herself where there is young one IN
the way"
'Ah. well-no, it isn't likely" allowed
Fancourt, his bold eyes fixed upon
Lena, who could scarcely conceal her
disgust.
"And you men of the world are such
deceiyers." Mrs. Dalton resumed, play
fully. 'There's no knowing when you
mean what you say"
1T isn't so in this quarter. by Jovel"
Fancourt exclaimed. 'You don't think
so-now do you, Miss Dalton?"
'How should L know" Lena parried.
81 dare say you're all much alike"
" GU shouldn't say that-p0n my
honor you shouldn't" said Fancourt,
beginning to feel, as he always did I'M
der the immediate influence of Lena's
beauty, that he could not wait longer
without securing her for his own.
Conversation tagged, as it usually did
when FancOurt was preSent-he himself
would have declared that he never had
anything to say to women. Mrs. Dalton
thought that he had sat staring at Lena
quite long enough.
by the way" she said, as if sud
den thought had struck her, ''if Mr..
Fancourt will excuse me [ will take adj
vantage of this fine afternoon to look
in on Mrs. Barton. Talking of old age
reminded me of her"
To be'continued