St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-11
WOOED AND---WON?
Fascinating Story From the London World.


somewhere about his heart that had not
vibrated for many a long day. He,
Graham Standish, was making an aft
ernoon call, and she, Stella Grey. had
just tripped into the room. My aunt
begs you to excuse her for moment"
Stella said. 1--WE have just come in,
and she is taking her bonnet off,
Standish made polite and appropri-
ate rejoiuder. In his heart he wished
devoutly that the moment might be in
definitely prolonged. 81 need not ask
if you enjoyed the dance last night" he
said, looking with increasing pleasure
at the fair and candid face.
sob, so much, so much!" she replied
with pretty enthusiasm that was alb
solutely unaffected. Her eyes danced
in the sunlight that streamed in at the
Enthusiastically darkened rooms
and cunning blinds and rosy lights were
not in vogue in this house. Stella's
skin was like a blush rose, and, al
though she was not regularly beautiful,
there was something graceful and
bright about her Which made her more
attractive than many girls with greater
claims to positive beauty. Il love
dancing, do not you?" she asked, smil-
ing radiantly at him. IF heaven were
to be one long dance | would be good
ell the rest OF my life."
II am sure you are good enough for
heaven, whatever it may be-" replied
Standish ; and he spoke with such gray
ity. and even intensity. that Stella felt
little confused, and had to talk rather
fastto conceal her embarrassment.
81 am not at all good. Quite the re-
verse. Ask Aunt Mariann' she said.
He looked at her with smiling in
credulity. She was like white lily to
him; like the down on the swans
breast; like snow fresh fallen on some
mountain summit. And yet Standish
| was thorough man of the world; Scep-
teal about religion, friendship, love
and women in general. But though he
| had lived and had known almost every
| phase of society. he never said abs0lu-
tely to himself OIL any one else, as many
Younger and less experienced of his fell
lows do, "There is not such thing as
good woman" On the contrary, he
had maintained that this rara avis does
exist, but that the specimens are few,
and, when found, to be- valued as pearls
of great price He was hard and stern,
with an iron will; but he had convic-
ton that good. pure, loving woman
could change all the worst part OF him,
and inspire him with deep love and
tenderness. He had met Stella for the
first time on the previous night, and
to-day, already. he felt she approached
closely to his ideal.
Il am sure you like dancing, too, be-
cause you dance so WE'LL" said Stella;
and then she blushed little at having
paid him compliment.
ut was you who inspired me- he re-
piled; and then, deeply to his chagrin,
Aunt Marian came in. He had to con-
troll his eyes now. and to talk all sorts OF
platitudes; but he went away happy,
having won from Mrs. Grey a promise
that She, her husband, her son and
Stella would dine with him at Hurting
ham the following Saturday, and allow
I him to drive them down in his coach.
When the door closed upon him Stella
|, waltzed madly round the room. finished
up by embracing her aunt with an
ardor which made that amable lady
smile and ask if she was going out OF
her senses.
elbow utterly delightful! What a
nice dear man!' Stella cried, and re-
.sumed her gyrations.
Il believe he is rich and very we'll
connected" observed Mrs. Grey, who
was, what they say every good woman
is. matchmaker. She was quite aware
that her son Leo and Stella fancied
them selves in love with each other. but
that was, of course, ridiculous, as neither
had any money. She tolerated the idea
with perfect good tlumOr,, but always
had her eyes open fora good match for
either.
At dinner the admiral. Stella's uncle,
and Leo were informed OF. the invita-
T ton, and received it with satisfaction.
ellis father and | served together"
remarked the admiral HE was a 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 handsome tartar, with
will of iron. Her son looks as if he
had inherited some of it,"
"Now, Uncle George, you are not to
say word against him!' cried Stella.
'We are going to eat his bread and
salt Saturday." and she laughed delight
eddy.
thank for his hospitality" said the ad-
miral jocul arly. Leo frowned.
Later In he evening, when the ED
ers were playing beZique, Leo whis
pered to Stella, Il am not going to
have you tiirt with this chap. Remem-
Der, miss"
She smiled at him with her innocent
blue eyes. rs it ikely?" 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 IL
lumined 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 trl-
fling matters, but when he felt a strong
desire to attain 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, reaS-
surfing smile she sent back, he eXpe
rienced sudden and violent pang.
But he had sufficient Self-cOntfOl to con-
ceal il, 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
concurred.
- Standish did not sleep we'll that night.
He had conceived a violent passion for
Stella, and he meant and willed that
she should be his. But the thought of
The cousin, who was good-looking lad,
I chafed and irritated him. 1t was rIdic-
Ilous to think there could be anything
between them more than boy and a
girl fancy. The Greys were not well
off. Leo was only clerk in the foreign
office; he could not marry her. But
Standish could not endure to think that
any one had so much as even breathed
I Upon his lily. His? Yes, his When
ever his will had been reused he had
never vet failed to obtain his object. III