Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-01-24

musician, Inefe was something, TOO, ABOUT
the man that continually reminded her Of
some former acquaintance, or some one
whom she had seen at some previous time.
Who it was she was sorely puzzled 10 dis
cover
For day or two longer, life at Eld-F Field
went on in very much the same quiet, I'M
disturbed way.
Natalie returned the call Of Miss Strong.
The latter informed her that she was really
quite worried about the absent nephew.
He had not written her even once since his
| departure. She had not the slightest no
tion as 10 his whereabouts.
An that evening Natalie was singularly
distracted. She could not rid her mind
| NOR did she care TOD of thoughts about
this man
Do not imagine, good friends that she
was IN love with Fairfax or even supposed
she was. Had a cannon been suddenly
fired off beside her, it could not have
startled her more than the statement that
she was in love.
She was a supplemented, unaffected and
sincere girl. She liked Mr. Fox; thought
their respective tastes were sympathetic,
and believed that each could understand
the other Her interest went out toward
him III a purely friendly manner. But, il
luetrious reader, it must be admitted that
this interest was Of such nature that
some trivial occurrence, some accidental
news, some carelessly uttered word or un-
| guarded tone of voice, might suddenly cause
her to wake up TO, and be almost stunned by
| its hitherto hidden and unsuspected depth.
| The factor love was, at present, an unseen
! quantity in the calculations Of the Princess
| Natalie Radziwiil, worthy daughter Of tsc
race of the Hehenzollerns.
One morning, a day or two after her
visit to Miss Strong, Natalie was reading to
herself in the music-room and Dolores play
ing with the clumsy, patient Max.
A light, quick step was heard upon the
walk, outside. Max, in an instant, pricked
| up his ears and listened anxiously. A
tenor voice was heard hunming the air Of a
lively song. Max leaped up, oVerset
| Dolores in his eager haste; rushed through
the hall sprang over the door, the upper
! half Of which was open and, in his wild ioy
almost knocked over the new conner, who
was heard speaking affcctionately TO the
animal and calling him by name. Dolores,
| too had recognized the voice and quickly
| picking herself up, ran out and grasped
| Fairfax hand, crying gladly:
MY Mr.. Arnold Fox has come back !
! Come, little mamma; here he is ~
| { Natalie, with sparkling eyes and bright
\ color in her cheeks came quickly and eager
| ~ forward and took the outstretched hand
| Of her visitor, who held Dolores upon his
shoulder with the other.
Fairfax had never seen her looking more
/ lovely, She was radiantly beautiful. 1t
required all the will that he could summon
to carry out the part he had decided TO play.
and not to assume the natural role of the
lover.
'Oh, Mr. Fox, your aunt and all OF u.s.
who s'all of us' were she didn't explain
shave been so disturbed by your absence"
"Ahlr returned he, with slight rising
infection. IL ann very sorry to have made
such a disturbance. When | returned re-
| ceived orders to proceed directly over to
| Eld-Field, aud make ample apologies for My
sins and delinquencies. l hope have Miss
! Rochefort's forgiveness last with a
graceful bow and frank pleasant smile.
| Natalie replied in the same merry weir. {;
Certainly, il Mr. Fox will promise never
70 do SO again.
~ promise, and faithfully will fulfill, +" he
returned, again bowling with mock chivalry.
Here continued he, taking o roll Of
music from his pocket, ''arc several songs
that have just received, compositions Of
an old friend of mine, college chum, John
Castro, and a most charming fellow. am
anxious to hear them. WIN you not sing
| them for mes'
She sang the songs, that proved --onc Of
them specially--unusually good.
Like almost every other action OF his IN
connection with his prisoner, this little meet
ing was entirely prearranged. He had re-
turned that morning to Glen Gore, and i'm
mediately written a note 70 Blanche.
| One sentence in this note ran thus:
when your mistress and Dolores with
Max, are all together this morning IN the
MUSHROOM, and likely TO remain so for a
half hour or more, throw open the blinds OF
the windows Of the north chamber, toward
my cottage; then go down stairs and open
the upper half Of the hall door,
His instructions had been followed 10 the
letter, and he was again successful.
1t was nearly an impossibility to him TO be
natural, and no one better than he himself
knew this frailty. II grieved him. Spring
ing originally from morbid self-conscious-
ness, il became one Of those unfortunate
circumstances connected with his life and
character over which he seemed to possess
no control At last it grew to such an ex-
tent that he was quite at a loss to know his
own natural tendencies and inclinatons
| He had fitted himself 10 so many roles that
he could not detect tho true from the false
those peculiar to his nature from those for
eign toit
He had for some time been debating with
himself which was the best course TO pur-
sue in seeking to win the Princess affcc-
tons
Should he work upon her pity. Appear
as the unhappy, imbittered, disappointed
misanthrope, lighting against fatei Or
should he adopt the character Of a sincere,
ingenious, sunny and ight-hearted man!
BETTER the latter thought he. II
would disarm suspicion. Natalie herself
was naturally bright, hopeful, buoyant and
sunny as the clear sky. Beneath H. he
knew, lay "A sometimes ovcrpowcring and
deep fountain of melancholy and sympathy
that, once set flowing, flowed to no fruitless
end.
How he progressed in the first part Of
his scheme has been set forth OF
course lie had used little Dolores as a cat 8
paw in forming the acquaintance OF Ma
taaie. Nor were the latter's suspicious at
all aroused. Again, the remarks Of his
aunt with regard to his troubles did not fail
Of their purpose. Had this light-hearted
fellow troubles, II so, he concealed them
wonderfully wei. His must be a strong,
unselfish character.
She fell 10 musing about him. The poison
began to take effect.
The remaining portion OF the morning
hours was devoted 10 music and conversa-
ton, so all-absorbing that Natalie failed TO
note the flight of time
Suddenly fas had been pre-arranged by
Fairfax with Blanchel the door Of the
dining-room was flung open and the table
was seen set for two guests. Blanche, who
also officiated in the capacity Of waitress,
appeared surprised when she saw Fairfax,
and exclaiming
90 Madamoiselle, | beg pardon = has
tened TO close the doors again.
As Fairfax expected, the Princess inn
mediately said blanche place a chair FOR
this gentleman. Mr. Fox, Of course Won
will lunch with US.
Apologizing for remaining so long, no Yet
accepted, and soon happy trio was seated
at the pretty little table--Naialic at the
head, little Dolores demurely at the foot, in
her high chair, and Mr.. Arnold Fox midway
between the twain.
mo BE CONTINUED.