Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-07-11

phere of the work room, that it was all q
dream, and that Nine. Arnot's disdainful
words were only too reasonable, but, as she
had said, time would tell, and very short
time, for Mr.. Falconcr's last words had been
expect me at nine tomorrow
sin case of such an absdrdity occurring, /
will give you just one year TO get behind
my counter; no good results could possibly
come from such strange alliance" and
Mime. ArnOt fiounced out of the room far
| from gracefully, and the girls were left
| alone.
'The spiteful old cat % said Jennie Dewey
| Indignantly; sits no wonder she enyies you,
Isabel, in comparing Mr. Falconer with hor-
| rid John Arnot; but do tell US all about it,
But Isabel could not; she was not gush.
ing or ELUSIVE girl, and her deeper feelings
especially were inexpressible. Mr.. Fal
cOner had touched these in his conversation,
and she could no more have repeated il
than she could have brought out for inspec,
| ton the tenderest of love making.
1T all seems so unreal, she pleaded ''all
can tell is that he proposed TO me and l &c
| cepted him"
"For Miss Grant," said Ellice Ryan, com
ing in from the shop at the moment with q
| small package.
said Jennie, as Isabel undid the package and
| disclosed a plush box which, when opened,
revealed an elegant diamond ring. Mr.. Fal-
oner must have studied the slender white
! fingers TO advantage during his stay, for the
ring fitted her engagement finger TO q
| nicely. A new, sweet feeling stole into her
heart with the gift; she had not been used
| 10 being considered and cared for, aud new
world was opening up before her; one OF
responsibility also, for she held this man.
| happiness as well as her own in her hands,
and the question whether or not she would
| fail in the trust committed 10 her was q
serious one.
Dear me you wouldn't catch me looking
| so like an owl IL | had some one to send me
| diamond rings" cried Jennie, as isabel
turned the brilliant slowly around on her
| finger.
"Dear Isabel, am so clad for you," said
| gentle Lottie Ford, rising and limpng over
| TO her side, where she stood caressing the
waves of Isabels dark hair, as she whis-
pered softly: III believe he is good man,
and that is worth more than gold or dia-
monds."
eyes, Lottie, !" replied Isabel, in whisper
also; "yet that seems to be the last thing
others think of. If ! could not have felt
that he was good and true, would neUcr have
consented"
Nine o'clock precisely brought Mr.. Fall
coner to the shop, where he proffered his re-
quest with the air of man who knew what
he was about. Madam was all smiles, and
seeing that the affair was reality and near
at hand. began to alter her department to
ward Isabel materially, in hope of gain ia
| herself; the future wife of millionaire be
ing person of much more Importance in
her eyes than plain Isabei Grant
She could not forbear one little malicious
shot, however, and she asked with touch
of sarcasm In her honeyed tones: "Do your
friends the Stanfords, attend the weddingl''
"Mrs. Falconer will make the acqualnt.
ance of my friends in her own home,
madam" replied Mr.. .Falconer, coldly; he
understood the sarcasm perfectly, and re-
scented it.
~ observe that the ring fitted, Miss
Grant," he said gravely, taking her hand
there were too many curious eyes about to
indulge in aught but commonplaces.
II wonder you could have guessed so &C.
curately," she replied.
"At one, then, you will be ready" he con-
tinued, still holding her hand.
ayes How strong he was; how his pres
ence swept away all the objections which,
when the darkness and solitude of night
had surrounded her, came trooping to her
mind, suggesting a thousand tormenting
thoughts and fears.
"Ifthere are any expenses to be met you
will allow me to defray Them" making q
motion toward his breast pocket. Nine.
Arnot had withdrawn her sharp eyes for
the moment
''Oh, no. no." AID she shrank back
hastily; 81 have been frugal and am well
supplied for the present"
There was little accomplished in the
work room that morning, the prospect of
the wedding in the afternoon effectually
dissipating business ideas.
Isabel would almost have preferred leav-
ing her life at lime. ArnOt's where she had
taken it up, in the work room, but she ban
ished the idea as a sentimental one All the
girls were to be present at the ceremony,
and Kitty Ray remarked that they owed
Isabel vote of thanks for getting them a
glimpse of madam's parlor, which, though
nothing grand in itself, she held sacred
from the intrusion OF her shop-girls, but in
this instance she could not refuse the re
quest of the rich Mrs. Falconer to be.
She was too busy during the short time
remaining TO have many ideas aside from
packing her slender wardrobe into trunk
several sizes too small for it. II suppose the
next time you travel you will have sara
toga trunk with a cupola on IT." said
Jennie as she dextrously fitted Isabel's
best hat into box
"The future looks like vast untried
sea-" replied Isabel, $50 entirely vague
that make no calculations on what may or
J may not come to me-"
"Not even in the prosaic matter of q
trunk" laughed Jennie; snow, should have
o whole wardrobe, hung with elegant
dresses, and half jewelry store blocked
out in my mind it | stood in your shoes"
| Isabel dressed herself in her best, plain
brown silk suitable for travelling, with
bonnet and wrap to match, and she looked
| quite as stylish as Mrs. Stanford herself
and Mr.. Falconer looked at her in pleased
surprise as he, in company with a clergy
man, came into the parlor; he had only
seen her in her plain shop dress, and to-day
she had let down her hair and allowed it to
! take its natural bent, the little tendrils
curling about her forehead and quite trans
forming her plain face. "a decidedly fine
cooking woman" was Harvey Falconer's in
ward comment, "and will fit into her sur
roundings like charm"
| Inc solemn service was soon salui tud
heavy wedding ring slipped into its place,
and after bidding the girls an affectlonate
! goodbye, Isabel Falconer was handed "a
the carriage in waiting, and bade adieu for
| ever to her life at Nine. ArnOt's, and it re
NAMED to be seen whether Harvey Falconer
had read her character Alright, or had made
false move in the game of life.
nWell, the affair really did come of after
ALL said Mime. Arnot, spItefully, after the
carriage had gone and there was no further
aecessity for smiling. II must say | be
ieved he would repent Of his folly at the
eleventh hour; but III like 10 see the tab
eau when the Standfords hear of it;p aud
she relieved her pent-up feelings by order.
ng the girls about with even more than her
Usual acridity.
"Dear me, ! wish there were some more
nice, sensible mllionaires 10 take US out OF
bondage" sighed Jennie Dewey, as Nine
| Arnot left the worlS-roOm.
"But as there are not, said Lottie Ford
'let US rejoice in Isabel's escape. Poor
girl, she was just at the point where her
|=Jl la ~