Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-07-04
very RICH" she added in different tone.


such an establishment of servants as they
seem to have.
.'Oh! l should think they were rich,"
said Julia, carelessly.
She thought far less about their money
than she did about Stephen Howard, in
fac, she did not give a thought to the
money at all except when Mrs. Trafford
mentioned it: but she went TO bed and
tossed feverishly about through all that
long. long night, haunted by pair of lazy
blue ewes and a wonder whether he would
find his way to st. Ewes on the morrow
or not
And in the morning she got up feeling
like limp rag and lookiag-well. so that
when she saw herself in the glass, she
fairly groaned.
Have you headache. DEAR" Mrs Traf-
ford asked the moment after Julia entered
the morning-room.
Yes, have rather headache" she
answered.
Poor child hope it won't be worse
as the day goes on" Mrs. TraffOrd said in
commissioning tones. Have cup of tea,
dear, and try to eat something. Nothing
will carry it away so soon"
Thus hidden Julia sat down at the table
and after a very respectable meal an
nounced that she felt good deal better.
Then" said Mrs. Trafford, keep your
self very quiet this morning and most
likely it will pass away. l have Que or two
little matters to see after, and have to 90
into the town, so you will be quite undis-
turbed"
She very soon went out and then Julia
tucked herself up on the comfortable
roomy sofa in the morning-roOm and tried
to make up for the i'll effects of her bad
night, not only tried but succeeded SO
thoroughly that when Mrs. TraffOrd re-
turned two hours later. she peeped into
the room and found her eldest flower fast
asleep.
Il was wonderful what that sleep did
for Julia. She felt quite like another be
ing, and did full justice to her lunch, for
Mrs. Trafford remarked, There is nothing
like food for nervous exhaustion, which is
the proper name for half the headaches
there are, my dear"
And then Julia went upstairs and dress
ed herself in a nice smart tailor gown of
dark green acknowledgement | believe
they call it-with some handsome gold
lace work about the collar and cuffs of it,
and put on her out-d door coat and hat.
But my dear child" exclaimed her
mother, when she made her appearance
in the drawing room, you are neUer going
out?"
"Oh, my head is all right now, mother,
DEAR" said Julia, going to the long glass
and pulling the edge of the strip of gold
beaded net which she wore for veil well
down over the tip of her little pert nose.
81 am only going down to MasOn's to see
about my shoes. l shall be back before
tea-time."
"Oh, very well; am not going out
again." said Mrs. Trafford, in casual
kind of tone.
1t was remarkable of this mother and
daughter that they never laid aside the
mask which they habitually wore. If a
thing were too extravagant for them to
think of: they never said SO. If some de-
sire were unattainable, they never said
as much; they always spoke, even to each
other, as if they did not care about it.
This afternoon the same thought was in
the heart of each, and the thought took
the form of Stephen Howard. When Mrs.
Trafford exclaimed. MY dear child, you
are nGUer going out?' she meant to say,
"Have you forgotten that Mr.. Howard is
coming?" and when Julia replied that her
head was better and that she should be
back before tea-time, she intended to con-
vey that she had not forgotten that they
were expecting a certain visitor, but that
she was going out on PurpOse to be out
when he should arrive.
And sure enough, when Stephen How
ard knocked at the door of No. z St. Ewes,
which he did about four o'clock, he found
only Mrs. TraffOrd sitting alone in the
bright and cosy drawing-roOm, a bright
fire burning in the well-polished CRATE,
and her deft little hands busy as usual
with some crimson silk socks.
He cast glance round the room as if
in search of someone whom at first sight
he had not perceived. 81 am all alone,
Mr.. Howard" said Mrs Trafford in her
most friendly and h"spitable manner
Julia has gone out-did you come by way
of the High Street? YesI Ali L wonder
you did not meet her"
mo, | never saw her." said he and it
was evident both from his looks and his
tone that he was disappointed.
"Ah! She will be here presently" said
Mrs. Trafford, with bland indulgence,
much as she might have done if Julia
was the acknowledged beauty of the town
and this one of a score of her luckless
adOrers.
1t was an admirable manner. that par
ticular manner, of Mrs. Trafford's, and
she pointed to an exceedingly comfortable
chair not very far from her own.
Sit down and tell me what you think
about Blankhampton," she said cor stay,
do you mind ringing the bell for me
frstf"
Mr. Howard rang the bell, and then sat
down in the chair.
81 suppose you are not in great hur-
ry?" she said kindly.
''Oh, not at ALL he answered
That is all right Oh! Cox" as the
spruce parlor maid appeared, I'VE will
have tea as soon us Miss Trafford comes
ill.,"
Yes, ma'am," said Cox
And now" said Mrs. Trafrord to her
visitor, tell me how you like Blank
hampton"
Immensely" he replied promptly. cat
present better than any place / was ever
in, in all my life"
Better than Australia" said Mrs.
Trafford, smiling, as she piled her knit
ting-needles.
"Oh, yesl far aud away. In fact Aus
tralia is a loathsome country. | hate every
inch of it."
Really! And yet you were born thereN'
Which, perhaps, is why | detest it so
thoroughly" said he, quickly Very
likely, if had been born in Blaukhamp
ton, should dislike it as much as now |
Ike it"
Go be continued