Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-09-12
NAP. xvII-HALF EXPLAIyED-wHoLLy
PUZZLED

mother Lady Ceespring, asking her anu
her husband to spend a few days with
them at Oxford Place.
my boy aud Madge will be here" Lady
Ceespr ny said in h letter, 'indeed they
have been here, but are now gone on
short visit to BrOokheid aud will be back
early next week. The baby fiourishes
finely and is a very beautiful person,
and what his devoted grandmother feels
like when she remembers and altogether
fails to realize that she is grandmother,
cannot find words to express to you"
So at the appointed time Stephen and
HIS wife left London for Worcestershire,
and in due course arrived at Oxford Place.
And at Oxford Place from some reason or
other the little cIoud sprang into life
again aud grew a little 1t all came about
through no real reason aud without any
legitimate cause, and yet there it was and
it was larger and blacker and ugIier than
when first it had doomed upon their hori-
zon. In the first place Stephen had let
ter from Mrs. Bob. II came up with their
other letters with the morning tea and
Julia without having the smallest idea of
wishing to pry into her husbands cor
respOndence, could not help seeing that
the letter had an inclosure. Stephen hand
ed her the letter with a careless there's
one from Maimie," but the Enclosure he
put back into the envelope and the envel-
one he put aside on the little table beside
the bed.
She saw him put It carelessly into his
pocket presently-with the carelessness
which man always charasterizcs by the
word "shOve"-evidently 1t was matter
OF but the smallest consequence to him,
so she tried TO think 1t was nothing more
than some matter OF business about which
he supposed she could have neither curl
0sitv nor interest.
In Itself this incident might have passed
over and Julia have thought no more
about It, bus the following day, az soon AS
they had finished lunch and Lady Gee
spring asked Stephen II he would care to
drive to the nearest town with several of
the ladies who were going in to attend
charity bazaar, he excused himself by
saying that he would rather not IT, Lady
Ceespring would mind his remaining at
home ms he had several rather urgent bus
mess letters to write before post-time.
"Ohl just do as you like" Lady Gee
spring said, kindly. This bazaar will
not he a very interesting affair. only 1t is
for an excellent charity aud they will ex-
pcct Us to stand 10y them aud spend lit
tie money there"
81 will give my wife some money to
spend for me-" he said, quickly. "And,
juicy, II you happen to see anything very
neat in the shape Of n pipe-rack you might
bring it for me"
But what do you want it for, Stcvie9"
she cried. you have pipe-rack al
readvr
az know-but when Bob and Mamie
II.
rack immensely aud said he must treat
himself TO one. So If you happen to see
decent looking one at this bazaar, you
may M well secure it. /"
"Ohl very we'll" she replied "There is
sure 10 be one, probably "A dozen"
But don't bring adozen," he cried In
alarm.
lie saw them Off, standing on the steps
of The great entrance To watch them go.
aud Julia felt quite little thrill Of pride
rush through her as she waved her hand
in farewell.
"My dear" whispered Madge In her
sweet soft toncs-''y0u are IA lucky girl
Stephen Is delightful"-nt which Julia
blushcd mp To the very roots of her hair
aud found herself smiling into Lady Gee
springs blue seraphic eyes. Lady Gee
spring had caught the import of her daugh-
term laws whisper.
VERY charming" she said with her
serene smile.
So JuIia went Off aud spent the ten
pounds which her husband had given her
for that purpose and also little more eff
her own, because she was So happy She
was lucky, too aud went back to Oxford
Place ladeu with part cularlv handsome
pcraCk a china stand for flowers, two
very tolcrable needle work cushions for
which she had put into raflies, n framed
arttsts-proof etching which she had won
In the same way aud huge and elabo-
rately-drcssed doll which she had won out
of hundred and tiftv subscribers
Really, julia" said Msdgc, as they
packed her Cousins belongings away. ''you
have had all the luck to-day. Ihave quite
ruined myself with raffles and | have got
nothing to show for my money except a
box OF burnt almonds got out of the fish
pond. Have one''
Julia helped herself out of the small box
aud held up tho pipe-rack for Mrs Orford's
inspection. 81 should think that will be
the very thing for Steve" she said
"Oh! it's lovely" cried Madge. turning
IL round with genuine admiration. 81
should think Stephen will be immensely
pleased, aud Mr.. Markham more than
pleased"
SO IN quite n flush of pride Julia looked
round for her husband when they xot into
the hall and. not seeing him there. put
down her purchases on the large hall
table and ran up to their room, which
was on the same corridor ~ her cousins
aud Lady Ceespring's own suite of apart
ments
h--, IL. ~.
saw him sitting at the writiug-tahle in the
dressing room-"Why, Stevte," she cried.
''you haven't written single letter. How
awfully lazy OF you."
'My dear child" he answered. 'T have
been writing all the afternoou-the post
went out about an hour ago"
"Oh. really" she said-then she sat
down ON the arm of his chair and slipped
her arm about his neck. who have You
been writing tof" she asked. OH yes,
yes, yes, my gentle critic, very ingram
NAUTICAL OF her. | know. nevertheless thst
was exactly what she did say, so | beg
you'll not blame me in the matter.
Stephen let his head slip back against
her shoulder. and as she was wearing a
seal-Skiu coat, very nice and warm rest
ing-place he found it. Who have been
writing tor" he repeated. well. let me
SEQ wrote TO johns. the stock broker.
aud told him to sell out all the Nitrates |
have, sharp-then | wrote TO Dickson aud
told him would 90 to hundred and
thirty for that bay horse l SAW on Satur-
day sent a check TO that fool OF n tailor
who wants one TO pay for ones clothes
In the street, lest yoa clear out of the
country and make him bad debt. Then
wrote to Nicholson. the lawyer, about
that bill of Warringtou's which I think
eNorbitsnt. aud | sent check TO Hervey
and BoudwelL think that was all ex-
cept = line TO Mamie"
'Oh. you wrote to Maimfe," said Julia.
in different tone. why did you write
to her to-dayf
"Why-wel really. l don't know.
had finished my other letters and there
was no sign OF your coming back again, SO
wrote to her Gave her your love, and
all that"
''Ohi seer she said, coldly.
she got or the edge OF the chair aud be-
gan TO unfasten her j,oket-Stspheu turn
ed in his seat and watched her, as he often
did, with all his soul in his eyes: then
finding that she was ready to 90 down he
got mp and went towards her.
Give me a kiss before we so down." he
said
"Oh, how silly you are, Stephen" cried
julia, pettishly, the remembrance of that