Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-08-15


enough"
Eyes, and you will be able TO buy her an
engagement ring if you haven't done so
already"
Yes" he said, 81 am going to get it in
the morning"
Diamonds, of course?"
"Yes-she chose diamonds"
'Ah!-her taste agrees with mine. Was
it not lucky that Violet Lucifer insisted
on my wearing that butterfly on that par
ticular evening, / really do look upon
that as a special providence. l should
have been sorry to part with it. l could
never have happened to meet with a big
ruby of the right color again, could II"
Not very easily" he replied.
''Ohl here's Bob. Bob" cried the little
lady, Steve has gone and done it,"
Done it? What, you mean the little
widows daughter, Well, my boy, hope
it will be all right, that do" and he came
across the room and gripped Stephens
hand hard. 81 hope you'll be happy, old
chap and the little woman, too"
THANK you, Bob" said Stephen, heaIt-
lily.
Then she's to know nething?" Bob
went on, presently.
Absolutely nothing" Stephen answer
ed.
And if she finds outS" the other in
quired.
promptly.
'.AiI the better" rejoined Bob Mark
ham, with decision. well, Mamie,
suppose you'll g in and talk the whole
business over tomorrow with Mrs. Traf-
rri,- . ba a..
handsome present from us both and
don't stint the price Of it,"
Every we'll" she returned.
Thus the announcement Of Stephen
Howard's engagement to Julia was made
to his own people, and the following day
Mrs Bob got into her Victoria and drove
to No. to express to Mrs. TratfOrd and
Julia the deli ght that the news had given
her.
Dear Mrs. Trafford, l am so glad, so
very, very glad" she exclaimed, quite
rushing into Mrs. TraffOrd's arms; "Steph-
en- is such dear boz, and he will make
her such a good husband And we have
been 50 anxious that he should marry
and he has been so long in finding the
right one, but now that he has found her
! cannot tell you how very, very glad |
em."
And am glad, too" said Mrs. Traf-
ford, graciously. She felt that she was in
the position of the approached instead OF
the approaching and that it became her to
be gracious but not gushing. Time had
been when Mrs. Trafford would have
gushed good deal over Stephen Howard
to his sister, but Mrs TraffOrd was wO-
man on whom the lessons Of time and
experience were not thrown away; indeed
she prOfited by every lesson she had ever
had
81 think they will be very happy" Mrs.
Bob went on; they are so suited to each
other and Srevie is perfectly devoted to
her. He has been down this morning, of
course At least" with a gay little laugh,
''he disappeared very early from our hori-
zOn."
Yes, he was here rather early" Mrs.
TratTord answered, and think they are
not far away now. Julia said they would
be here ut tea-tme."
'Then if you will ask me will wait and
see her. may' Oh! then shall 1 send
the carriage home? They can come back
at half past six. Yes, | must go then.
We are dining at the Bishops
h'b VI Is lDOD lbDh bil lltI Sttl -Shlu COil
and settled down for long chat with
Mrs, Trafford on the subject which was
just uppermost in the minds of both Of
them.
81 suppose they have not decided where
to live or anything yet" Mrs. Bob went
on. "Do | mind where? No, not Il bit: it
is all pretty near together in England. |
rather think Steve has n fancy for a house
in town, as headquarters you know, but,
of course, he will have to hear what the
lady has to say about it,"
81 think Julia would prefer that" Mrs.
TrafrOrd said
All, yesl OF course, they will be very
well off. By-the-by, has Stcvic said any
thing to you about settlements"
NO, not yet have hardly seen him
this morning" Mrs. TrafTord answered.
''Ele talks of settling twenty thousand
on her, for her own use, OF course. And
for the rest, well Stevie has been very
lucky in his business affairs. He cannot
have less than four thousand year
81 did not know that Stephen had any
profession" Mrs. TrafTord said in sur
prise.
No profession, dear Mrs TratTord. but
he has a good deal of property which all
takes good deal Of looking after. Stevie
has never trusted his affairs to other peo-
Pile which call very wise: when | spoke
of his being lucky in business affairs
meant in WAYS connected with his proper
ty. For instance, he sold our fathers
estate in Queensland for far more than
we ever expected it would make. And
then lie does good deal of chopping and
changing with his shares and thiugs-Oh!
| can't tell you, but he has always had
luck aud he has a long head, too"
Well as Mrs. TralTord said, that was
her last day of peace. Evcryb rdy WAS
pressing for II short engagement aud Il
speedy marriage. The MarkhamS urged
il. stephen Howard prayed for il. Julia
shyIy said that she wished it.
In vain did Mrs. Trafford suggest three
months rs fitting and suitable time. in
vain equally did she sue for at least half
that period-they were four to one aud
they all talked at her with such earnest
ness that at last she gave a nmCwhat re-
luctaut consent to an engagement of only
a months duration. But as she said it
was time that she felt a little ashamed
of, she felt she should have to explain to
all the town the reason for 50 snort an
engagement, which WIS very awkward as
she had no adequate reason to give.
They had had a jubilaut telegram of
Congratulation during the course of the
morning from Laura Stuuutou, and let
ter followed hich sad that they were
coming straight to Blaukhamptou on the
first OF November, aud added that She
Lady Staunton, was simply dying to see
Julia's choice.
And on November the first, the Staun-
tons arrived in time FOR dinner, Laura in
Il great state of excitement and full of
foudest congratulations "And he is real
ly very nice, Julia?" she asked having
invaded the sacred rccesseS of her sisters
bedroom"
"rhere he is answered Julia. holding
out Il large cabinet photograph OF stephen.
"Ohl my dear. he is SpIeudidIy hand
some" Laura cried, with genuine admir-
alton; iii he is half as nice as he looks.
You are lucky girl. Really, Julia. hts Il
ever struck You lately, that We three girls
have been extraordinarily luclN?"
Yes. And we have to thank mother
for cool deal answered Julia. gravely.
Yes. Mother has always been very
good tous. 5 Z is 50 iudicious. Why, If
il had1't been for her. we might have
come @ BjaukhamptOu like the Morning
ton b nwns and here we might have stuck
Just as they have done. | don't know that
we arr rs gooiioOking as the Morning
ton Browns take us both all rouud'
oh! yes, we are. Julia re urned, cool
ly. The are not much to look at when
Won take Tiu,'s ya1in,,- bofr- ~