Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-07-04
CHAPTER Iv.-srEPHEN HowARD's

CHAPTER IV.-STEPHEN HOwARD'S PAST
do not hesitate to say that Julia Traf.
ford had never passed such "A night as the
one which followed her first visit TO Mrs.
Bob Markham. in all her life She could
not get Stephen Towards lazy blue eyes
and soft voice with its sweet Australian
accents out of her head. She was i'm.
pressed with the idea that he was more
than ordinarily attracted by her and vet
she could not believe il.
She had no very great opinion of her.
self. and very small and contemptuous
one OF her looks. aud being very shrewd
and sensible-like her mother-she could
not believe that things really were as they
seemed. And vet, try as she would, she
could not shut her eyes or her senses to
the truth that this Stephen Howard had
fingered beside her until his brother-in-
law had come and turned him out. that
he ntd detained lhcm al ;ae door just us
long as they would stop in spite of the at
fractions Of the beautiful Lady Lucifer,
who had but just gone in and might rea-
sonahly expect him to follow her as soon
as courtesy to his sisters visitors would
allow. Yet he had seemed in no hurry,
In no hurry for anything except to see aer
again.
And yet-Julia was In her own room
tdytng her hair and dressing for dinner,
and she went quickly to the glass and
scanned herself closely. She turned the
gas bracket so as to throw a full light upon
her face and then after long look at her
self she shut her lips tightly ahd shook
her head-"No, it is Incredible" she muir
INJURED. at cannot be. Pm such a little
ugly thing" Add yet as she hustled
about to wash her hands and change her
trock she began to think about him again
naturally enough. for excitemepts Of
that kind had not often come into Julia
Irafford's life, and to do her justice, she
was not one OF those girls who faucied a
love-affalr when no love-affair was there.
But this Stephen Howard-Stevie, Mrs.
Markham had called him-was such a
handsome fellow and he had looked
straight At her with ms blue lazy eyes
and-snd just then Julia. who was but
toning her gown, walked to the dressing
table, and without meaning to do so. look
ed full at herself. For moment she was
quite startled by herself-she looked so
bright, so like her younger sister who had
become Lady Stauuton, and she had such
pretty color in her cheeks. such a light
lips aud-aud really the hitherto despised
little teapot-spout of nose did not. to use
the phraseology OF Julia's own thoughts,
look half bad.
For moment she laughed like pleased
child, then she pressed her hands to her
flushed checks and her perplexed eyes
and asked herself aloud. Heavens. can
be dreaming or am l going cracked. or
what" and then the gong sounded below
and she hastily finished her toilette and
hurried down the stairs
sin she could not get the young man
out OF her head. Mrs. Trafford. as was
natural, was full of the new people and
talked indeed about little or nothing else.
Everything so nice aud yet no show"
she said complsceuuy: indeed there was
no sign of osteutatiousness excepting per
haps the footmau.n
And everybody would have powdered
footmen if they could afford it." remarked
Julia, drily.
Yes, you are right, Julia-at least. |
am sure | should" the little widow cried
with her ARREST laugh "Thsv must hs