Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-07-25
AIrs.Bo b.
BY JOHN STRANGE WINTER,
Author OF "Booties' BdbB," Beautiful
jim" Etc, Etc.

Well. 81 the appointed day Mrs. Trafford
and Julia set off for Matcham, a matter
of ten miles or so by rail and three or four
beyond that by road. They were very
happy, the mother and daughter; the
mother because she was going TO stay
week at one of the smartest houses in the
county, the daughter because he would be
therel
They had seen a good deal Of him dur
ING the time between the little afternoon
gathering after the service at the Parish
and the day ca which they found them
selves at the station for Matcham, but
though they had got on like-like house
on fire Julia would have said, neither
Mrs. Trafford nor Julia herself was pre-
pared to fluid Stephen Howard awaiting
them on the gravelled platform of the lit
tie country station.
"Oh. Mr. Howardp' exclaimed Julia, as
she caught sight Of him.
care You come to meet us2" cried Mrs.
Trafford, as she gave him her hand to
alight
why, OF course" he answered 1--WE
were all doing nothing-some OF US think
ing about tennis, and others not thinking
about anything at all / found my way
out TO the stables TO find something there
to think about, and happened to see the
break coming off for you-so came with
it,"
'That was very nice of you" said Julia,
sweetly.
How Julia was altered BY the time
they drove in at the big gates at Match
am, with the family device hewn in stone
On either side, an imp rampant carrying
pitchfork. she was looking quite pretty,
and when Lady Lucifer came on into the
beautiful old oak hall to welcome them,
She found herself saying in her own heart
that really Stephen Howard (whom, up &c
that dav, she had firmly believed was tax
Ing leave OF mis- senses knew very well
what he waa about. and that little Miss
Trnfford was growing quite pretty.
the Lucifers were among the few peo-
pie possessing "A large and lovely hall who
did not regularly use it as a sitting room.
II had been SO used in the time of the
lords mother, but the present mistress
Of the house said it was II detestable
custom aud used . suite of rooms instead
1t morning room out of which was her
boudOir and out OF which again was the
library.
Come into the library" she said, hos
pitably, you cannot be dusty with such
short journey. Tea is in full swing and
Mr. Darlington has promised US banjo
performance presently"
$50 Mrs. TraiTord went with Lady Luci
fer into the pleasantly warm and we'll
lightC library, aud Julia followed less
quickly with Stephen Howard, who had
not met her for three days and was quite
ovcrjoyed TO see her again. Nearly all the
guests were there, and they seemed quite
IA crowd Of people. Mrs Markham smiled
and made room for Mrs. Tralford beside
her
Come and sit by me, Mrs. Trafford.
do" she said. "YOu are just in time to
hear this wonderful banjo Mr. Caring
ton Is really quite genius at it. tell
him he ought 10 90 about the streets aud
sing ali the time. lie would make quite
n fortune"
She was n very gay little woman, and
came out ms Mrs. Tratford had not thought
Il possible for her to do. or course il was
gaiety % "A very gentle order, for Mrs
Bob, as everyone in the house seemed
to call her, was the least noisy person pos
siblc.
You know there are to be great doings
here this week" she said to Mrs. Traf-
ford, IA lot Of people to dinner to-night-
n big lunch Mt Sir Simon DANGERS to-
morrow a bail here in the evening
ball mt pla,<inuton the next NIGHT and sn
ON NH the week feel like II schooI-girI
inst cnmin.,nut
"And Won win link lilo n - said Mira
Tranord. smiling.
"WaII bone On ;, s,fd Mrs Rob aim.
nI,. .J ba,v, ,,,t go,,. of tho Io,,oliost
'Ir,as.,. ,,,,, aver. Gnu, md I,,,o hoo,, r,rI
nj work .II tho rnrrio,, ctn,uin.,, INV di,-
mopds >
"Ahl Won like to do them Yourself. - said
Mrs TratFord.
"Oh. no. don'tU reioiped Mrs Rob
ouirIlIy. but am here without u maid
have the best maid in nil the world but
Yesterday morning She had a TELEGRAM to
say that her mother was dyinr and she
must 20 NJ once + she wanted To see her
aIfye amin So of rnur-. she had to hv
off and Ieaye me. tn yet ON IA hest | couIi
And the very last thing she said WINS
'Oh. ma'nm. II I'd only taken your din
monds in to be cleaned mt "A jewellers
instead of doing them myseIT' Buf ,,
Mrs Bob added-"when Won are STRANGE
To a place ,ou don't care to trust vour
diamonds TO ANYBODY but vourself din
vouyu
Mrs TratTord laughed merriIy az
dom, know am sure haven't cot ap,,
diamonds pxrcpt one r two IitIIe orpa-
mepts that would he anita s,fe with INV
ht,. ~