Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-07-04
Ars-Bo b.
BY JOHN STRANGE WINTER,
Author OF "Bootles' Bdby," Beautiful
Jim" Etc. Etc.

"Ohl I'm SC awfully sorry not TO have
noticed it before" he said, in the real
Australian voice. slow and pleasant ''Is
that for Miss Trafford, Mamie?" as his
sister poured out another cup of tea.
Yes" said the lady and then Stephen
Howard carried it carefully across to
Julia and then went back for the cream
and the sugar and the cake-dish, pretty
affair with three compartments in which
were respectively bread and butter, CAKE
and fine purple grapes.
NV sister always has fruit with every
meal" he said Il believe it isn't the
right thing in England-but we, you
know, are savages and may indulge our
whims."
VERY delightful whims," said Julia,
helping herself to grapes and bread and
butter
Mr.. Howard fetched his own cup and
sat down close beside her Hoy good OF
YOU to say that" he said. 80 many PEG
pie dislike everything that is not quite
customary and make no pretence of hid
ing their dislike"
"Only dfsagreeable people" said Julia,
stirring her tea II assure you, Mr. How
ard. there are plenty of pleasant people in
England-in Blankhampton for that mat
ter. By-the-by have you made any ac-
quaintances here yet?'
YES. few Mr. aud Miss De Lisle
were here Yesterday
..Oh. yesp' Julia's tone was a little
frozen, for but three days before Nina De
Isle had professcd herself very doubtful
If her mother meant to call upon the new
corners or not "Meant to have the first
chance" ran Juiia's tn oughts, rs she
looked at the handsome young man be-
side her.
you live in the town, Miss Traford,"
he said, looking up quickly so that their
eyes met.
Eyes" she answered-then suddenly
asked How did you know that we lived
n the town."
because saw you in a shop the other
day and asked who you were"
Julia's eyes fell and her color rose.
Really" she murmured, then laughed
little 'Yes-and-"
And the people told me where you
lived and-and-" he broke off short there
and stretched out his hand for the three
sided dish. Have some more grapes,
Miss Trafford " he said, in quite differ
ent voice.
Now, Miss Trafford was a young lady
who was singularly like her astute mother
I'm several respects, one of which was that
under very few circumsl anCes did she
forget the advantage of Keeping an eye to
the main chance In this instance she
helped herself to grapes and then looked
up ut him again. What were you going
to say, and why didn't You say it?" she
demanded
MIR. Stephen Howard looked little
confused "Oh." he said at last. not
looking at her, but combining his atten
Tor, =, . Ii .l,Ha hn
cause you would think ne such an ass
IAN ass-well, so | might" said she,
coolly. But then | might think you a
much greater one If you leave me in the
dark you know"
''WeIl"-still he hestated n little-'I
went round to have a look ut your house"
julia stared at him in unqualified amaze
ment. You went to have II look at our
house. Mr. Howard2 But WHY"
Because wanted to see what kind of
house YOU lived in" he said, with a
charming doggedness as if, having begun
a confession he meant to 20 through with
1t and was not to be laughed out of the
position which he had taken up.
And Julia sat and looked Mt him with
all her wondering amnzement plainly de-
piCted In her eyes and on her blank facc-
then somehow the fire In his handsome
blue eyes communicated itself to her
and she turned sudden rich crimson
color which spread MI over her face and
for the moment made her look really
pretty.
"What an extraordinary idea" she muir
INJURED. cOufuscdly.
Yes. | know it was an awful piece Of
impertinencc. said he, coaXingly, but
don't be angry Mt it, Miss TrafTord. Pm
only savage, you know"
"A very well educated savage" she re-
Joined, especially in the art of flattcry."
81 did not mean II for nattery," he said,
quietly.
An electric thrill shot through Julia's
not very susceptible heart, and MS at that
moment 10 had to get mp in answe: to n
summons from his sister, she had an OPP
por unity of looking at him more closely.
1t was all SO very unusual and eXtraordiu-
airy that she was too astonishcd almost 10
think What did it meau9 What could
1t mcan' Here was this handsome young
man looking into her eyes the very first
time they had ever met, making her feel
as she had never known what it was to
feel in all her life before, saving that he
had seen her, asked who she was and
had actually gone to her house to see
what kind of "A place she lived init was
iueredblrW
In the case Of Marcus Oriord and her
cousin Madge. circumstances had been AT
first pretty much the same. and in their
case, when explanations came about. il
had all seemed natural enough, but to
have the same romance come into her life
aud come SO Unexpectedly it was
Incredible
He was a very handsome young man,
fair IA a child, with long limbs, serene
blue ewes and res. llar features lie mad
charming manners, too, a smooth soft
voice, aud n very winning smile. And
could it be possible that this-al this
OIL no, no. She was, she must be, dream
ing
\ at when he came back again to his
CHI air. il did not seem like it. II is true
that he did not try to take the Conversa-
ton up exactly where they had left it on
but he told her how he dctcSted Australia,
that he never meant TO go back there as
long as he lived that to his mind there
was no place in all the world So good To
live in as England, with u decent house
In town aud roumy lodge in a good hunt
ing district
And You are very fond of hunting"
said Julia, still struggling with the idea
tA'tl sue WIS IN a l3lF WAY 10 masking an
utter fool 81 herself
oh, ycr. am excessively fond of it,
paSsiouatcly so. he answered
And You think YOU will like this dis
trictf
Yes; think SO. But my idea is to put
mp here for the winter and try a season
here and there. But, NJ course. that
wouldn't do If one was married. 1t is best
To havea settled home thcn-at least |
think so"
You would have the house in town."
suggested Julia.
And could take a furnished house
wherever one liked for the hunting" he
added. Well, yes, but unless | married
woman who was desperately keen on
hunting herself. shouldn't feel comfort
able TO drag he about the country in
perpetual state of make-shirt. However,
time Will show all that ami have 10 win
my wife before need plan out which is
the best thing to do for her"
Meantime Mrs. Markham was talking
about her bro her to Mrs Tratrord. "He
Is such a dear boy" she was saying. so
Kind and so thoughtful; really. sometimes
| think that no woman was ever so utter.
ly blessed with husband and brother As l
.mf"
+" 4 nd he liynS with y,,,