Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-03-20
MONA SCULLY;
TIN fish Bride of an EngIishman.
4 STORY OF THES E TIMES

JeOnrey Is nowhere JUST aU tnIo
ment. Doatie and Nicholas are sitting
hand in hand and side by side in the IL
brarv. discussing their own cruel case.
and wondering for the thOusandth time
whether-if the worst comes to the
worst tof which, alas! there now seems
little doubt)-her father will still give
his consent to their marriage, and If so.
how they shall manage TO live on live
hundred pounds year, and whether 1t
may not be possible for Nicholas TO get
something or other to do ION this sub
ject they are vague) that may help Ito
make the crown pound"
Mona is sitting in the mOrnIng-room,
the faithful and eyer-liyely Molly at her
side. According to his lights, she is
worth a ship-load of the whole lot.
and as such he haumts her. But to-day
she fails him. She is absent, depressed.
weighed down with thought. thing
but congenia. She forgets to smile i'll
the right place. says Ees' when cOur-
tCsy requires NO" and is deaf to his
gaycSt sallies.
When he las told her really good
story true. and all about the
Asthetic, Lady Lillas, who las declared
her intention of calling this afternoon,
and against whose wearing society he is
strenuouSly warning her,-and when
She Las shown no appreciation Of the
Wit contained therein. he knows there
is sUmcthing-as he himself describes 1t
rotten in the state of Denmark
You are not well, are you, alrs.
GcOffreyF' lie says, sympathetically
getting up from his own chair to lean
tenderly over the back of hers. Molly
is nothing if not aifectiOnate, where
women are concerned. 1t gives him no
Thought or trouble to be attentive to
them. as in his soul he loves them all
in the abstract, from the dairy to
the duchess, always provided they are
pretty.
You are wong; | am quite WELL"
SAYS Mona, smiling, and rouslng her
self.
"Thcn you have something on your
mind. You have not been your usual
perfect self all tie morning"
II slept badly last night; ! hardly
slept at all She says, plaintiyely, eVad-
ing direct reply.
@Oh. well. that's it." says Mr.. Oar
ling. somewhat relieved. I'm an aw-
rul dutlrr not TO have Guessed that
Gcoffrcy's being out would keep You
awake
Yes. could not sleep. Watching
and waiting destroy all chance OF SUM
Der
Lucky he" says Molly, ferventiy,
''tO know there is somebody who longs
for his return when he is abroad: TO
feel that there are eyes that will mark
his coming, and look brighter when he
comes. and all that sort of thing. No
body ever cares about my coming, eX-
cept to lament, says Mr.. Darling, with
deep regret.
How melancholy" says Mona, with
4 nearer approach to brightness than
she has shown ali day.
Yes, al not much" cOnfeSSeS
Mr.. Darling. hlandly. "DiherS are
more fortunate. I'm like the man IN
the street. subject to all the winds of
heaven. Why, il would almost tempt
man to stay away from home occasion
aliN To know there was some one long
ing for his return. 1t would positively
encourage him to dine out whenever he
"ot the chance"
i pity your wife" says Mona, almost
severely.
"Da, saaw, Mrs. Geoffrcy, GOMEZ say
low cruel sOl, can be-"
well. do not preach such doctrine to
GtOiircy.' she says, with repentance
miNcd with pathOs.
i slall do only what yOH wish" re-
turns he. chiyalrouSly, arranging the
cushion that adOrns the back Of her
chair
The morning wanes, and luncheon de-
ciu3pS itself. When it has come to an
rnl. Mona going slowly up the stairs to
her own room is met there by one of the
maids. mot her Own,-who hands her
So; leo Eutc.
From s,ilom?" demands Mona, lazi-
", seeing the msi:ipg is unknown to
her.
II really don't know, ma'am Aiitch-
ell gave ii 10 me, says the girl in an In
iured tome. Now, Mitchell is Lady
Rodncy's maid.
Very good" says Mona, indifferent
ly, after which the woman, having
Strengthened cushion or two, takes
her departure.
Mona. sinking languidly into a chair,
,urns the note over and over between
her fingers, whilst wondering i'll dis
iOinted fashion as to whom it can be
from. She guesses vaguely at the writ
er of it, as people will when they know
a touch of the hand and a single glance
can solve the mVstery.
Then she opens The letter and reads
as follows,
''In spite Of ill that has passed, ! do
entreat you 10 meet me at three o'clock
this afternoon at the river. beneath the
chestnut tree. ITO not refuse. Let no
shrinking from the society Of snch as
am deter you from granting me this
first and last interview, as what | have
To say concerns not Won, but those you
love. / feel the more sure you will ac-
Gede tO this request because of the
hcayngly pity in your eyes last night,
and the grace that moved you to address
me as YOU did. ! shall wait for you UNI
I'll four o'clock. BGG let me not wait
in VAIN. !. X.
- runs the letter.
The man is eccentric, no matter
what GeOttrey may say. is Mona'S first
thought when she has perused il care
fully for the second time. Then the be-
lief that II may have something to do
with the restoration of the lost will
takes possession of her, and makes her
heart hea: wildly. Yes. she will 30:
she will kcer thsa appointment what
ever comes Ia Il.
She Chances nj her watch II is now
n qUarter-paSt three: 50 there IS &c time
to he lost. she must hasten.
llurricdly she gets into her furS. and,
twisting some soft hlact lace around
iltI lliIbdl, lNllS GOWN the FldlfS. ana,
opening the hall door without seeing
any one. makes her way towards the APP
pointed ,not
1t is the Goth of February: already
winter is dying out Of mind, and little
flowers are Springing everywhere.
Daisies piei aud yiole,S blue.
Aud la s-smoCks all siivcr-whitc,
Aud CuCkoo-ndds Of yellow hue
DO paint the mCaiGVS with light"
Each bank and root of mosS< tree is
studded with pale primroseS that CLEAN
like stars when the morning rises to dim
their lustGr. My iady's straw-bed
spreads its white carpet here and there:
the faint twitter Of birds is in the air.
with ''ljnuiH lauSe Of murmminr
every lear seems BURSTING
into life, the air is keen, but soft. the
clouds rest lightly on a ground of spot
less blue: the world is awake, and mad
with youthful glee as
spring coUrs slowly mp this way
Every flower has opened vide its pretty
eve, because the sun. that SO long has |
been stranger. has returned to them,
and is gazing down upon them with ar
dent love. They-fOnd musings Of an
hour-nCPPpt his tarCly attentions. and.