Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-03-27

ATIleSS lining. ara nothing less. anu
he whistles it deliberately from start to
finish.
1t seems such a direct running COM
mentary on Mona's supposed i'll deed
that every One-aS by single impulse
looks up. Molly and Jack Rodney eX-
change covert glanceS; but for the de-
preston that reignS all round. | think
these two would have given way to
frivolous merrIment.
by Jove! you know, it Is odd" says
Geoffrey, presently, speaking as one
might who has for long been following
out a train Of thought by no means I'M
pleasant. his sending for her, and that;
there must be something in 1t. Rodney
didn't send for her for nothing. 1t
must have been to" Here he checks
himself abruptly, remembering his
promise to Mona to say nothing about
the scene in the library. 1t certainly
means something" he winds up, a little
tamely.
mo doubt" returns his mother,
sneeringly.
INV dear mother" says Godfrey,
coming back to the freight. what you
insinuate is too ridiculous to be taken
anv notice Of. Every particle of his
former passion has died from his voice.
and he is Vow quite calm, nay. cheerful.
''But at the same time | must ask you
to remember you are speaking of my
wife"
q do remember it, replies she, Bit
terly.
Just at this moment a light step run
ming mp the stairs outside and across
the verandah makes itself heard. Every
one looks eXpectant, and the slight dis
IL fffsg.yr
face. 4 slender. graceful figure APP
pears at the window, and taps lightly.
Open the window, GeOff," cries Mo
ia, eagerly, and as he Obeys her com
mand she steps into the room with a
certain touch of haste about her move
mentS, and looks round upon them ear
neStly,-Some peculiar expression, born
of a glad thought, rendering her lovely
face even more perfect than usual.
There is a smile upon her lips; her
hands are clasped behind her.
Il am 50 glad you have come, dar
ling" says little Dorothy, taking off her
hat, and laying it on chair near her.
Godfrey removes the heavy lace that
lies round her throat, and then leads her
up to the hearth-rug nearly opposite to
his mothers armchair.
Where have you been, MOna?" he
asks, quietly, gazing into the great,
honest. liquid eyes raised so willingly to
his own.
"You shall guess" says Mrs. Geof-
frey, gayly, with little laugh. "Now,
where do you think?o
Godfrey says nothing. But Sir Mich
olas, as though impulsiyely, says
I'm the wOod?"
Perhaps he is afraid for her. Perhaps
it is a gentle hint to her that the truth
will be best. Whatever it may be, Mo
ma understands him not at all. His
mother glances up sharply.
"Why, so [ was, says Mona, opening
her eyes with some surprise, and with
an amused smile. "What a good guess,
and considering how late the hour is,
tOO!'
She smiles again. Lady Rodney,
watching her intently, tells herself if
this is acting, it is the most perfectly
dome thing she ever saw in her life.
eIUner on the stage or OH 1t.
Geofrey's arm slips from his wife's
shoulder TO her rounded waist.
perhaps, as you have been so good
at your first guess you will try again"
says Mona, still addressing Nicholas,
and speaking in a tone of unusual light
heartedness, but so standing that no
one can see why her hands are so per-
sistently clasped behind her back
"Now tell me who | was with"
This is thunderbOlt. They all start
guiltily, and regard Mona with wonder.
What is she going to say next?
go" she says, mOckingly, laughing
at Nicholas, YOU cannot play the seer
any longer? Well, | shall tell you. |
was with Paul Rodney"
She is plainly quite enchanted with
the sensation she is creating, though
she is far from compromising how COM
plcte that sensation is. Something in
her expression appeals to DOatie S
heart and makes her inVoluntarily go
closer to her. Her face is TRANSPORTED.
1t is full of love and unSeliiSh Joy and
happy eNultatiOn; always lovely, there
is at this moment something divine
about her beauty.
"What have you got behind your
back, says Geoftrey, suddenly, going
up to her.
''She tlushes, opens her lips as if to
speak, and yet is dumb, - perhaps
through excess of emotion
MONA. IL Is nOU-lU cannOU DEBUT IS
it?'' asks he, incoherently.
The missing Will2 4es-yeS-geS, ~
cries she. raising the hand thatis behind
her, and holding it high above her head
with the Will held tightly in it.
II is a supreme moment \ deadly
T5ell%T iIi,@ upon NE room, anu ImGiL
IlG'H n3IlHsH ilIlo tS"iH ~ 10y t'S NJ
Dv'tNv Hut i't'n az lilacll lEl'el "e Nlue
IA! IA E\yUIlt i d. ID 'He u'SeoNelS u
'''V ",a,'t .,, ufru' NOT - >i,,1., r -
M1i"' 1.l tiI''S ll"G 20 T',@'3S n ~
Do"'''' Vi W N' H1'1' "uU ~ i1'''S
Rodney, throws the paper INTO her lap.
The Nill-hut are Nou sure-smrc?"
says Lady Rodney. teeh|y. She tries to
rise. but sinks back again in her chair,
feeling faint and overcome.
"Quite sure" says Mona, and then
she laughs aloud. "A sweet, joyous
laugh,-aEd clasps her hands together
with undisguISed delight and satisfac-
tiyn.
Godfrey. who has tears in his eyes
takes her in his arms and kisses her
once softly before them all.
My best beloved. " he says, with pas
sjonate foudnesS, beneath his breath;
but she hears him. and wonders vague
ly but gladly at his tone, not under
standing the rush of tenderness that
almost oyyrcomeS him as he remembers
how his mother-WhOm she has been
striving with all her power to benefit
has been grossly maligning and mis-
judging her. Truly she is too coed for
those among whom her lot has been
east;
~ II - llhe d IiirN-taIe' says lolet,
Will NINbItCO excitement. IN, MO