Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-04-17
MONA SCULLI;
Tho FISH Bride of an EnaIishmaR.
STORY OF THESE TIMES.
CHAPTER XXXIY.

CHAPTER XXXIv.
As they enter, mirth ceases. A re
markable silence falls upon the group.
Everybody looks at anything but Violet
and her companion.
These last advance in leisurely man
ner up the room, yet with somewhat OF
the sneaking air OF those who are III the
possession of embarrassing news that
must be told before much time goes by.
The thought of this perhaps deadens
their perception and makes them blind
to the fact that the Others are unnatu-
rally quiet.
sit las been such a charming day"
says Violet, at last, in rather mechan-
ical tone Yet, in spite Of its stilted-
ness. it breaks the spell OF conSterlla-
ton and confusion that has bound the
others in its chains, and restores them
to speech.
They all smile. and say. yes, in
deed, " or "Oh, yes, indeed" or plain
Yes" in a breath. They all feel in
tenselv obliged to Violet for her very
ordinary little remark.
Then it is enchanting to watch the
. til SONS the delicate little attentions
that the women il carefully sup
pressed fashion lavish upon the bride
elect.-as she air " is 10 them. There
nothing under heaven so dear to
woman heart as happy love affair."
except indeed. it be an unhappy one.
Just get Il woman to understand you
have broken OF are breaking the last is
the best yOur heart about any one, and
she viii be your friend on the spot. 1t
is so unutterably sweet to her to be a
coafd,ate in amy secret where Dan Gu
pd holds first place.
Mona, rising. pushes Violet gently
into her own chair, = little biaCk-and-
gold wicker thing. gaudily cushioned.
Yes. sit there. she says. new note
of tender sympathy in her tone, keep
ing her hand on Violet shoulder as the
latter makes some faint polite effort to
rise again. ''YOu must indeed. 1t is
such a dear, coy, comfortable little
chair
Why t. has become suddenly re:es-
sary that Violet should be maze coy
and comfortable she Omits TO explain.
Then Dorothy, going up to the new
conner. removes her hat from her head,
and pats her cheek. and tells her with
one Of her loyeliest smiles that she has
''such a delicious color, dearest! just
like wee bit Of fresh apple-blossom"
Apprehension suggests the orchard,
Wherein Violet TcddenS perceptibly,
and Molly grows cold with fright, and
feels "A little more will make him faint.
Lastly, Lady Rodney comes to the
front with
you have not tired yourself, dear, l
hope The day has been SO oppressive
" warm. more like July than May.
Would YOU like Your tea now, Violet?
We can have it half an hour earlier if
yOu wish"
All these evidences Of affection Vio
let notices III Il dreamy, far-oif fashion,
she is lie happier because Of them; get
She only appreciates them languidly,
being flied with one absorbing thought,
that duls all others. She accepts the
chair, the compliment, and the tea with
grace, but with somewhat vague graft
tudr
10 Jack his brothers are behaving
with the utmost boRhOmie. They have
called him "Old fellow twice. and once
Godfrey has slapped him on the back
with htartincSS well meant, and no
doubt encouraging, but trying.
And Jack is greatly pleased with
them. and. seeing everything just now
through Il roSe-cul0rpd veil, tells him
self lr is specially blessed in his own
people, and that Geoifrey and old Nick
are two of the dpCCntcst old men alive.
Yet he too is little diSiraH being lost
in an endeayor to catch ViOlet's eyes,
which eyes refuse persistently to be SO
caught.
Molly alone OF all the group stands
aloot, Joining not at all in the unspoken
congratulations and feeling indeed IKE
mourning Out inc gulUy culpilC IhaI nc
Is, ,...,....--.,.
no" You, were az iauS'ililS Wl .i,ll
..Xyr rnnId hear TGn nil alone The corr,
dor Mint yas # ahout5,,
E,,,.,.h,,,i,. .,t tlis sn,iIas involuuto,i-
" "rtGr%IHlT that .'' is excrnf %oIII
Who fneIS fti,it' oTain ana firms = ricb,
ana Iiynlv ,ri,nsnn
~ ,y.,s some ini,n of coursap,, GOES
ON Violrt NOT HAVING received any an
swer 10 her first question.
,.it yy,,s ;, ', s,vG Eirhnias fanIinr an
answer can can no longrr he sIirEed, Then
he saws Ahrm,, and firms his Glance
cnnIiIn,rIl. m,nm thn rarnat
Rmt i,11Glfrdy to wh"n tha situation
has its charm takes mn the broken
tI'r,,J
III was one of NoIIy's rood thiuas ;,
he s,ys rani,IIv Anil Won know
what he i cgnnbie of when he iilles'
If was funny TO The last drgrpe-calrt,-
~, i"'',', " - -, w 80,
lated TO set amy ,'2hte IN !. roar. ElIe
H. /" Us "E'Ii, NoIr = - - nV"i9 Itbg4t !,
u'S. Assn MN 10 ecu IL ~ A""' loIeV'
rs, Go, Molly, SAYS l0iet.
Go on. Noll, eNrIainS Dorothy. IN
her most encouraging tone. Let 10
let near II. N"t VIII understand IL.
Il would, of course, with pleasure"
stammerS the unfortunate Nolly,-"On-
" perhaps Violet heard it before.n
"Well, really, do you know, L think
she did,r saws Mona ca dnnnreIv that
they ali smile a~ain ''''''''' ''''''
81 onII a., i,''.,i,. .,,,,,, - .a,z NJ.
DorIin nv" ~ ,,''I G noI5 inea' SfS MT.
aside .Yon nh o,2a " yonr o.t ' 81 ''s na
j ietSE n%i"Ie ! nESau, ana now you are
rvTvt l d,m,n s, !" pe'l' M cait II
rigit-doWh SIlanny. And shan for
gtI u TO amy OF you, let me tell you
'l. M,
NY gear lelloW,, you can have Tor
gotten IL SO soon, says Geotlrey, pre-
tending To mlSnndtrst3nd tins vehement
Whisper. Don be shy. or shall re-
lreSit your memory: 1t was, you re-
hlellner, ahout-
oh- NGS-NeS-l know; II doeSn I
mater; II Il pay You out Tor this, says
Molly SaIageIy, III an aside.