Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-01-23
MONA SCULLY;
Thu .rsh Bride of an EngIishman.
STORY OF THESE TIMES.


pOui liz bbNl H. i AlN 4FshA4N A9 AAC AAOthAAil-
but drip, drip, III sad aside, making
mournful music for the mind"
To Mona, this dance is hardly pure
nectar 1t is half a terror, half joy.
She is nervous. frightened. and little
strange. Nobody seems in very mer-
~ mood. Even Molly, who is generally
game for anything, is prey to despair.
He has, for the last hour, lost sight Of
Mona.
''Let us do something, anything, to
get rid of some of these inteTminable
hours, " says Doatie. flinging her book
far from her. 1t is not interesting, and
only helps to add insult to injury. She
yaWns as much as breeding will permit,
and then crosses her hands behind her
dainty head. "Oh! here comes Mona.
Mona, | am so bored that | shall die
presently, unless you suggest some
remedy"
Your brother is better at sugges-
tons than [ am" says Mona, gently,
who is always somewhat Subducd when
in the room with Lady Rodney.
"NOlly. do you hear that? Come over
to the fire directly, and cease counting
those hateful rain-drops. Mona believes
in you. Isn't that joyful news? Now
get out of your moody fit at once, like
dear boy.''
Il shan't." say ". Darling, in an
aggrieyed tone. 81 feel sighted. Mrs.
Rodney has of malice prepcnse secluded
herself from public gaze at least for an
hour can't forget all that i'll o.e mo-
ment."
SsWhcre have you been?" asks Lady
Rodney, slowly, turning her head to
look at Mona. "Out-of-doorS?" Her
tone is unpleasant.
mo. In my own rOOm," says Mona.
sob. Molly. do think of some plan to
cheat the afternoon Of an hour or two"
persists DOatie, eagerly.
81 have it, >" says her brother, with all
the air of one who has discovered a new
contineI t. Lets talk of graves, of
worms, and epitaphs.o
At this DOatie turns her back on him,
while Mona breaks into a peal of silycry
laughter.
"Would you not like to do that?" de-
mands Molly, sadly. 81 should. I'm
quite in the humOr for it."
81 am afraid we are not, D." says Violet,
smiling too. Think of something else
"Well, if you all 1UW insist upon a
change, and desire something more
lively, then,-
"tFor heavens sake, lctus sit upon the ground,
and tell sad stories of the death Of kings
Perhaps after all you are right, and
that will be better. 1t will be rather
effective, too, if uncomfortable, our all
sitting on the polished floor"
Fancy Molly quoting Shakespeare"
saws Godfrey. who has just entered,
and is now leaning over Mona's chair.
lie stOops and whispers something in
her ear that makes her flush and glance
appealingly at Doatie. Wherein Miss
Darling, who is quick to SympathlZe,
,.ig al lapr.D9 hot tho NArhi
was about.
con, how charmingl' she cries, clap
ping her hands. The very thing! Why
did we not think of it bcfoTet To teach
Mona the last new steD! 1t will be de-
liciuus." Good-natured Doatic as she
SAYS this, springs to her feet and runs
her hand into MOnas. Come" she
SAYS. "before tonight, l promise you,
you shall rival Terpsichore herself"
eyes, she certainly must learn before
tonight says Violet, with sudden and
unexpected interest, folding and put
ting away her work rs though bent on
other employment. Let rs come into
the ballroom"
'Do YOU know no other dances but
thOSC-Cr-yr Irish performances"
asks Lady Rodney, in a supcrciliouS
| tone, abiding to the country dance Mo
ma and GcOilrey had gone through on
the night of DOatic'S arrival.
"No. | have never been to ball in
all my life. - saws Mona. distinctly. But
she palns II little at the note Of contempt
in the others voice. l'ncOnSciouSly she
moves a few steps nearer to Godfrey,
| and holds out her hand to him in Il
| childish rntrCating fashion.
lie clasps il and presses it lightly but
| fondIy to his lips. His brow darEcns.
The little stern expression, so seldom
seen upon his kindly face, but which is
inherited from his father. creeps upnow
and alters him pcrceptihly.
"lou mistake my mother" he says
to Mona, in peculiar tone, looking at
Lady Rodney, not At her. ''My wife is,
/ am sure, the last person she would
choose to he rude 10; though, | confess,
her manner just now would mis- cad
most People
With the frown still on his forehead,
he draws MonaB hand through his arm,
and leads her from the room.
Lady Rodney has turned pale. Other
wise she bctrayS no chagrin, though in
her heart she feels deeply the rebule
administered by this, her favorite son.
To have Mona be q witness of her de-
feat Is gall and NORWOOD to her. And
silently, without any outward gesture,
she registers Il vow to be revenged for
the insult las she deems it, that has just
been put upon her.
Dorothy Darling, who has been listen
ing anNiously to all that has passed,
and who is very grieved thercat, now
speaks boldly.
Il am afraid" she says to Lady Rod
ncy, quite calmly, having little way of
her own of introducing questionable
topics without giving OffenSe,-'I am
afraid You do not like Mona"
At this Lady Rodney filings down her
guard and her work at the same time,
and rises to her feet.
Like hcr!" she says, with suppressed
vehemence. How should [ like
woman who has stolen from me my son,
and who can teach him to be rude even
to his own mother"
ooh, Lady Rodney, l am sure she did
not mean to do that"
~ don't care what she meant: she has
at all events done it. Like her! A per-
son who speaks of Jack Robinson and
talks ol JOe long aud the short OF It,
How could YOU Imagine such a thing
As for You, Dorothy. | can only feel re-
greet that You should Sd far forget Your
self rs to rush into friendship with a
young woman SO thoroughly out of your
own sphere
AAftN illI NtilNtltt ilIlSfIl "a lIllS
speech, She sweeps from the room. leav-
ing Dorothy and Violet Slightly non
plUSSed.
well, I never heard anything 80 alb
Surd,' says DCatie, presently, recover
ing her breath, and opening her big ewes
to their widest. "Such TRADE, and all
for nothing. If saving Jack Robinson
II Il SOCjaI Crlme, 1 must ue the biggest
sinner living, as | say it just when |
like. | think Mona adorable, and so
does every one else. Don't you think
Lady Rodney is unjust to Mona?"
Yes, think she is. But of course
there are many excuses to be made for
her. An Irish girl of no family what
ever, no matter how sweet, is not the
sort of person one would select as a
wife for ones son. Come to the bali
room. want to make Mona perfect in
dancing"
You want o make her 4 success to-
night, saws Dorothy. quickly. Il know
you do. You are dear thing, Violet.
if a little difficult. And verify believe
You have fallen as great a victim to the
charms Of this Irish siren without fam
lily rs any of us. Come. confess it
There is nothing to confess. think
her very much to be liked, if you mean
that says Violet. slowly.
she is perfect pet, says Miss Oar
ling, with emphasis, land YOU know it. ;"
They adjourn to the ballroom, where