Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-02-13
MONA SCULLY;
Or,
The fish Bride of an EngIishman.
A STORY OF THESE TINES.


ALI Tobacco First introduced by
Sir Walter Raleigh" murmurs. Lady
Lilias, musingIv. Too modern. but no
doubt correct and in keeping. Your I'M
Gle, then, looking at MOna,-''is be-
yond question an earnest student Of our
faith.n
''A-student?" says Mona, in a de-
gree puzzled.
Doatie and Godfrey have walked to a
distant, slit; Molly is gazing yacantly
through another. trying feebly 10 dis
Cern the landscape beyond. Lady Rod
ney is on thOrns. They are all listening
TO what Mona is going to say next.
Eyes. A disciple, a searcher after
truth" goes on Lady LiliaS, in her
Noah's Ark tone. by a student [
mean one who studies, and arrives at
perfection-in time"
Il don't quite know" says Mona,
slowly. "but what Uncle Brian princi-
pally studies is-pigs."
Pigs" repeats Lady Lilias, plainly
taken aback.
Yes: pigs.n says Mona, sweetly.
There is a faint pause,-sO faint that
Lady Rodney is unable to edge in the
saving clause she would fain have ut
tered. Lady Lilias, recovering with
wonderful spirit from SO severe a blow,
comes once more boldly to the 'front.'
She taps her white taper fingers lightly
on lhe table near her, and says, apollo
gctically,-the apology being meant for
herself
Forgive me that I showed surprise.
Your uncle is more advanced than | had
supposed. He is right. Why should
pig be esteemed less lovely than a StagE
Nature in its entirety can know no
blemish. The fault lies with US. We
are creatures Of habit: we have chosen
to regard the innocent pig as a type Of
ugliness for generations, and now find
it difficult to see any beauty in it,
"Well: there isn't much, is thCrG?"
says Mona pleasantly.
"NO doubt education, and a careful
study of the animal in question, might
betray much to u.s." says Lady LiliaS.
eve object to the uncovered hide of the
pig, and to his small eyes: but can they
not see as well as those of the faWn, or
the delicate Iap-dOg we fOndle on our
knees? 1t is unjust that one animal
should be treated with less regard than
another"
But you couldn't fondle a pig on
your knees says Mona. who is grow
ing every minute more and more mixed.
No, no; but it should be treated
with courtesy. We were speaking of
the size Of its eyes. Why should they
ne tt'~blNflF 40 VIC llbt tiltll Ill btl
ignorance and narTOW-mindcGneSS cling
to paItrE things and ignore the truly
great? The tiny diamond tnat lies III
the hollow of our hands is dear and
precious in our sight. whilst we fail to
find beauty III the huge boulder that is
after all far more worthy Of regard,
with its lights and shades, its grand
ru%gcdnCss. and the soft vegetable mat
ter hat decks its aged sides. rendering
their rOughncSs beautiful"
Here she gets completely ont of her
depths, and stops 20 consider from
whence this train Of thought sprung.
The pig is forgotten Indeed. TO get
from pigs to diamonds and back again
Is not an easy mattcr,-aud has to be
searched for again amidst the dim re-
CeSSeS OF her brain, and if possible
brought to the surface.
She draws up her tall figure to its ut
most height, and gaZeS at the raftcred
ceiling to see il inspiration can be drawn
from thence. But it tails her.
on were talking Of pigs, y says Mo
ma, gently.
An! 50 was, says Lady T.iIias. with
a Sigh OF relief; she isqHite too intense
TO feel any OF the petty ycNations of or
binary mortalS, and takes MOna'S help
IN excellent part. YES. I really think
there IS loneliness in pig when sur
rounded Ivy its offspring. | have seen
Them once or twice, and think the lit
tie pigs-thc-the--n
" Bonuvs, = says Mona. mildly, going
back naturally to the Irish term for
those interesting babies.
En-" says Lady Liias.
"l}onuvs,o repeats Mona, a little
louder at which Lady Rodney sinks in
10 char, as though utterly overcome.
Molly and Godfrey are cOnvulscd with
laughter. DOatic is yaiuly cndeayoring
to keep them in order.
ooh, that is their name?-a pretty one
to0-h- er-SOmewhat difficult" saws
Lady LiliaS, COurtcoISIy wen, as
was saying, in spite of their tails, they
really are quite pretty"
vt this Mona laughs understandable:
and Lady Rodney, rising hurriedIy,
says
Dear Lady Lilias. think we have ut
last nearly taken in nearly all the hcall-
teS OF Your charming room. | fear"
with much suayIty, 1--WE must he going"
Oh, not yet, says Lady Iilias, with
IN" nearest attcmpl at yoUthfuncas She
has VI m=,'. NNIrs. Rodney has nat
hall seen all my treasures"
Mrs. Rodney, however. has been for
aging on her own account during this
brief interlude, and now brings tri-
umphanlly TO light little basin filed
with early SuoWdropS.
acknowledgement so soOn." Size saws.
going up to Lady LiIias. and looking
quite happy over her discovery. 1--WE
have none yet at the Towers"
Yes, they are pretty but insignif-
cant, SAYS the -Esthctic. contemptu-
ously. "Paltry children Of the earth.
not to he compared with the lenten or
tiger lily, or the tjCrcer beauty of the
| sunlloWcr. or the hueS of the unsurpaSS-
able THISTLE
4 am very ignorant, | know" saws
Mrs. Godfrey, with her sunny smile
but | think | should prefer 4 snowdrop
to THISTLE
You have not gone into it." saws
Lady Lllias, regrettully. ITO YOU Ma
ture Is rs vet blank. The exquisite
purple OF the stately thistle, that by the
scooter Is called dull, is not understood
by Won. Nor does your heart swell he
neaIu the luuUvncC OF the rare ana per
feet green of its leaves, which doubtless
the uutaught deemed soiled. To fully
appreciate the Weddings and gifts of
earth Is power given only to some. -"
She bows her head, feeling a modest
pride in the thought that she belongs to
| the happy ''SOmc.' Ignorance, " she
b "
my of our oaUSe.'
II am afraid you must class me with
the ignorant" says Mona. shaking her
pretty head. q know nothing at all
about thiStles, except that donkeys love
them"
Is this. can this be premeditated. or
Is IT Il fatal slim Of the tOnuupY Lady
.touneN turns pale. and even GeUureN
and Molly stand aghaSt. Mona alone is
! smiling unConcernedly into Lady Ii
| lass eyes. and Lady LiliaS, after a
| brief second, smiles back at her. 1t is
! plain the severe young woman in the
sage-grcen gown has not even noticed
the dangerous remark.
| You must come again very soon to
/ see me. she says to Mona. and then
! goes with her all along the halls and
! passages, and actually stands upon the
/ door-StepS until they drive away. And
! Mona kisses her hands gayly TO her as
/ they turn the corner of The avenue. and
! then tells Geotfrey that she thinks he
! has been very haE1 ON Lady LiliaS. be-
I cause. though she IS plainly quite mad.
! poor thing, there IS certainly nothing
! TO be dIslkcd about her.
CHATTER XIV.
It is ten DAYS later-ten dreary. inter
Slinahle days, that have struggled into
| light and sunk back again into dark