Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-01-16

AS she advances and retreats. with
her suelte figure drawn to its fullest
height. and her face eager and intent
upon the business in hand. and with
her whole heart thrown apparently into
the successful accomplishment OF her
task, she is looking far lovelier than she
herself is at all aware.
Even Lady Rodney for the moment
has fallen a prey to her unprecedented
charms. and is leaning forward anxious
ly watching her. Jack and Sir Nicholas
are enchanted.
The shadows close them in on every
side. Only the freight ilumines the
room, casting its most brilliant and
rudy RAYS upon its central figures. I'M
til they look ike beings coniured up
from the olden times, as they fit to and
fro in the slow mysterious maZes of the
dance.
Nona's naked arms CLEAN like snow
in the uncertain light. Each NOV ament
of hers is full of grace and rene Her
entire action is grace.
The music. soft and almost mournful,
echoes through the room; the feet keep
time upon the oaken floor; weird-llke
the two forms move through the settled
gloom.
The door at the farthest end of the
room has been opened. and two people
who are as yet invisible stand upon the
threshold too surprised to advance, too
enthralled, indeed, by the sight before
them to wish to do so.
Only as Mrs. Godfrey makes her final
courtesy, and Godfrey, with laugh
stoOps forward to kiss her lips instead
of her hand, as acknowledgment of her
earnest and very sweet performance,
thereby declaring the same TO have
come to a timely end. do the newcomers
dare to show themselves.
SOh, how pretty!' cries one of them
from the shadow, as though grieved the
dance has come so quickly to an end
''IIow lovely"
At this voice every one starts! Mona,
slipping her hand into Geoffrey's, draws
| him to one SIDE; Lady Rodney rises
| from her sofa, and Sir Nicholas goes
eagerly towards the door.
you have comel" cries he, in a tone
Mona has never heard before, and then
there is no mistake about the fact
| that he and the shadow have embraced
| each other heartily.
Yes, we have indeed" says the same
! sweet voice again, which is the merrieSt
and sOftest voice imaginable, and in
very good time too, as it seems. Molly
| and | have been here for fully five min
| utes, and have been 50 delighted with
| what we have seen that We positively
| could not stir. Dear Lady Rodney, how
| dye do?'
She is very little girl, quite half
| head shorter than Mona, and. now that
one can see her more plainly as she
stands on the hearth-rng, something
| more than commonly pretty.
| Her eyes are large and blue, with a
shade OF green III them; her lips are soft
| and mobile; her whole expression is de-
| b0pndire, yet full of tenderness. She is
| brightness itself; each inward thought,
| be it of grief or gladneSS, makes itself
| outWardly known in the constant
changes Of her face. Her hair is cut
| above her forehead, and is quite golden,
| yet perhaps it is degree darker than
| the ordinary hair we hear described as
| yellow.
Such is Nicholas's betrothed, to whom
as she gaZeS on her, all at once, III the
| first little moment, MOna's whole soul
| goes out.
She has shaken hands with everybody
| and kissed Lady Rodney, and IL now
being introduced to Mona
"Y our wife. GeO1lreyT' she says,
holding M0na'S hand all the time, and
| gazing at her intently. Then, as though
| something i'll Mrs. GeOffrey's beautiful
| face attracts her strangely, she lifts her
| face and presses her soft lips to Mona
cheek
A rush of hope and gladness thrills
| MOna'S bosom at this gentle touch. 1t
| is the very first careSs she has ever re-
| ceived from one of GeOffrey'S friends or
| relatives.
~ think somebody might introduce
me-" says plaintive voice from the
background, and Dorothy's brother,
| putting Dorothy a little to one side,
| I,,i do, l,i, 4, Il
| do. Mrs. Rodney" he says, pleasantly.
| There's dearth of etiquette about
| your husband that no doubt you have
| discovered before this. He has evident
| ly forgotten that we are comparative
| strangers; but we Shan't be long SO, /
hope"
II hope not, indeed" says Mona. Civ
| ing him her hand with a very flattering
haste.
You have come quite half an hour
| earlier than we expected you" says Sir
| Nicholas. looking with fond satisfaction
into Miss Darling eyes. '"These trains
| are very uncertain"
| ut wasn't the train so much" says
DOatie, with a merry laugh, 'as Molly;
we weren't any time coming, because
| he got ont and took the rcins from
| iIeWSOn, and after that | rather think
| he took it out of your bays, Nicholas"
well, | never met with such blabl
| | believe you'd peach on your grand
mother SAYS her brother. with su-
bit of harm, Rodney, l give you my
| word"
IN take it." says Nicholas, "but,
even if you did, I should still owe you a
| debt of gratitude for bringing DOatie
here thirty minutes before we hoped
for her.
"Now make him your best courtesy,
Dolly" says Mr.. Darling, seriously; 1T
| isn't every day you will get such pref
ty speech as that"
And see what we gained by our
| haste" says Dorothy, smiling at Mona.
''Yo on can't think what charming sight
| it was. Like an old legend or fairy
tale. Was it minuet you were dane
| ing?"
"Oh, no; only country Dance" says
| Mona, blushing.
We'll, it was perfect; wasn't it, Vic
let?''
wish I could have seen it better"
says Violet, but, you see, was play
ing"
Il wish I could have seen it forever"
says Mr.. Darling, CALAMITY, addressing
Mona; "but all good things have an
| end too soon. Do you remember some
lines like these? they come to me just
now.
| "'When you do Dance I wish you
wave DER The sea; thlt you might ever do
Nothing but that"
Yes, l recollect; they are from the
winters Tale | think" says Mona
| shyly; but you say too much for me-"
Not half enough" says Mr.. Darling,
enthusiastically
Don't you think, sir, you would like
to get ready for dinner?" says Godfrey,
with mock severity. "You can continue
your attentions to my wife later on,-at
your peril"
Il accept the risk" says Molly, with
much statelineSs. and forthwith retires
to make himself presentable.
CHAPTER XIX.
Mr.. Darling is a 1axen-haired young