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

sDIug. am gao, at ledSI, you were
not seen i'll that Objectionable head
dress you so often affect"
"Was it the EubeuS lat with the long
brown feather" asks Violet, Sweetly,
turning to Mona, rs though compelled
by some unknown force to say anything
that shall restore the girl to evenness of
mind once more.
Yes, the one with the brown feath-
er," returns Mona, quickly, and with a
smile radiant and grateful, that sinks
into ViOlet's heart and rests there.
"Yo GU told the duke who you were?"
breaks in Lady Rodney at this moment,
who is III one of her worst moods.
Eyes; | said | was Mrs. Rodney"
Mrs. Godfrey Rodney, would have
been more correct. You forget your
husband is the youngest son. When
Captain Rodney marries, his wife will
be Mrs. Rodney"
but surely until then Mona may lay
claim to the title" says Violet quickly.
Il do not wish to lay claim to any
thing" says Mona, throwing up her
head with little proud gesture,-"least
of all to what does not by right belong
to me. To be Mrs. GeCtfrey is all L
ask"
She leans back in her chair, and brings
her fingers together, claSping them so
closely that her very nails grow white.
Her thin nostrils dilate little, and her
breath comes quickly, but no angry
word escapes her. How can her lips
give uttGrance to n speech that may
wound the mother of the man she loves?
Violet. watching her, notes the tu-
multi in her mind, and seeing how her
will gains mastery over her desire,
bppOrs hnT. for her Gal CONTROL
Then Jack comes i'll, and Sir NiChO-
las, and later ON Godfrey.
No one can say we are not in time"
says Jack, gayly. ut is eXactly'-cx-
amining closely the ormOlu-clock up
on the mantel-piece-" hour before
we can reasonably expect dinner"
"And tlTee-QuarterS. Don't deceive
yourself, my dear fellow; they can't be
here one moment before a quarter to
eight"
"Then, in the meantime, Violet, !
shall eat you" says Captain Rodney,
amiably, Just to take the edge Off my
appetite. You would be hardly suf-
ficient for a good meall' lie laughs
and glanccs significantly at her slight
but charming figure, which is petite but
perfect, and then sinks into a low chair
near her.
L il-'ii AtIlN NtttiIN' tb VIC NSlltbNObtttO
Is to be rather large affair" says Geof-
frey, indiiierently. "Imet Gore to-day,
and he says the duchess is going, and
half the county"
"You dance, of COURSE" says Lady
Rodney, turning to Mona.
ooh, yes says Mona, Frightening
even under this small touch of friendli-
ness. ''I'm very fond of il, too. | can
get through all the steps without mis-
take"
At this extraordinary speech Lady
Rodney stares in bewildcrment.
''Ah, watZes and polkas you mean?'
she says, in Il puzzled tone.
"Eh?' says Mrs. Gcof1rey.
you can waltz"
ooh, nol' shaking her lovely head
emphatically, with smile. "It'S cOun-
try dances | mean. Up the middle and
down again, and all that" moving her
hand in soft uudulating way as
though keeping it in accord with some
music that is ringing in her brain.
Then, sweetly, Did goa ever dance a
country dance"
''Neverl" says Lady Rodney, in a
stony fashion. Il don't even know
what you mean"
Mop arChing her brOWs. and look
ing really sorry for her. "What Il pity.
They all come quite naturally to me. |
don, remember ever being taught them.
The music seemed to inspire me, and
really dance them very well. Don't |,
Geoif?"
Il never saw your equal" SAYS Geof-
frey, who, with Sir Nicholas, has been
listening to the last half of the CONVEX
sation, and who is plainly SuppreSSing
a strong desire to laugh.
"l)O YOU remember the evening Won
taught me the country dance that [ said
was like an old fashioned minuetp And
what an apt pupil | proved! | really
think could dance it now. BY the bye,
my mother never saw one danced
apologetically has not been
cut much. Let us so through one now
for her benefit"
Yes, let us, ~ says Mona gayly.
"Pray do not give yourselves SO much
trouble on my account" says Lady
Rodney, with intense but subdued in
diguatiOn.
at won't trouble us. not a bH," says
Mrs. Godfrey, rising with alacrity. Il
shall love it, the floor is so nice and
slippery. Can any one whistler"
AT this Sir Nicholas gives way and
laughs out loud, whereOn Mona laughs
too, though she reddens slightly, and
says, well, of course, the piano will
DO: though the fiddle is best of all"
Eloiet, play us something" says
Godfrey, who has quite entered into
the spirit of the thing, and who doesn't
mind his mothers horrors" in the
least. hut remembers how sweet Mona
used 10 look When gong Slowly ana
with that quaint solemn dignity of hers
Through her steps,
Il shall be charmed" says Violet;
but what Is a country dance? VIII
Sir Roger dogn
No. Play anything monotonous.
that is slow and dignitied besides. aud
1t Will answer; in fact, anything at ALL"
says Geoilrey, largely, at which Violet
smiles ANA seats herself at the piano.
"Wen, just wait till tuck MP the tail
of my gown" saws Mrs. Geotfrev, airilv
fiinging her pale blue skirt over her
white bare arm.
You may rs well call it a train; peo-
pie like it better" says Godfrey. I'm
sure | don't know why, but perhaps it
sounds better"
There can scarcely be any question
about that, says Lady Rodney, unwill-
ing to let any occasion pass that may
permit slap at Mona.
ct the Princess D always calls
on her piano-stool to make this remark.
which is balm to MOna's soul; after
which she once more concentrates her
thoughts on the instrument before her.
and plays some odd old-faSllioned air
that suits well the dance of which they
have been speaking.
Then Geotfrey offers Monas hand.
ana leads her TO the center of she pol
ished floor. There they salute each
other in rather Grandisouian fashion,
and then separate.
The light from the great pine fire
streams over all the room, throwing a
rich glow upon the scene, upon the girls
flushed and earnest face, and large hap
py eyes, and graceful rounded figure,
betraylng also the grace and poetry of
her every movement.
She stands well back from GeofTrev,
and then, without any of the foolish,
unlovely haShfulneSs that degenerates
so often into awkyardness in the young,
begins her dance.
1t is very curious and obsolete. if
singularly charming. performance. full