Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-03-06

scenSlOu. as she enters her room.
Spice and Allspice are having a real
good time opposite her bedroom fire.
and, though perhaps inwardly astonish-
ed at their promotion from a distant
kennel to the sleeping apartment of
their fair mistress. are far too well bred
to beCray any vulgar eXaltation at the
fact.
Indeed, it is probably fear lest she
shall deem them unduly elated that
causes them to hesitate before running
to greet her with their usual demOnstra-
tive JOY Then p0liteneSS gets the bet
ter OF pride. and. rising with a mighty
effort, they stretch themselves, yawn,
and, going up to her. thrust their soft
muZZles into her hands. and look at her
with their great. liquid, loving eyes.
They rub themselves against her skirts.
and wag their tails, and give all other
signs of loyalty and devotion.
Mona. stepping. caresSeS them fond
IL. They are a part of her old life. and
dear. therefore, to her own faithful
heart. Having partly undresSed, she
sits down upon the hearth-rug with
them, and, with both their big heads
upon her lap, sits staring into the fire,
trying to while away with thought the
hours that must elapse before Godfrey
can return to her again.
1t is dreary waiting. No sleep comes
to her eyes: she barely moves: the dogs
slumber drOWsiiy, and moan and start
in their sleep, 'i:gliting their battles
O 'er again. it may he or anjin:natirg
future warfare. Slowly. Un .Gl:usly, the
clock strikes twelve. Two hours have
slipped into eternity: midnight is at
hand.
At the sound Of the twelfth stroke the
hounds stir UnC2s.iy, and sigh, and
opening wide tl-lr huge jaws. yawn
again. Mona pats them reassuringlE,
and flinging some fresh logs upon the
fire. goes back once more to her old pO-
sition, with her chin in the palm of one
hand whilst the other rests on the sleek
head Of Spice.
Castles within the fire grow grand and
tall, and then crumhle into dust; castles
in MOna's brain fare likewise. The
shadows dance upon the walls: silently,
imperceptibly, the minutes fit away.
One O'Clock chimes the tiny TIME
piece on the mantel-Shelf; outside the
sound is repeated somewhere in the dis
lance in graVer, deeper tones.
Mona shiyers. Getting up from her
lOWly position. she draws back the cur
tainS Of her window and looks out upon
the night. 1t is brilliant with moon
light clear as day. full of that halloWed
softuess, that peaceful serenity that be-
longs alone to night.
She is enchanted, and stands there for
minute or two Spell-bOund by the
glory of the scene before her. Then a
desire TO see her beloved lake from the
great windows in the northern gallery
takes possession of her. She will go
and look at ii. and afterwards creep on
tiptOe to the library, seize the book she
had been reading before dinner. and
make her way back again to her room
without any one being in the least the
wiser. Anything will be better than
sitting here any longer, dreaming dis
nal day-dreamS.
She beckons to the dogs, and they,
coming up to her, follow her out of the
room and along the corridor outside,
their soft, velvet paws making no sound
upon the polished floor. She has brought
with her no lamp. Just now, indeed, it
would be useless, such "a wide and ten
der liohtn does heavens lamp fling up
! on moor aHu ceuIlg, cnamDer anu cor
ridOr.
The whole of the long north gallery
is flooded with its SplendOr. The Oriel
window at its farther end is lighted up,
and from it can be seen a picture, lY-
ing. real. that resembles fairy-land
Sinking into the cushioned embraSure
of the window. Mona sits entranced,
drinking in the beauty that is balm to
her imaginative mind. The two dogs,
with a heavy sigh, shake themselves,
and then drop with q soft thud upon
the floor at her feet,-her pretty arched
feet that are half naked and white as
snow. their blue slippers being all too
loose for them.
Below is the lake bathed in moon
shine. A gentle wind has arisen, and
little WaVeletS silVer-tinGed are rolling
inward, breaking themselves with ten
der sObS upon the shore.
1.-THE floor of heaven
Is thick iulaid with patines OF bright gold.'
The floor is pale, nay, almost blue. 4
| little snow is Sifted lightly on branch,
! and grass, and iyied wall. Each object
III the sleeping world is quite distinct.
"AlI things are calm, and fair and passiVei
Looks as if ulIcd upon IN angels lap
Into . breathlCs d"Wy 5 cnp; SO still
That we can only say of things, they be-"
The cold seems hardly to touch Mona,
| 80 wrapped she is in the beauties of the
| night. There is at times a solemn in
.iafr"l'lo ninaSnrp in the thOurht that
we are awake While ali the world Steep
! eth; that We alone are thinking, feeling,
holding high communion with our own
! hearts and our God.
The breeze is so light that hardly a
| trembling of the IeatlcSs branches breaks
| the deadly silence that reigns all around:
"A lone owls boot,
The waterfalls faint drip,
Alone disturb tic stiffness Of tho scene"
Tired at length, and feeling somewhat
| chilled, Mona TOuseS herself from her
reyerie, and, followed by her two faith
fUI trIIa4liaytG towards no tni N
case. Passing the aTmOred men that
| stand in inches all along the walls, a
! little sensation of fear. certain belief
| in the mcanny. runs through her. She
| looks III a terrified fashion over her left
| shoulder, and SlUddprS perCcptiblY. DO
| dark fiery eyes look upon her in very
truth from thoS2 CHASTITY yiSOrS?- sure
! " a Ciank OF supernatural almor SmOte
upon her ear just then!
She haSteus her step, and runs down
| humicdly into the hall below. which is
almost rs light rs day. Turning aside.
She makes for The library, and now land
not til now remembers she has no
light. And thaS tie library. having its
! shutters carefully closed every might hv
the invaluable Jenkins himself. is OF
necessity in perfect darkness.
Must She so back for Il candle? Must
She pass again al those bpited XII ghjS
upon the staircase and =. the upper g6i-
lgry? MOI rather wiz 10 brave the
darkness OF the moro ,oGCeui&l library.
UHd-bUt Soit-What Is tL&-? Sfraly q
tiny CLEAN of light is creeping 10 her
feet from beneath the door uf the room
towards which She wends her way.
1t is light, not Of stars or of moon
beams, but OF bona ,fie lamp, and as
such is hailed hy Mona with Joy. Evil
IDENTITY the thoughtful Jenkins has left
! II lighted there for GCGlircy'S benefit
when he returns. And very thoughtful.
too. it is of him.
Al the servants have received orders
TO go to bed. and on no account To sit
up for Mr.. Rodney. rs he can let him
self in in his own Way.-a habit of his
Tor many Years. Doubtless. then. one
of them has placed this lamp in the IL
hrary with some refreshments for him,
should he require them.
So thinks Mona, and goes steadily on
TO the library, dreadiDg nothing. and in
eXpressibly cheeTed by the thought that
gloom ut least does not wait hcr there
Pushing open the door very gently.
she enters the room, the two dogs at
her heels.
At first the light of the lamN-SO I'M
like the pale transparent parity of the
moonheamS-puZZleS her sight; she adj
VanceS few steps UnCOn -ciOUsly. tread
ing lightly. as she has done all along,
lest she shall wake some member of the
household and then. passing her hand
over her eyes, looks leisUrely up. The