Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-11-03


house was the scene Of lively prepare
ton for the expected guests. Sir join
WflmOt had had exceptionally bad luci
In speculation this year and some
thing must be done. So he had sent VI
! to town for his old friend, Sir Aubrey
night or two weeks shooting; it was
rather shabby, he knew, but Sir Aubrey
was SO enormously wealthy and his
son Felix his only heir: and besides he
admirable husband. Besides, the case
! was Il desperate one. They were to
come Thursday, and Friday the hunting
was to BEGIN. Doris had positively de
clined TO come down to the drawing
room the evening Of their arrival, and
is the meet was several miles distant,
and an early breakfast on Friday made
necessary, the youngest Miss WilmOt
was congratulating herself on not hay
ing to see them till Saturday, for she
rarely rode to the meet.
Friday dawned clear and cloudless
and to Doris, coming down to breakfast
about nine O'Clock, the remembrance
Of the ''southerly wind and cloudy
sky" which proclaim a hunting morn
ing was far distant, and the possibili-
ty Of the hunting having been post
poned, never occurred.
SO going into the kitchen she en-
veloped herself in a huge calico apron,
pushing her sleeves to her shoulders
while she prepared the meal and corn
for her pets; this was the one 'plebean"
taste which nothing could prevail upon
her to give up.
'Jt will be the last time 1 can feed
them" she thought regretfully. well,
by week from today maybe Sir Au-
brey and his odious son will have de
parted. For today | can do as | please,
anyhow"
Out in the hcnyard with her favor
ties she Straightway forgot everything
but to watch them, One little dOWny
one had just pcrchcd on her foot to
reach the pan. when to her dismay
She heard her fathers voice on the
other side Of the wall.
Yes" he was saying, Il have had
them keep i large number of chickens
for several years. | find it pays very
well ordinarily if" He opened the
door as he spoke and disclosed to Doris
Mortified gaze the persons of Sir Au
brey ana his son. TO his guests the
baronet showed Il petite figure in Il
long blue calico apron, the curly hair
blown all about her flushed face, her
sleeves rolled up becomingly, and such
an expression of horror i'll the brown
eyes that her father inyoluntarily burst
into peal of laughter
Sir Aubrey" he said, 'let me in
trGduce to you my youngest daughter,
Miss Doris. Babe, this is Sir Aubrey
Dale and Mr.. Felix Dale"
In moment they had gone and
Doris, sitting helplessly down on the
floor Of the henhouse among the corn
cobs, was sObhing softly in the blue
apron.
A week slipped by enjoyed immense
ly by Olive and Frances and their
fathers guests. The baronet and his
wife We're too anxious over the result
of the visit to enjoy themselves much
and Doris told herself she was wretch
ed. She told herself that she diSliked
Sir Aubrey and abominated his son;
for had not Mr.. Felix Dale told the
whole disgraceful chicken episode" to
the girls? And hadn't she heard Olive
say to him apolegetiCally and in such
u confidential tone:
You really mustn't mind Babe, you
know; she is such child-a mere in
FAINT Her pranks are inimitable fort
unat nly."
''SEe is inimitablc, certainly Mr..
Felix Dale had agreed, but that Doris
had not heard.
On Wednesday afternoon they were
all to go for Il long drive, except Doris
who declined positively.
60 poking along in an old carriage.
No, | think not" she told herself as
she waited for the front door to close.
My chance is now or never"
Tell Martin to saddle Scoot and
bring him to the side entrance" she
commanded Il few moments later; and
by the time the pretty impatient chest
nut was led to the door, Doris, pretty
and impatient, too. III her red habit,
was waiting for him.
Now we're off, she cried gayly
oh, Scoot isn't this jolly"
For two hours she was essentially
in her clement, riding with her usual
reckleSSneSS over the downs; at last,
vixen the sun began to set she started
ut rafting pace along the path from
the foot of the hill, so that when she
reached the clearing near the spring
IL III Nv
and Sprang breathleSS and painting
from the saddle Her hair was blown
about her face, her cheeks flushed
with the exercise and down the side
of her habit she discovered an unmis-
taxable rent.
How l Look she thought as she
glanced ruefully at this last acquisi-
ton. If papa should see me now
A tall figure started up suddenly
from among the fern and bracken at
the left by the spring and she started
back with a little cry instantly checked
rs she saw who it was.
OH she cried in abject confusion.
Il thuoght-why didn't you 60
Mr.. Felix Dale came forward slowly,
his hat in his hand, an amused smile
playing about his lips.
Il beg your pardon" he said, Il shall
have to confess l was nearly asleep
when you came. No. l decided not to
accompany the carriage party. l have
not startled you?"
oh no. No indeedt' hastily, u
was not frighteT ed only"
She glanced down helpleSSly at the
torn aud IiSnrlnrad dress Then look