Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-11-15

appearance in the drawing room, care
fully avoiding the lights. aud CAV"
rather A lame account OF himself since
his return from the fruitlesS crrand
TO Widow Doves. He was rewarded
for his labor on Iilian's behalf Ivy the
sweetest smile in the world. aud was
enchanted to observe At dinner that
Lillian wore one of the white roses
from his bouquet in her dress.
cyril did not appear nj dinner; he
sent word that one of his bad head
aches had come on. and begged that
he might he undiSturhed for the night.
Poor dear Cyril" SAID Lillian; lit is
so hard for Il man to have headaches,
His are like mine: nothing ,hut quiet
heals them"
Their very headaches are twins y
Mr.. Maitland observed. why,
Henry" he added. what have you
done to your eye? You appear I" have
been in the wars. man."
Winnie. who was standing by the
fire. here threw an imploring glance
ut Henry, and completely scattered
what few ,llents he had ever possess
ed for Discrimination
Ill knocked my head against
something in the dark, he stammered;
lit was purely accidental.
What Il nasty blow" said Lillian,
observing It.; "you will have black
eye. What pity! All, sir! perhaps
that accounts for Your rudencss to me
this evening"
MY rudcness. Lillian: What can
YOU MANI" asked Henry.
Eyes, your incivility TO me, and also
to Mark Antony, who was actually do
ing YOU the honor of running to meet
you--the naughty Mark himself. Think
Of that"
~ can only apologize To both with
the deepest humility" he replied, strok'
ing the petted animal, who was dining
with his usual urbane condescension
at I.ilan's side; but indeed l am quite
innocent. having seen neither you nor
pllss since YOU started for Swaynes-
tone"
Then Lillian told how at tea time. on
passing from the back regions toward
the dluwing-room, accompanied by her
usual body guard, Mark Antony. she
had seen Henry run across the back
hall toward the staircase; had called
to him about Widow Doves commits
sion; while the cat, with a new or
delight, had bounded after him. lie
had rushed on. however, in the dusk,
Il
the stairs to his room, followed by
Mark. whom he expelled ignominiouS,
~. shutting the door after dim
You must be under some delusion,
replied Henry, utterly COMPOUNDED. Il
saw no eat when | camd in
at was growing very dark, Lillian
said. "and Martha was late in lighting
the hall-lamp tonight, for which, in
deed. | afterward rehuked her"
1.-The lamps were lighted" Henry
began, and then stopped at the sight
of Winnie. who was gesticulatins in
an agonized manner behind her moth.
er'S chair. This sounds extremely
ghost-like," he added; Il hope it BODIES
me no misfortune, 1t must have been
my wrath. Lillian
1T sounds rather eerie, certainly
lnterposed Mr.. Maitland. Lillian dear,
| hope you are not going to take to
seeing peoples wraiths. 1t give me
most fearful jumps to think Of"
II am creeping from head to foot,
added Mrs Maitland. laughing; "and
~ Inr nj, Of hn
tor Everard, what prescriptions have
you for young ladies who take to
ghost-seeing?'
81 am going to ask you for another
outlet. sir. My appetite will convinc"
you that I. at least, am no illusion,
but a substantial reality" said Henry,
instead of replying.
There never was any deception
about you. Harry lad" returned Mr..
Maitland, cordially; you were always
real"
The evening which ensued ought to
have been very happy, but somehow
it was not A vague uneasiness was in
the air; Cyril's absence created a void
in the family party, and the children,
who were permitted to stay up for
the New Year grew tired, and conse-
Qucntly tiresome. Mr.. Maitland, when
he recovered from his 3fter-dinner nap.
VIII ich was usually long, read them one
of Dickens Christmas tales. and al
though it was plea sant to Henry to sit
by Lillian and watch her beautiful
white hands at their busy task Of EN-
broidering some silken flowers, he was
not sorry when, the servants having
been assembled in the drawing
pleasant blinking Of glasses was
heard and. the usual ceremonies Of
toasting and hand shaking gone
through. the bells began drowsily
Ginning the Old Year out from the
belfry hard by.
They all went into the hall then,
Mr.. Maitland opened the door wide 10
let the New Year in, and Lillian and
Henry. hand-in-hand, gazed trustfully
out into the starry sky TO meet II,
their hearts full Of the sweetest hopes.
When Henry went to his room soon
after. he could not refrain from open