The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-10-22
CHAPTER MI.

pastoral landscape, with it's calm Middle
shire beauty. seen i'll the rich coloring and
under the somber skies of autumn. He
was interested in the river, and made
Stella show him the late Lord Lashmar's
bonthouse, and the little creek that he
had been so fond OF, the rushy retreats
where he and his adopted daughter had
spent many a summer day. 1t was half
past ten when they arrived at the castle,
and Stella ran off to her room to wash her
hands and 1carrange her hair before she
went to her ladyship.
The statesman was kecnly interested in
this poor dependent, and took occasion
to talk about her at the afternoon tea in
the library. where the shooters were al
lowed to enjoy themselves in their muddy
boots and were refreshed with strong tea
and cheered with pleasant talk before
they went off to dress for dinner. After
noon tea was much the pleasantest meal
of the day at this particular season, when
it was just light enough to dispense with
lamps and just cold enough to enjoy
wood fire. Lady Carminow, secure in the
consciousness of sound daylight beauty,
lounged gracefully in an Oriental tea
gown, while Lady Sophia, who knew that
a habit was the one costume which really
suited her, balanced herself on the toes
and heels of her neat little boots before
the fireplace and honored the company
with one of those graphic descriptions of
run which are so intensely interesting
to the narrator and such an intolerable
bore to the audience.
Mrs. Navasour. who never sat on Il
chair when she could find an excuse for
graceful sprawling, was reclining on the
hearthrng. caressing her poodle. while the
bishops daughters, who disapproved Of
the lady but admired the poodle. showed
their experience of society by their polite
attentions to the dog and their cool avoid
ance of the owner. Mrs. Mulciber, look
ing like tn" goddess of plenty i'll a tailor
gown. presided at tea table richly fur
nished with every variety of muffin and
bun.
1t was one of Lady Lashmars bad days
and she was not to appear until dinner
time.
Il have had long talk with your poor
brothers protege," said Mr.. Nestorius
luXuriously seated at Lady Carminow's
elbow and enjoying his second cup of tea.
'She is the most extraordinary girl ever
met
LAS how" asked Lashmar. coldly.
''She is not twenty, and she has read
more than most women at fifty. She
knows half dozen languages, and has an
intense appreciation Of classic literature:
and vet she has all girls humility and
a perfect Inconsistencies that she is gift
ed above the rest of her SEX
But do you call it gifted to be able to
talk in half dozen grammars and die
tionaries:" asked Lady Carminow. con-
temptuously. ''.rhe wretched girl has been
tutored by old Mr.. Werner. an eccentric
of the purest water
"A remarkably fine scholar" interrupt
ed Nestorius.
''In word, she is blue-stocking of the
first water. You don't mean to say, Mr..
Nestorils, that you, who are so manly Il
man, can admire the unwomanly in wOm-
an:''
There is nothing unwomanly i'll Miss
Miss--by the by, l did not hear her sur
name this morning. She was only intro
duced to me as Stella"
''Her fathers name was Boldwood. y
answered Lashmar. ''but she has been
called here by no other name than Stella.
Her father was blatant Radical, who
preached socialistic and atheistic opinions
to the operatives of Brumm. No influence
so balcfnl for the uneducated classes as
that of an educated man who has gone
wrong
"Boldwood. Freethinker and Radi-
cal!' exclaimed Nestorius. Upon my
word. believe the man must have been
n fellow knew at Oxford, Balliol man,
one Jonathan Boldwood."
Jonathan was his name. Poor old
Lash had an idea that he had seen him in
the Oxford eight
"Nothing more likely. Boldwood was Il
great athlete, and Il very clever fellow
into the bargain. 1t was thought that he
would take high hOnors at Balllol But
there was a screw loose somewhere. lie
turned Radical and wasted his time at the
Union, where he was famous as Il grand
sneaker. He read Kant and Hegel when
he ought to have been reading for his de-
gree. and the end was failure. He pub
lished a pamphlet which sneered at the
university as an institution, and Hbeled
the dons. The rest is silence. He was
not absolutely sent down; but he was one
of the most unpopular men in the college,
and one fine morning he disappeared alto
gether, leaving his books and baggage and
n sheaf of tradesmen's bills on his table.
He was heard of three years afterward,
travelling in Spain, student OF Romany
and the companion of gypsies.'
Mrs. Mulciber pounccd upon steiia III
the corridor on the following afternoon,
introduced herself with affectionate IA
miliarity and wanted to take the girl to
the library. eve all want you to come
to tea she said. "Mr. Nestorius has been
telling us how clever and how NICE you
are
To her surprise Stella fatty refused.
II used almost to live in that room when
was child" she said. ut is there l
most yividly remember Lord Lashmar-
nv Lord Lashmar. His ghost haunts the
room. could not bear to hear talk ana q,
laughter and to see strange races thete.
You arc a very foolish GIRL said Mrs. MIS-
Mulcibcr. with her kindly colnmon-sense
tone. "Your life must be hlaeous'! uui',
Il positive slavery, the hard WORK Wi'nou, .s
the privileges Of al upper servan.' n. anu
here is an opportunity for improving your