The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-05-08
CHAPTER \N\III

Not exactly under her own vine or her
own fig tree does Miss Hester Stapleton
sit ut rest. as heroes and hcroincs are
supposed to do after q well-fought bat
tie, or Z hard-Won victory. But in that
met;imorphoSed, sage green. aesthetic.
GroSyenor gallery -''interior" draw
ing room of gray, old Curraghdcno. does
the astutu young woman. who has laborcd
50 hard for all that her soul Graves Of
wealth and authority, rest luxuriously.
and toIcrably wcll-satiSfied on the whole
with what the tide of Fate has brought to
her waiting feet, and those pretty little
hands of hers outstretchCd with such
eager avarice for all that may chance
within their reach. Yes; tolerably well
satisfied on the whole.
She has done we'll for herself, take it all
in all She thinks 50 this evening with
some eXultation even in Ler own heart ;
communingS rs she sits alone in the fire
light. and knows that she has Just ac-
cepted John Sutton of baltimore, aged
siXty-threc. for her lover and husband
There could have been nothing better
done for all parties" she says. taking a
high moral tone even with herself. Hct-
tie almost begins to look upon herself as
a henefactreSs to her family, since she
advanced her own interests so cIcvcrly
I'll will keen the nronortv ON botb s;dos
together" she saws 10 horself-"konn NON,
auut's money safe. rs of course sha will
live with me: and, as she has fva HIM
drod y ye,r Of hor own and tbroo ~,
dred Of that money poor, foolish Eric sa+-
tied on AIuricl. she can afford TO mako mo
n handsome allowance for her hoard and
| will take care she does it. tool"
She is busily euIar-ing the dininr rom,
of Curraghdenc. and building q delicious
little conservatory adjoining it. having the
oak paneling Of the hall all repolished. and
the staircase carpetcd in Venetian red and
brown. with fricze above to CORRESPOND
when the Aluaschar-like vision falls and
crumples at the sound of the arrival of
some visitor. late as is the hour.
Some one who has driven to Currach-
denc IN close carnage ana pair OF horses,
reekihG ana S'hohihs IN the frosty air
some one VINO Is ringing ald knocking
ioodiy III tiie oooF, some one VINO speaks
IN low tone. anu delays unaccountabiy
as 'he servant opens the door-some on"
u" NnoNil 'n'1 '"e ara" 'lS room III
,i' "''ilN"l' "ui no uhaccouIidpIF hoius
p"cN even NOW. ana returns hurfiedIy 10
the carriage. There is another delay. at
winch Hester grows somewhat impatient.
ana draws h'FStil up lnp"rlousiy as the
,hon2h' crosses aer lh!nd mat ms Is sure
/! some OF -NuIi'l iliolldS-h8r visitors
come III proper ho'irS' ana enter IN pro
m - ,..
o,,1l,. ta,,a,,ol. ~, ta, H',', =, ne
oa,i 10 1'I'',!'S Il,
ta,,n,. J .iIo,, Mi.Ii q ''SntS''
a.. =, ,1,',,,. 'I''NN Wy =. sue
,-;;+or l'I' '''il'S
ttIo dsannoin+od on an, =
so,, >, to iio,,,,.r,I ., I; 'li' ~!
NJ Eorror ,ho soIil;,o. ,,J''i ''i'' II -
riedlr hnt as Uns+a. ! ,'io, ,''e'S iiu'
sor,.o aro,,, ho,.l- st,,,1I,, ','e'' ~ Oh
chilling glance of surprise from her brirht
steadfast eyes. and the blaze Of tho yyov
lights in the room.
l. = no tor,, +to+ L. -ba,.,,
+r,,o ,,o.i+in, ~ a"ao ~. -o'I, 80 !, I'r
Nt;,s s+,,Io.o,, CO.., ,,,,.,.,ii.. Is o'4ici :
i,a-s,1f ,,,t NV, li,''.'i' IRA" M
-, pump touhd
she secs Mr. Farror draw ha,.i- iI,.; -
with Il s1lrnr.ssed ev,Iomo+io., 49,;
dressed to some one whom h. trios - I.,',.,
out of the room-soue ono whose d.rI!
pale face and brilliant eyes look over Nr
F0rren's head. and who pushes mast him
with quick, lmperious gesture. strides
across the room and up to Hester with
outStrctched hands before she can believe
her terrified senses.
"Hertie-IIettic. dpar.-cousjp, Don't
you know me-" he saws, hoarsely rs Hes.
ter fairly shrieks and shriDks hack against
the wall. from the touch Of the strong
shapely. sun-browned hands which She
knows as we'll as she does the quaint