Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-01-07
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER Ill.
Stella sunk back ON the soft cushions
Of the carriage, with the feeling that she
was in new and exciting world. Mr..
Raeburn presently began to ask her short,
Try questions about her journey and her
life. abroad, and this sort of conversation
lasted until the carriage swept round to
the door Of Mr.. Raeburn's new residence
Thornbank
She was hardly prepared for the solid
magnifcence Of the mansion into which
her father now conducted her; the broad
Stone steps, the spacious hall lined with
marble figures and exotic plants, the big
pictures and flaming chandeliers Of the
room In which her aunt met her, struck
aer with establishment, but not altogether
with admiration. She had seen too much
Of really good art and fine architecture in
her travels to be anything but critical;
and, In spite Of her wish to like everything
In her fathers house, she felt oppressed
By the blaze Of light and the glaring
colors Of the furniture 1t seemed incon-
gruous, too. to see her aunt's old-fash-
Toned little figure hurrying toward her
between velvet hangings and ormulu
stands and all this strange new para
phernalia Of wealth. Only when Miss
Jacky had taken the slim young figure in
her arms, and was kissing the girls fresh
cheek with . sort of rapturous delight,
did Stella feel that she was really at
home, In spite Of the cold and bewilder-
Ing splendor Of the house.
ETH, my bonny woman cried Miss
Jacquetta, with q little shrek Of delight,
eand it's you that are back again after
Ill this weary while. And me and your
papa have just been wearying for sight
Of your
Stella's vague dissatisfaction with the
state of affairs in the new home, which
she had scarcely yet learned to call her
own. did not survive glimpse of the sun
light which greeted her next morning in
her lovely little room. After breakfast
her father went to his place Of business,
leaving Stella to make explorations of her
new home in company with her aunt.
Her heart began to beat little more
quickly az the afternoon advanced.
Would Mr.. Harrington come, or would
he not? She had gently to combat her
aunt's proposition that they should go
into the town together, do some shopping
and pay some calls.
Mr.. Harrington made his appearance,
IN his leisurely London way, . little be-
fore the stroke Of five, but the call was
short and rather formal. It ended in an
invitation to dinner two days later, which
Miss Jacky was a. proud to be able to
give ~ Mr.. Harrington was pleased to
accept. She had been exceedingly pleased
when Mrs. LINDSAY had called, for the
Lyndsays were great people in the COM
mercial world; and she could not help
acting out her pleasure with a certain
arrangement in which Stella had been
concerned.
$50 kind Of them, you know, Mr.. Han
nington," she said, simply, while Stella
.blushed hotly and wished that she could
lay her finger over her aunt's mouth.
s'For I'm sure / said to myself, what's
yon"-yon meant Stella, in this case
"but = poor, wee lassie that's just come
home from school, and must wait awhile
before she makes friends with her nee
bors! Wait awhile? Not she! She
hadn't been home . day before Mrs.
LINDSAY and her two girlies came to call
for her."
ITO 60 out with them7'' said Hanning-
ton, who did not quite understand.
mot to-day" she said; "they Just call
Cd for her to-day out Of pure friendliness,
20 to speak; but tomorrow she 10 to &c
out with them for the afternoon IL It IL q
4ne day. because Stella says that she
has never seen Balmerino, Mr.. Hanning.
ton; and they are to make Z party and
drive her over; because, you know, Bal
merino ID place that ought to be SEEN"
Harrington smiled ibid the girl
tell her anut to let me know?' he said
10 himself. Women do these things
sometimes. She il not very skillful al
setting traps 40 yet, poor little thing.
won't fail her, however; will be at Bal
mefino tomorrow, toov'
The resolution showed how little he un
derstood the motives that actuated Stella
Raeburn.
CHAPTER Nv.
Mr.. RA<burn came home to his si1
o'clock dinner with the loveliest little
watch that Stella had ever beheld. HI
did not produce it until dessert was OF
the table, and then he brought it out il
Its dainty Morocco case with great form
and ceremony, and handed it to Stells
on dish. az II it had been something
good to eat.
There, young lady, he said. '.rhere'I
Z watch that IL worth looking at. Dom
let me see that trumpery silver affair an,
more. 1t annoys me that you should
wear shoddy thing like that when car
afford ron 40 good one as any lady ii
the laud."
ssDear papa. you are 70 kind" criet
Ii 0tolla. She could not resist the impuls,
ITO nv to his aide and kiss him, although
no noticed that he seemed little takel
4 Abaek ~ her elusive display Of affection
~ 1Aall a1Mays wear this one, but I shal
- - ethes. too. and I saan b lust q