Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-11-04
Continued.

most dazzled by her enhancing smile
and sweet consideration for his COM
tort was Edward Neville, Sir Philips
private secretary and librarian,-a
meek, mild-featured man of some five
and forty years old, whose STOPPING
shoulders, grizzled hair, and weak
eyes gave him the appearance OF much
greater age. Thelma was particular
ly kind to Neville, having heard his
history from her husband. 1t was
brief and sad. He had married pref
ty young girl whom he had founa
earning a bare subsistence as a singer
in provincial music-halls,-loving her,
he had pitied her unprotected state
and had rescued her from the life she
led-but after six months OF compar-
alive happiness, she had suddenly de-
serted him, leaving no clue as TO
where or why she had gone. His grief
for her loss weighed heavily on his
mind-he brooded necessarily upon 1t
and though his profession was that
of music-master and organlst, ne
grew so distracted and inattentive to
the claims of the few pupils he had,
that they fell away from him one by
cne-and, after q bit, he lost his post
as organist in the village church as
we'll This smote him deeply, for he
was passionately fond OF music, ana
was, moreover, a fine player, and II
was at this stage of his misforrunes
that he met by chance Bruce-Errirg-
ton. Philip just then was almost
Notwithstanding father and mother
had died suddenly within a week OF
sne another-and he, finding the
black desolation of his home unbear-
able, was anxious TO travel abroad for
a time, so soon as he could hnd some
responsible person in whose hands TO
leave the charge of the Manor, with
it's invaluable books and pictures, dur
ing his absence.
Hearing Neville's history through
utual friend, he decided, with his
usual characteristic impulse, that mere
was the very man for him-a gentle
man by birth, rumored to be an excel
lent scholar,-and he at once offered
private secretary at salary OF t2oo
per annum. The astonished Neville
ct uld not at first believe in his good
fortune, and began to stammer forth
mis- gratitude with trembling lips and
Il oistened eyes, but Errington cut him
short by declaring the whole thing set
tied, and desiring him to enter upon
his duties at once. He was forthwith
installed in his position,-a highly en-
yiable one for man of his dreamy
end meditative turn OF mind. To him,
literature and music were precious as
air and light-he handled the rare vol
umes on the Errington book shelves
with lingering tenderness, and often
pored over some difficult manuscript
or dusty folio till long past midnight,
almost torgetful of his griets in the
enchantment thus engendered Nor
did he lack his supreme comforter, mu-
sic,--there was a fine organ at the
lower end of the long library, and
seated at his beloved instrument, Le
whiled away many an hour.-steeping
his soul in the divine and solemn mel
cdies of Palestrina and Pergolesi, till
the cruel sorrow that had darkened
bis life seemed nothing but bad
dream, and the face of his wife as he
lad first known it, fair, trustful, and
plaintive, foated before his eyes un-
changed. and arousing in him the old
foolish throbbing emotions of rapture
and passion that had gladdened the by
gone days.
He never lost the hope of meeting
Ter again, and from time to time he
renewed his search for her, though all
uselessly-he studied the daily papers
with an almost morbid anxiety lest he
should see the notice of her death
and he would even await the post with
a heart beating more rapidly than
usual, in case there should be some
letter from her imploring forgiveness,
explaining everything and summoning
him once more to her side. He found
true and sympathizing friend in Sir
Philip, to whom he became fondly at
tached,-to satisfy his wishes, 70 for
Wdlu LIS lAlIA'olob W h11ShA W 1890
affairs with punctilious exactitude-all
this gave Neville the supremest hap
piness. He felt some Slight doubt and
anxiety, when he first received the
sudden announcement OF his friends
marriage,-but all forebodings as to
the character and disposition of the
new Lady Bruce Errington fed like
N st before sunshine, when he saw
Thelmas fair face and felt her friend
~ hand-clasp.
Every morning on her way to the
breakfast-room. she would look in at
the door OF his little study, which adj
joined the library. and he learned TO
watch for the first glimmer of her
dress, and to listen for her bright
Good morning. Mr.. Neville!" with
sensation OF keenest pleasure. 1t
vas a sort OF benediction on the whole
day. A proud man he was when she
asked him to give her lessons on the
organ,-and never did he forget the
first time he heard her sing. He was