Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-07-21
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ".
In large solitary room, sitting
by window that took in the mag
niticent vista of park, grounds and
woods comprising Darrell castle es-
tate, was young girl.
| She wore dress of soft grey made
very simple, fitting her young body
to perfection with its clinging folds.
Her hair of pale gold was gathered
in a large knot at the back of her
small, well-shaped head.
| Her skin was pure white, like the
| lily or the naricissus in its waXen
purity; her eyes, framed with long,
dark lashes, shone like great lustrous
grey stars in their ivory setting
She had book open on her knee,
yet it did not seem to attract her
much; her gaze was bent out of the
window across the country scene at
the moving trees scattering their
! shrivelled brown leaves with every
passing gust.
1t was Margaret, Lady Darrell.
~ SlSh SoShpSu hSI ups Sit sat
silent, but she moved not, The room
seemed to strike the beholder as
gloomy and lonely; even the freight
failed to light up its solitude.
The furniture and hangings were
rich, but their tone was sombre and
spoke Of bygone fashion. The girl
alone was young and fresh. She
locked strangely beautiful in her
dark setting.
The door opened and a maid en-
tered bearing a lamp
What is the time, Davis?" asked
Lady Darrell, waking from her
thoughts.
Nigh half-past five, my lady"
How dark; 1t is almost night"
The young figure left the window.
"Will you ring, my lady, when you
want me?"
Yes"
The maid went slowly from the
room, and her young mistress walked
towards the fire. Her face was sub
dued and her eyes gazed into the
glowing Goals quietly, almost sadly.
1.-TWO months" she murmured; "it
seems two years. And | the same
flesh and blood as the girl who two
months ago was in rags and worked
on the farm like the plo1ghboys? 1t
seems like dream! Perhaps | shall
wake some day and find myself back
on the farm-fnd all this gloomy
splendor melted into mist, and hear
Aunt Martha's voice scolding me as
she used to do"
She moved from the fire, and walked
up and down the room swiftly.
a wonder il should be happier If
woke to find 1t all a dream-to be
back once more in the old life? No
no; could not do it, And yet"--she
stopped-''it is terribly lonely here.
All is so grand; but l grow Oppressed
with l.. II only his mother would
speak to me kindly. She Is always
so cold and courteous But l know
she scorns me in her heart. She
loves Valerie Ross. She should have
been his wife not a farm-girl. low
born, like me- Alchemy Lady
Alice, the name condemns me- It
will cling to me forever. And he
what does he think Of me now? All
danger is gone, and he only re-
members he rs tied to me forever--tied
to plebian, whose very presence
drives him from his home"
She paused, her lips compressed as
II with pain; then, with a sigh, she
drew chair to the table and took up
book
She was bordering over the word
thoughtfully, when tap came TO the
door.
Come in" she said absently.
The door opened, and woman ad
vanced into the room--a tall e1eganl
figure in robes OF trailing black satin,
cut low round the snowy shoulders,
On the masses Of red-brown hair
cleaned stars Of rubies and diamonds:
a slender chain supported glowing
star OF the same jewels round the
swan-like throat
1t was Valerie Ross. She came In,
drawing on her long tan gloves slow
ly, Her face was pale, but her eyes
flashed dark and glorious, and there
was strange, half-contemptuous
smile on her lips.
My Lady Alice" she observed
playfully, still buried In your books
What a store Of learning will be In
that pretty golden head when your
lord returns"
Alice flushed.
Il was not studying. was read
ing for amusement"
Valerie walked TO the window with |
her swift, graceful carriage. This cur
tains were still undrawn, and out in !
the darkness the trees seemed like |
moving phantomE.
To he continued