Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-09-15
CHAPTER XVIII.


It was Una's first night in London.
Weary as she was she could not find
sleep; the dull roar of the great city
which those who are used to take no
heed of--rang In her ears and kept
her awake. Her brain was busy too;
and even as she closed her eyes the
endless questions, which the strange
events Of the day had given birth to-,
pursued and tormented her. She
could scarcely realize that she had
left Warden Forest, that she was here
in London, the place of her most ardent
dreams! And then how singular,
hoy mysterious was that coincidence
which had brought 1t about.
Until Jack Newcombe, the young
stranger, had come to Warden, she had
never heard the name of Dayenant,
and it did not require much effort to
recall anything Jack had said, for
every word was craven on her heart
and it had seemed to her as If he had
implied that he was not as good as he
was supposed to be.
She herself, as she lay, her beauti-
full head pillowed on her round white
arm, was conscious of a strange feel
ing which had taken possession Of her
In Stephens presence-not of dislike,
but something of doubt, something also
of vague fear,
And yet he could not but be good
and generous, for was II not to him
that she owed all that had happened
to her? And did not his mother, the
timid, gentle woman who had already
won Una's heart, speak of him as great
and good?
Alas and faint flush stole over her
cheek, and long sigh stole from her
lips-alas, 1t was that other-Jacll
Newcombe-whow was bad it was he
whom she was to avoid.
And SO, Notwithstanding that she
was in the very city of her dreams,
she fell asleep with a vague sadness
in her heart.
Quiet as Wilmington Square is, the
noise of the market carts passing to
Covent Garden awoke her soon after
dawn.
She looked round with a stare of
amazement as her eyes fell upon the
dainty room, with its costly furniture
and rich hangings, and listened for a
moment, as II expecting to hear tho
rustic Of the great oaks which sur
rounded the cottage at Warden; then
She remembered the change that had
befallen her, and springing ont of bed,
ran to the window.
All the square was asleep; the
blinds We're closely drawn IN all the
houses, and only the birds on the trees
seemed thoroughly awake
She could hear the market carts
mmblng in the great thoroughfare be.
yond, and as she had gone asleep
with the rattle of wheels in her ears,
she asked herself, wonderingIy:
Does London aever rest
She remembered that Mrs. Daven.
ant had showed her bathroom com
by door from her own
room and then-wth her cold water
was as necessary as air--went and
had her bath; thea she dressed her
sci f,and, opening her door, went
downstairs.
10 her Amusement all the house
seemed wrapped in slumber
At home, at the cottage at Warden
Gideon and all of them were up with
the lark and life began with the morn
ire sun,
She stole into the drawihg.room, and,
the shutters with some lit
tie difficulty, opened the window and
leaned out to breathe the fresh air.
but II seemed as If the air was asleep,
too. or, in its journey from the country,
had lost itself in the maze of houses,
and failed to reach Wilmington
Square.
Una looked ont dreamily, wondering
who and what sort of people lived In
the huge blocks of dwellings that sur,
rounded her. and wondered, family
whether she could be looking at the
spot where Jack Newcombe dwelt.
She could not guess that Jack had
not come back from Hurst Leigh yet,
hut was waiting for the squre's fn
neral
Instinctiyely she turned to the table
and took up the album and went back
10 the window with the book open at
the page which contained Jacks por
trait
How beautiful the face was, And
vet. she thought. with warm glow IN