Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-04-28
SO NEARLY LOST
@
.3y CHARLES GARvIcE

{
! They reached the station in the
early morning, and found a closed
carriage awaiting them.
So secretly had Miss Mazurka
matured her plans that not soul in
the place knew that the visitors for
whom the Void had been prepared
had actually arrived; and as the
young lady, as she passed from the
platform to the carriage, wore thick
veil, the porters did not recognize
Miss Joan Ormsby.
In silence and suppressed excite.
ment the three were driven up the
stately avenue, and the carriage
stopped at the great door.
Old Craddock came out and, with a
timid look at Miss Mazurka, received
them wi h fawning servility.
No servants were drawn up, but a
! footman and a maid conducted the
ladies to drawing-room.
Joan lifted her veil and looked very
proud, with a sense of unhealthy and
| delusion.
! The place was alight with the morn
ing sun, fires burned in the huge
! CRATES, the steps and voices of ser.
wants could be heard in the hall and
corridors, the Void had awakened
from its long sleep
! At last Emily, who had been staring
about her with eyes as wide az
saucers, gave vent to her amazement
and admiration in an awed:
"Oh, and-and this is really yours,
dear?" 8
Eyes, it Is really hers!" said Miss
Mazurka.
"Oh, it's beautiful, lovely, oh,
granJer than anything they put on the
stage even" said Emily, in a hushel
whisper. why, I'm afraid to speak
above my breath! And this all be-
longs to Ida-Joan. | mean! It's like
a dream! Oh, Joan, can't we go and
look over tor do you think the SER
wants will mind?"
Joan smiled rather sadly as she
put her arm round the little waist.
"The servants won't mind, Emily"
she said. Yes, we will go and look
over it."
Mr.. Craddock entered, bowling AMI
scraping.
Breakfast is served, Miss Ormsby,'
he said.
Very WELL" said Joan, quietly, as II
she had been used to such state and
homage all her life, as Emily inwardiy
noted. "We will come directly. Let
us go and look over the house, Emily"
rive done everything, right. I've
carried out your instructions TO the
letter Miss Mazurka," said old Grad
dock, rubbing his hands nervously
and looking up at her from his small,
ferrety eyes. Il hope you will find
everything satisfactory"
Il hope so-for your sake" said
Miss Mazurka, sharply. Yes, so far
you have done your duty But mind,
make one slip and you are LOST"
I'm aware of that" croaked the
old man; land I'm careful: you'll find
me most trustworthy"
And these Olivers-they have no
suspicion of Miss ormsby's real posi-
tion?"
Not the faintest." said Craddock.
coming down. The colonel was here
the other day trying TO pump me, but"
with grin--'I'm dry well when
like, Miss Mazurka. oh, under
stand your little game, beg your
pardon, your admirable scheme, ana
I'm silent as the grave"
"Or prison cell on the silent sys
tenn said Miss Mazurka.
The old man WINGED.
You're not going to be hard on an
old man who has seen the error of
his ways and is doing his best to carry
out your wishes. miss?" he pleaded.
| No, | won't be hard, but I'm not
quite soft either" retorted Miss Ma.
zur'a. Now, you send up to Colonel
Oliver and those two girls and tell
them to come down here in an hours
tima. No, don't send; the servant will
chatter and let something out. Go
/ YOU clf,"
"Vely wei, miss. Trust me. This
1 is a part of the job like" and he
went off with a sinister grin
/ Then the three girls went round the
+ NNN'9N NSNNiNON ~ meat maui. VINO
/ Informed Joan that she had been en-
/ gagged
Emiy's powers of expressing ad,
mtration We're now exhausted, and she
chung to Joan's arm. staring about
her open-eyed and open .mouthed.
ITS all too wonderful" she ex,
claimed, at last, with little sigh. 81
thought only kings and princes lived
in palace like this And il all be-
longs to YOU! shall never get it out
of my head shall dream of 1t for
weeks! oh, if MIR. Giffard could only
see it, what a scene he'd be able to
make"
Joan smiled rather sadly; she did
not appear to take very much pleasure
in the grand old place, ami with
little sigh she said:
Let us so down to breakfast now"
Here again Emily was overwhelmed
by the sight of the rich plate and old
cut glass, which nearly outshone the
silver.
1t was almost impossible to eat in