Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-08-25

sight OF streets thronged with people
and with commingled alarm and
curiosit. wondered what had hap.
pened to draw them all together so.
She would not ask Mrs. Dayenant
for wearied by her double journey, she
was leaning back with closed eyes.
Suddenly the train topped-stopped
amidst the noise and confusion of a
large termnus-Mrs. Davenant woke,
porter came TO the door, received
instructions as TO the luggage and
handed them out.
Notwithstanding her resolution, Una
felt herself turning pale.
! From Warden Forest to London
railway station.
Keep close to me, dear" said Mrs.
! Davenant, who seemed only nervous
and helpless in her sons presence.
Come, there Is cab"
In silence Una followed. Men--and
women. too,-turned to look at the
tall, graceful figure in it's plain white
dress. and stared at the lovely face,
with its half-frightened, half-curious,
downcast eyes, and Una felt the eyes
fixed on her.
"Why-why do they look at me so?'
she asked, when they had entered the
cab.
Mrs. Davenant regarded her with a
smile. and evaded the frank, open
eyes. Was it possible that the girl
was ignorant of her marvellous beauty?
people in London always stare, my
dear Una" she replied, land they see
that you are strange"
'It is my dress" said Una who had
been looking out of the window at
some of the fashionably-attired ladies'
ct is different to theirs. See--look al
that lady. why does she wear so
long dress? she has to hold it up
with one hand
1T is your dress, no doubt, my
dear" she said, I'VE must alter ii
when we get home"
The cab rolled into the street and
Una was rendered speechless.
But for her resolve she would have
shrank back into the farthest corner
of the cab The number of people, the
noise. alarmed her, and yet she felt
fascinated
! Were all the people mad that they
pre-occupied faces. She had never
seen her father hurry unless he haa
cut down a tree that had been struck
by lightning, and which might injure
others In its fall unless cut down with
greatest care.
Presently they passed into one OF
the leading thoroughfares, already Ii,
up, its shops cleaning brightly with
the gaslight, it's ceaseless line OF
cabs, and omnibuses, and carriages
: At last, when her eyes were weary
with looking, she murmured: This
this-is the world then at last"
yes" said Mrs Devenant, with a
sigh. This is the world, Una!"
And are those palaces" asked
| Una, as they passed through the West
| END streets and squares.
No" said Mrs. Davenant; they are
only houses, in which rich people
dwell, as you would call It,"
| And the trees! Are there no
trees?" asked Una, with, for the first
time. a sigh.
4 mot here. dear There are some in
the parks; some even in the middle Of
the city itself. You will miss your
| trees, Una"
YES, shall miss my trees. Blu,
this-this world seems so large; !
thought that
I We'll" said Mrs Davenant, amused
with her bewildement
Il thought that people in the world
knew each other; but that is i'm.
possible"
And she sighed, as she thought that.
after ALL now that she was in The
world, she was no nearer that one
being who, for her, was the principal
person in It,
Very few people know each other,
Una, It's big world this London. |
wonder whether you will be happy"
Una turned to her with look upon
her face that would have melted a
stemer heart than Mrs. Davenant's.
Il shall be happy If you will love
me-" she said.
Something in the frank, simple re-
ply made Mrs. Davenant tremble.
What had she undertaken in the
charge of this simple, pure-hearted
girl. whose beauty caused people to
turn and stare at her, and whose in
aocence was that of child?
Through miles and miles of streets,
ms 1t seemed to Una, the cab made Its
slow. rumhling way; houses that were
palaces in her eyes, fitted past; and
at last they stopped before palace
as it seemed to Una. In a quiet square.
The door of the house opened, and a
servant came out and opened the cab
door
In silent wonderment Una entered
the hall, lit with its gas-lamps and
uned with flowers, and followed Mrs.
~ I,,IA NrI,o rAO1lN. %