Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-09-26
CHAPTER Xxx.

At nine O'Clock the next evening
the quiet-looking green brougham
came round to the door, and took
them rapi&y to Park Lane.
Una had already grown almost weary
of staring out of the carriage wind
ow, but her wonder and interest re-
vived as she saw in the dusky twilight
the green trees and flowers in the
most beautiful park in the world, and
amazed at the magnificent buildings
past which they rolled.
Presently the brougham drew up at
corner house facing the park; an
awning was suspended from the gate
way to the pavement, and three foot
men in splendid liveries, which she
recognized as those she had seen worn
by the servants attending Lady
Bells carriage, were standing to re-
ceive the guests; one of them opened
the brougham door and escorted them
into the hall, which seemed to Una,
with it's flowers and mirrors, it's rich
hangings and statues, fairy palace,
and was about to usher them into the
drawing-room, when, upon hearing
Mrs Davenant's name, he bowed, and
took them into a small room at the
side, which was Lady Bells boudoir.
81 will tell her ladyship,'" he said.
Una had scarcel time to take in the
exquisite beauty of the room, with it's
antique furniture and costly knick-
nacks, when the door opened and Lady
Bell entered. She was exquisitely
dressed; diamonds-the diamonds Una
had seen at the jeweler' glittering in
her hair and on her neck and on her
arms, and seemed to Una like some
vision which at breath would vanish
and leave the room to it's subdued
twilight again.
With outstretched hands she came
toward them, with her eyes dancing
and her cheeks flushed.
"You have kept your word and
brought my wild bird! I knew you
would come" and she took hand of
each, but suddenly reached up and
kissed Una. yes, l felt that you
would come, but it is good of you all
the same, and to show you that | am
grateful l will let you go at once,
this minute, dear Mrs. Davenant!"
Mrs. Davenant looked relieved.
THANK you! thank you, Lady Bell!"
she said "You-you-"
"Will take care of your bird. Yes,
that / will You may trust her to
me; not feather shall be ruffied."
Mrs. Davenant murmured some
thing about the time she would come
for her, and then with a timid look
from one to the other was gone.
"And now," said Lady Bell, "let me
look at you," as if she had not been
doing so ever since she entered the
room. "My dear, my dear, you are
---" she stopped short. "No, I'll not
be the first to teach you vanity. But
tell me, do you ever look in your glass,
Miss Rolfe-Miss Rolfe, | don't like
that name, mean between you and
me. My name is Bell, and yours is"
mine is Una
Una! That is delightful And have
you your lion, Where is hep
Una had never read the story of
"Una and the Lion" and looked calmly
puzzled.
''WeIl, if you have not one already,
you soon will have. You don't under
stand me. l am glad of that. But
will you come now? This is very,
very quiet little party, but you may
be amused And I will keep you by
my side all the evening Gomez and
she drew Una's arm through her own
white one and led her through the cor
ridor into the ballroom.
1t was not a large room. Lady Bell
detested huge and crowded assemblies
too much to permit them at her own
house, but it was, as ballroom, per-
feet. There was light, and just
enough light, to show the tasteful mag
nificence of the decorations, and moth
ing of that fearful glare from innumer-
able lights, and their reflections in
huge mirrors, which make most ball
rooms so trying and unbearable. The
band had just commenced as they en-
tered, and the whole scene, the beauti-
full room with it's soft draperies Of
L 0ldu uSuudSh, C1S NS1SCIdu
the rich dresses of the ladies, and the
sou1-mOving strains of the best band
in London, for the moment overawed
and startled the girl fresh from the
primeval forest.
For a moment her eyes dilated al
most with fear, and she unconsciously
drew back, but Lady Bell, with a gen
tie p1 assure of the arm, drew her for
ward, and skillfully avoiding the dane
ers, took her to the further end of the
room, where, in a recess lined with
ferns and tropical plants, were arrang-
ed some seats so placed as to be al
most hidden from the room, while they
allowed the sitter a full view of it.
Lady Bell drew a fauteuil still
further into the recess, and playfully
forced Una into it.
There, my wild bird, is your cage
You can see all the world without be-