Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-05-31
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mef, as Lne poets call III anu one VI
those charming east winds which
render England such delightful
place OF residence for the delicate
and consumptive. and are truly q
boon and a blessing to the doctors
and undertakers, was blowing gaily
through one OF the lovely villages oil
Devonshire, and insidiously stealing
through the half-opened french win
dows of the drawing-room OF Hawk
wood Grange.
Three persons were seated In this
drawjngroom An old gentleman, a
lady--who would have had a fit on
the spot If anyone had called her old
and a young girl
The old gentleman was called
Sparrow--Mr Sparrow, the solicitor
of Wainford, the market town and
borough three miles of. The old
the middle-aged and would.be youth,
ful--lady was Miss Amelia Vanley
the maiden sister of the master OF
Hardwood Grange; and the young
lady was Olivia Vanley, his daugh.
ter, and, therefore, Miss Amelia's
niece.
Miss Amelia was presiding at the
five o'clock tea-table; Mr.. Sparrow
was performing the difficult feat OF
balancing teacup In one hand and a
bread-and-butte plate in the other;
and Olivia was seated at the plano
which she occasionally touched alb
sently as she half-listened to the
other two, On chair beside her
was sealslin jacket--there had
been snow on this merry" May
morning, If you please-and she still
wore her hat
Above the plano hung one of those
old.fashloned circular mirrors which
reflect the face and bust of the
player, and II presented face which
was beautiful, and something more
than beautiful.
We have lost our climate and our
trade-so 1t is said-but thank
heaven there are still pretty girls left
In England, When they disappear,
Il will be time for us to put up the
shutters and vaoate the island; but
until that happens 1t will still be
worth living In.
To be consistent with her name
Olivia should have been of darl,
and olive complexion; but the only
things dark In the lovely face were
the hazel eyes Her hair was an
g.,I, oh. "a. t,l. ID
olds loved to paint; with eyebrows to
match, mouth rather large" as Miss
Amelia declared-she possessed, and
was exceedingly proud of, one of the
well-known speaking.doll pattern-but
as expressive as the eyes. Face and
figure were eloquent of youth and per
feet health and her voice was full OF
that music which youth and health
and womanly refinement and delicacy
combine to give.
The Grange was the principal house
In Hardwood and the room was q
very fair specimen Of the drawing
rooms In n modern, country mansion
Mr. Sparrow was speaking, and his
Nh'Hi piFihk Nbi'' NlliDltN III not us
oordantly with the treble notes which
Olivias hand now and again touched
There is-er--something OF a mys
terry about It, and l-er-dislike mys
teries, Miss Amelia"
DO YOU really?" responded Miss
Amelia, with a girlish shipper. Now
love mystery, Mr.. Sparrow. but
then we poor women are so fond OF
romance and-and all that We have
the softer, the more poetic nature.
suppose. You men are so hardw And
she stuck her head very much on one
side at the tamelooking old lawyer
who Strengthened himself as well as
he was able under the disadvantage OF
the tea'cup and plate, and tried to
look as If he were indeed hard and
practical And you do think there
f. a mystery, How charming, You
really must tell us all about It: we
are dying to hear the whole-thp
whole story. Aren't we, Olivia?"
The young girl gave the very faint
est inclination of her head by way OF
response. and silently pressed dowr
chord
There's not much to tell, ms q
matter of fact" said Mr. Sparrow
with the little cough with which old
gentlemen preface story they are
anxious to relate. Last Friday my
clerk came into my room and sale
that gentleman wished to see me
He gave the name of Faradeane"
"Faradeane, Dear me, how
strange. really" murmured Mis-
Amelia, who would have made the
same comment II the name had beer
Smith.
Yes, Faradeane, II was quite un
known to me- continued Mr.. Spar
row, "and the gentleman was quite al
unknown, lie was young man an,
and gentleman. There can be NJ
doubt about that l--er-think
know gentleman when | see him
Miss Amelia