Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-07-26

late, almost startled her.
who is in the drawingroom?"
she asked of the butler.
The squire, miss, and Mr.. Fara-
deane of The Dell" he replied.
Olivia stopped short with a sudden
throb Of her heart that sent the
blood TO her face and she bent down
and gathered the skirt Of her habit
she had just come in from a gal
| lop--to hide II.
Mr.. Faradeane, the new gentle
man, miss" said the butler, and he
| moved towards the door as If to
open it for her, but Olivia shook her
| head
mo, am not going in" she said,
and went quickly upstairs AS she
| did so the drawingroom door opened,
and she heard the squire say in his
most genial tone--the tone which in
| dicated that he was peculiarly well
pleased, You must let me show you
around the old place, Mr.. Faradeane,"
and she paused and listened for the
grave, musical voice replying in the
affirmative; then leaning over the
old oak balustrade, looked down at
them as they passed out, with
strange expression on her lovely face
an expression which it had never
yet worn for any man she had seen!
The squire and Mr.. Faradeane
made their way round the grounds,
and presently, as If unconsciously,
the elder man linked his arm with
thai of the younger, an action very
unusual with the squire, and one
sion his visitor had made upon him.
1T is q very beautiful place" sAid
Mr. Faradeane, when they had made
the round of the howergardens and
lawns, and looked in al the great,
walled garden with its hundreds of
peach and nectarine trees, and at
the long length q! greenhouses in
which the gardener grew the choice
flowers which would, if he had en-
tered them, have taken the first prize
at all the local shows, "a very beau
,1ful place; | think 1t would be sim
full not to be proud of 1t, Mr.. Van
ley"
The squire looked at him with a
nod Of appreciation, then suddenly
his face clouded, and he stiaed a
sigh.
There is plenty of room for inn
provement," he said, as if to account
for the sigh.
There always u.s." said Faradeane.
Fortunately no place is perfecl-we
should tire Of 1t very soon If it
were Don't you think a plantation
on that rise TO. the left Of the lawn
would be a good thing?
The squire nodded.
Yes" he said, moodily. Yes
but 1t would cost" He stopped
and glanced at the handsome face
quickly. I'm afraid you think
must be very niggardly TO grudge a
few hundreds for so evident an i'm
provement but"
He paused; and Faradeane, with
the tact which seemed so easy when
he chose to display It, said
IN these days no man has too
much money"
THAT Is true" assented the squire,
as If glad of the excuse so pleasant
ly offered. quite true these are
hard times for us landlords every
where"
Indeed they are" acqulesced Far
adeane.
The squire looked at him.
Are you one of the fortunate army
Of landowners he inquired
Faradeane paused for half a sec
ond, then he laughed. -" 49,.
you forget that ! am the owner
of The Dell and quite half an acre of
land! And that reminds ME that
must be going. Thank you very
much, Mr.. Vanley,"
The squire shook the strong,
shapely hand warmly, and stood for
a moment looking after the tall,
patrician figure as it made its way
with strong, easy stride across the
grass; then he went back to the
house with grave, wistful face
Perhaps he was wishing that Heaven
had given him such son as
brother to his precious Olivia; or,
perhaps he was thinking of the plan,
tation and the hard times which
made the expenditure of the few
hundreds not only difficult, but inn
possible.
Olivia was standing at the door
waiting for him.
You have had a visitor, papa"
she said, quietly, and in the tone
one uses when one has rehearsed a
speech--.almost too careless and in
different.
Yes, yes" he said MIR. Fara-
deane. He has just gone am
sorry you were not in to see him"
Was he worth seeing, them"
said olivia. still too carelessly.
He is one of the most cultivated
men | have ever met" replied the
squire. warmly and emphaucally.