Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-09-13

presents poured in to an extent that
caused the hall porter some embarras.
ment, and Olivia received both con
gratulations and presents with a man
ner which, though all her dear friends
agreed in declaring it perfect, rather
puzzled them.
IF she had been married for a year
intead of only going to be, she could
not take it more coolly," said Mary to
her sister, as they drove from the
Grange after their visit. II can't
make the darling out. Did you notice
how pale she was, and howl don't
know how to describe it-how dis
| traite? | hope | shan't look like her
few days after my engagement. DO
you think she really loves him, Annie :?
it is SO unexpected isn't it? |
wouldn't breathe word of doubt
about our darling Olivia, but there
was BERTHE Granville, for instance-so
handsome and nice, and he loved her
to distraction. Anyone could see that.
Oh, wish she were going to marry
him, now
Don't be silly" retorted Annie.
why should she marry Mr. Bradstone
if she doesn't want to? You don't
suppose that it was for his money
she, the squire's only daughter and
heiress"
And this argument of Annie's was
put forward throughout the country
whenever anyone expressed astonish-
ment that Mr.. BARLEY Bradstone
should have carried off the prize which
so many had coveted, or ventured to
suggest that his money had something
to do with his success. Why should
she, the daughter of the wealthy
Squire of Hardwood, want to marry
money? And this argument was al
ways found unanswerable.
Mr.. BARLEY Bradstone bore himself
very modestly, considering the great
ness of his victory. He was a little
louder in his speech, perhaps, and
there was look of citation in his
small eyes which was pardonable in
man who had snatched the Rose of
Hardwood before the envious eyes of
far better men than himself; but his
speech toned down and his look of ella
ton diminished when he was in the
presence of his betrothed.
He went to the Grange every day,
and nearly every day he and Olivia
nfs
panied by Aunt Amelia or one or
sometimes both of the Penstone girls,
and though Olivia was always cheerful
and pleasant with him, it was a cold
kind Of cheerfulness, forced sort Of
pleasantness. The paleness which
Mary had remarked had not disap-
peared, and there had come into the
dark eyes a faraway look, which might
represent the quiet JOY of an engaged
girl but was rather sad and unsatis-
factory for the man who loved her.
And he did love her, more deeply and
intensely each day, with an absorption
which only the truly selfish man who
has set his heart upon gaining an OBJ
ject is capable of
Three or four times a week he dined
at the Grange, his place as was his
right, beside Olivia, and all through
the dinner she sat and listened when
he spoke, and answered when a reply
was necessary, with the same far-away
look in her eyes, the same pallor on
her cheeks.
One evening after dinner, when the
squire and Dradstone had come into
the drawing-room for their tea, which
Miss Amelia was dispensing with
mods and becks and wreathed smiles,
that lady said suddenly:
"Oh, Edwin, what is this | hear
about dear BERTHE? Is it true it
can't be true-that he has gone off
suddenly to Australia to shoot lions?"
Olivia was sitting on a low chair be-
her lap, page downwards, her eyes
fixed on the tall elms that lined the
drive For a second a warm flush
rose to her face, but for a second only,
and her gaze did not falter
II shouldn't think it could be true"
replied the squire, dryly, seeing that
1t is impossible"
There are no lions in Australia,
unfortunately, Miss Vanley," ex-
planned BARLEY Bradstone as he car
ried the cup of tea TO Olivia.
mo? Really? How interesting.
You are always so we'll informed, Bart-
ley. But is it true that ne has gone
off to some other dreadful place among
Wild beasts and savages?" she per-
sisted-for to Miss Amelia the whole
earth beyond. say, Italy and France.
was a ravening wilderness.
"He has gone out on hunting and
shooting expedition, yes said the
squire, absently.
Now | do call that so stupid" ex-
claimed Miss Amelia. why on earth
couldn't he be satisfied to remain at
home? Why did he go, do YOU know?