Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-08-30

said in low voice. Yes, 1t is a
nice shawl, isn't It! 1t is one Of dear
Miss Olivia's. She brought it down to
me this morning, and put it around
me with her own, dear hands"
His own hands fell from the shawl,
and his eyes dropped.
- THAT was kind of her. he said, al
most coldly.
Kind Why, she Is all kindness,
she and you, Mr., Faradeane"
He smiled absently.
I'm afraid I'm made of something
moro than that, Bessie. And Miss
Vanley has been here, has she? Has
she gone back to the house?"
NO" said Bessie, gravely. She
said she was going into the Spinney--
the wood, you know, sir"
She paused a moment, looking visit
fully at him, and with the quick tut
ton which was never-ceasing sub
ject of Besse's admiration, he said:
well, BessieT
She colored, and plucked at the
fringe Of the shawl.
Il don't think she was quite happy
| this morning, Mr.. Faradeane."
mot happy!" he said, slowly.
WHY"
We'll, ! think, ! am sure she had
been crying. She was 50 pale an +
and sad. And besides," naively, Il
know for certain she had been crying,
because she smiled and tried to laugh !,
and ! could--coud-.
Hear the tears in her voice." he
said more to himself than the girl.
Bessie nodded quickly.
Yes, that's the words, sir; and It
seems $3.50 dreadful to me that Miss
olivia should have any trouble; It's
just as If an angel were to cry" and
her own eyes grew dim.
81 understand" he said. He stood
| for moment looking down at the
path, and niclting his leg with has rid
ing-whip, then he said, And Miss Van
| ley went to the wood. BessieY
Yes, sir" she replied; land oh, M.
Faradeane, II you-.'
She stopped abashed.
"Well2' he asked, with faint smile.
Il was going to say, only Pm afraid,
II you'd only so and find her and talk
to her She thinks so much of you
She stopped again, for the smile had
suddenly vanished from his face.
That's nonsense, Bessie" he said.
But as It happens, | want to see Miss
Vanley, and III go and find her"
yes, sir" said the girl, humbly.
"Are-are you angry with me?" and
her lips quiyered piteously.
He exclaimed, reassuringly, and he
p0ttod her arm under the thick shawl.
why should | be angry? But"-he
paused almost mperceptibly-"but
YOU must not talk such nonsense as
that Miss Vanley thinks much or at all
OF me"
But she does!" interrupted Bessie,
eagerly. IF you only heard her
- mustn't hear you any longer, you
foolish child, or shall miss Miss Van
Icy"
And with another gentle and-to
Bessie---forglving touch, he turned and
rode towards the wood.
All through the night Olivia had
lain awake, tossing to and fro, like u
soul struggling in chains. The scene
with llnrt Law maidstone O,
hideous dream, from which, try as
she would, she could not awake.
That he should have da ed to tell
her that he loved her, have asked her
to be his wife was torture enough to
her proud, maiden spirit; but that her
father should be in his tolls, and his
| happiness and even life-for she knew
that BARLEY Bradstone spoke only the
truth when he said that to leave the
Grange would mean death to the
squire--was an agony almost insup.
portable.
At any time in the past the Flea OF
accepting him would have been repug-
nant; but now, since the last few
days, she shrank from the prospect
with an absolute loathing. She rose,
pale and weakened, bewildered; she
felt she could not meet her father that
morning. She dreaded to hear even
BARLEY Bradstone's name. And vet
what escape was there for her? II
what he said We're true, he held her
in an iron thrall For her father she
would sacrifice anything-life itself
But she must have time to think, time
to realize the awful ordeal through
which she must pass; time to learn
how to school her voice and conceal
the agony that racked her.
Taking up her hat, and telling the
footman that her father was not &c
wait breakfast for her, she went out
caring nothing about the direction she
should take, and after leaving Bessi,
she wandered aimlessly on to the
woods and threw herself down on The
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