Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-06-09


more robustly, that such an event
would be good riddance-a saying re-
peated, with the rest of the converse
ton, by the butler Zone William Byles,
still living, to the gratified ears of Mrs.
Smilker in the kitchen.
But I'm not easy about her future.
She's an odd child, and looks it."
"Pretty?' This from Mr.. Pindar.
"Well, don't know. Striking look
ing, you'd rather say perhaps. Mr.. Pin
dar."
LET her go her own way. We've
- talked quite enough
49, ~ about her." Lady Meg
~ TeNIi sounded decisive and
kz3fkEN not little bored.
S1N1 "And them" Mrs.
@U Brownlow made bold to
", go on for a moment,
NWWA. such a funny mark!
' WXI Many people wouldn't
=: !; !: !: :; :::
What mark?"
. ... "a mark on her face,
q,c@t g' bu you know. A round red
the butler to mark"
the 0rattfcd big as threepenny
ears of Mrs. bit, pretty nearly" said
Smhker. the squire.
"Where?"
ION her cheek"
where is the girl ?" asked Lady Meg.
Her whole demeanor had changed, her
bored air had vanished. "She seemed
fair excited" Mr.. Byles reports. Then
she turned to the said Byles: Find out
where that girl is, and let me know.
Don't tell her anything about it. I'll
go to her"
But let me send for her, began the
squire courteously.
mo; give me my own way. don't
want her frightened"
The squire gave the orders she de-
sired, and the last Mr.. Byles heard as
he left the room was from Lady Meg:
Marks like that always mean some
thing-eh. Pindar?"
No doubt Mr.. Pindar agreed, but his
reply is lost.
The girls in the avenue had made
their plan. Sophy would not bow her
head to Mrs. Smilker nor longer eat
the bread of benevolence embittered by
servitude. She would go with Julia.
She, too, would tread the boards If only
she could get her feet on them. And
when did any girl seriously doubt her
ability to do that7 The pair We're gay
and laughing when suddenly through
the gate came Lady Meg and the
spaniels. Lady Meg ahead as usual and
with purposeful air.
"Who are they!" cried Sophy.
Hazleby is but twelve miles from
Morpingham. Julia had been over to
see the big house and had sighted
Lady Meg in the garden.
TITS Lady Margaret puddington."
she whispered. rather in a fright
There was time for no more. Lady
Meg was upon them. Sophy was iden-
tilted by her dress and. to Lady Meg's
devouring eyes, by the mark.
you're the girl who's been behaving
so badly?" she said.
Seeing no profit in arguing the merits,
Sophy answered yes"
AT this point Julia observed one old
gentleman nudge the other and whisper
something. 1t is morally certain that
pindar whispered to Pixies, ''Percival's
grill"
"You seem to like your own way.
| What are you going to do-say you're
sorry?"
mo. I'm not sorry. I'm going
away"
"Come here, girl. Let me look at
you"
Sophy obeyed, walking up to Lady
Meg and fixing her eyes OH her face.
She was interested, not frightened, as
1t seemed. Lady Meg looked long at
her.
"Going away? Where to-"
Julia spoke up. "She's coming with
me, please, Lady Margaret" Julia, 1t
would seem. was a little frightened.
/ ''Who are you?"
@s:Julia Robins. Ny mother lives
| iheEe,a3' She pointed to WoodDine cot
tage, "I-lm Oh the stage
Lord help YOUR remarked Lady
Meg disconcertingly.
Not at allv' protested julia, her
! meaning plain, her expression of 1t