Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-11-18

nice TO see the same faces, to heaI
the same good wishes and to lister
to the same dear old songs. Mamma
I like Christmas; l think people are
all the kinder and better for it, and if
it were not for the cold and the snow,
| and the poor people VINO feel them so
bitterly, l should say that it was the
happiest time of the year"
The carriage assembled the road
| which winds around the park and
/ leads to the house.
Yes" said Mrs. Newton, with a
stif1ed yawn-she was not interested
in family parties, or the condition of
the poor.
at this point of the drive glimpse
"a very faint one only-could be OBJ
tanned OF the hut. Stella caught It.
and said, thoughtfully:
Il wonder no one comes to claim
that pretty old pIace-it is just the
sort Of house I should like for ny
own. Fancy fire cleaning through
the windows, bright faces and happy
voices laughing around the ivy and
| the laurels. Have they never found out
to whom it belongs?"
Never, that I know Of" answered
Mrs. Newton. ct is in chancery, or
some legal difficulty, l think, but
know nothing about it, Or anyone else
I wish we could have bought it; it is
a great nuisance stuck there at the
end of the park, and in such dis
graceful state of i'll repair. I should
have thought dear Lord Hawthorne
could have ordered it to be pulled
down. 1t is on his manor"
ooh, not for the worlds" said Stella
with smile. ut is the foundation
for all my castles in the air; do you
know mamma, ] love the old place
and can't help thinking, notwith,
standing it has so little romance, that
there is some strange interest at,
taching to it. I would not have il
pulled down for worIds!"
you are a strange girl, Stella,
| said Mrs. Newton, peevishIy. 81 don
know where you get your whims and
fancies from-nOt from me, I'm sure
for | was always a sensible woman
I'm glad we are home again, for I'm
frozen"
And with little ill-tempered shiveI
the wealthy Mrs. Newton descended
by the help of the footman and
climbed the stone steps haughtiIy.
Stella leaped from the carriage, and
followed her mamma with spri12
that was almost leap.
Today she felt, now that she wa
miles away from Richard Wildfang
free, buoyant and happy.
She entered the drawing-TOom, sing
ing as blithely as a bird escaped from
its cage.
Her mother could not understand
her, and after staring at her minute
went off haughtily to her own room.
| 1t was beautiful day; she felt full Of
energy and high spirits. Why should
| she not go for a walk?
Luncheon was on the table, it was
| true, and that, like all other meals
over which Mrs. Newton presided.
must be gone through with all proper
formality and sOlemnity.
For once Mrs. Newton sent word
down by her maid that Stella need not
wait, and the happy girl, still singing.
| cut herself a crust of bread and
cheese and ate them with the appetite
of schOolboy.
Verify, the beautiful Miss Newton of
London notoriety, was different per,
son to Stella Newton alone and unsur-
rounded by beaus at the Vale.
A glass of water-there were three
varieties of wine upon. the tabIe-ac-
companied the frugal repast, and she
arose again ready for her walk
Slipping On her hat and sealskin,
she took up her muff and trotted off.
Alas! the fates nearly prevented
that momentOus walk.
my dear Stella" said Mrs. New.
toms querulous voice from the stairs,
you are surely not going out again,
and without your usual luncheon?"
To be continued.