Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-11-25
Continued.

COu IluuEus
Il have had my lunch, replied the
girl, and l will not go far, mamma;
it is too beautiful day to stop in
doors"
We'll, don't know what you want
to 90 out again so soon for; but il you
must you must, 1 suppose. DO not
leave the grounds"
Very well, mamma" returned the
girl dutfuIIy, and away she tripped.
At that part Of the carriage drive,
where the footpaths branch on either
side-one to the village of HeaVi-
thorne and one to the park-she hes
itatCd.
(Which way shall l go?' she asked
herself. on, | forgot, l mustn't leave
the grounds. Poor mamma, she will
never remember that | am no longer a
child. Well at least her mandate has
saved me the trouble Of deciding. So
the park is decreed," and with a
happy smile she turned to the right
Very beautiful was the park, with
King tTOsts diamonds sparkling In
in hedge and tree, and his white err
mine robe spread on the wide-stretch-
ing meadows.
"Oh, lovely murmured the girl,
with all a woman's love for nature.
Lovely; it's like some grand carving
i'm marble!"
All! the word brought to her re-
membrance that sea nymph with it's
strange resemblance.
A flush mounted to her face which
heightened her beauty and she went
along more thoughtruIIy than before.
The end of the park was reached.
She had walked fast, was a little
out of breath, and to rest herself
leaned her elbows on the broken
gate, and, resting her welI-poised
head upon her hands, looked long and
dreamiIy at the ruined house.
Suddenly a step upon the frosty
path beside her awoke her from her
rcyerie.
She started, turned quickly around
and stared, yes, positively stared.
There before her was the face
which she knew so well, though she
had seen it but once, and then only
for & moment.
The gentleman raised his hat with a
graceful reverence that was well bred,
though it had nothing of the supercil-
iOus compOsure of the fashionable
salutation and said, in a low, clear
and subtIy sweet voice:
Madam, I pray your pardon. I fear
/ have frightened you
Stella flushed, lowered her eyes
from his face, and answered, slowly:
No, at least not much l did not |
know anyone was so near"
Nor l." returned the stranger, "un-
til few minutes since l confess that
when l saw you I did not like to move
for fear of startling you"
Stella inclined her head again.
The stranger, whose eyes seemed |
as much drawn 20 hers as hers to his, |
raised his hat and passed on. Sudden |
ly he turned again.
Can you tell me to whom this |
place belongs?"
As he had not indicated either the !
path or the hill, Stella answered for
both, still slowly and with a strange |
sort of embarrassment that strove in |
vain to conceal itself.
This is the Vale Park and belongs |
to Mrs. Newton"
The stranger bowed
And this old house is called the |
Hut though its proper name is Heavi.
thorne." sal
The stranger inclined his head
again.
There was in his look. in his voice.
in his very attitude, so visible a re
spect and reverence for her sex and
herself in particular that Miss Newton
was not affronted when he continued
the conversation.
1T is an old place as you say. IN /
ruins. Do you know why its owner
does not keep it in repair?"
Stella shook her head.
No one knows the owner. or where
he IS to be found. Poor old nace. if
Is nearly to the ground"
you admire it. ma'am?' he asked
raising one hand-it was ungloved and
pink with the cold. though Stella
could see that it was Of good shape
and white from something less than
ten degrees OF frost
Yes she said with a sigh, "and
pity 1t is. Perhaps YOU would like to
go over it; the Iodgekeeper has the
key"
He smiled with pleasant sadness.
and glanced at the broken easements.
= key is scarcely necessary" he
said and I viii venture to make an
entry without it. Is there anything
particularly worthy of notice in the
interior, may I ask?"
There are some very -fne old an