Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-12-23

wealth to her daughter.
Stella listens as indifferentIy as if
her mother were praising the virtues
of the goddess Visnnu; sometimes
makes no remark, and oftentimes
rises and leaves the room to be rid
Of the subject, which to her is most
unpleasant
When Sir Richard comes he is al
ways the same, cool and bland, self
composed and self-assured, like man
who knows that he has but to play
waiting game to win, and has there
fore made up his mind to wait.
When he speaks to Stella it is al
ways in the low, defereptiaI tone and
with the soft smile of a polished man
Of the world. Yet he hovers about
her, appearing at her elbow when
least expected, and suggests remarks
and comments so opportunity and
Persistently that Stella-beautiful
Stella, whom a certain artist thought
lovely enough to be reproduced in
marble-feels that she hates him
more and more each day, and that as
her haze grows so does his power.
She feels that she is within the
circle of net which is gradually be-
ing frightened around her.
AS for Louis FELTON,, she has seen
very little of him
Sometimes she has seen the smoke
of the Hut rising above the trees, and
has taken it as a signal for his pres
ence; at others the blue, thin vapory
cloud has not hOisted it's beacon, and
she has known that he was in town
or elsewhere.
The villagers her pensioners-can
tell her nothing about him, for he has
brought a manservant-a favOrite
model so they say-to serve as bench
man, and has requested no ether as
sistance
A CARLOAD Of luggage of some des-
cTiptiOn has arrived, and there are
curtains up at the windows through
which a ruby stain is thrown at night
time upon the snowy lawn.
At all events, if the master of the
Hut is mysterious, he Hut itself
looks cheerful enough.
Once Stella, when passing on her
tIusty little cob, fancied that she
heard his cheerful voice singing il an
upper room, but it might have been
the model 's-voices are deceptive.
One day, Mrs Newton, knowing
nothing OF her daughters feelings to-
ward either gentleman, said:
"Stella, my dear, have you heard
what became of that peculiar creature
who came here on Christmas night?"
"Sir Richard, do you mean?" asked
Stella, with the most demure face.
"Sir Richard!" exclaimed Mrs. New
ton, with angry surprise do you
think I should call Sir Richard a pc
Culiar creature? My dear Stella, what
can you be thinking about?"
Whom do you mean, then, NAM
map"
why, that strange man, Mr.. Eel
ton, of the Hut
81 have heard nothing of him." re-
piled Stella.
Nor l." continued Mrs. Newton
ENORMOUSLY, land I've asked every
one, too. A most strange young man;
Eighty and unreliable, too; and
should think very -miserably
poor. Sir Richard said something
about his being an artist Of some
kinda sculptor, I think. Very
strange, l am sure. I wonder at his
staying on Christmas night as he did"
$50 do I; so did he the next morn
ing, evidently, for he went, you see,
mamma, very rapidly"
"And shows his good sense" said
the widow, tossing her head, But,
Stella, now I think of it, just remind
me that I promised to go over and
see Sir Richard at the Box, which he
tells me he has so altered that it is
quite a charming place. I think
mind, I am not sure-but think he
intends buying it,
"Indeed,' said Stella, indifferently,
land when do you wish me to remind
you of your promise, mammal"
Tomorrow. We will go tomorrow"
Stella looked up with pretty little
frown.
so soon?' she said, quietly.
Eyes: and why not?" said Mrs.
Newton. "The weather is beautiful
I'm sure; you can't have any objection
to calling on Sir Richard"
q have no particular wish either
way" said Stella, quietly; eve will go
tomorrow if you wish it,
Just then a footman knocked.
Come in" said Mrs. Newton.
"a man wishes to see you, madam;
I have told him that he must send In
his message, but he will not do So"
Dear me! indeed" said Mrs. New
ton. Then send him away immedi-
ateIy."
But he won't co." said the foot
man.
How annoying and stupid you are.
Send him in here then, and l will
soon send him about his business"
And she drew herself up into her
most disagreeable attitude.
The footman retreated, and present
| ly ushered in the grim fellow Stephen
Hargrave, Sir Richard Wildfang's SER
want.
Dear me" said Mrs. Newton, 'is it
you my good man? Why didn't you
say it was Sir Richards servant?"
Because I'm not Sir Richards ser
want" replied the man, in his usual
gruff and sullen fashion.
"Not-then you left his service, been
misbehaving yourself, I suppose"
mo: I haven't; I haven't miscon-
Quoted myself and he can't say
have"