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

A@CtSA'0 l. CAICAA"
CHAPTER V.
A Remembered Face.
She is pretty to walk with,
And witty to talk with,
And pleasant, too, to think on
Sucking.
The Vale is a country residence
worthy of such wealthy and fashion
able people as the NeWtons.
1t is a large, modern house, furn
ished with every convenience and sur.
rounded by well-laid-out grounds, with
all their proper stablings, Outhouses
farmyards and paddocks. A park
just large enough to lie pleasant and
small enough to be devoid of the
trouble which clings TO larger tracts
Of forest land, stretches at che back
Of houses away to the pleasant little
-122cSr ION.
At the end of the park, and hidden
from view by the trees, stands an old
house nearly in ruins. No romance
attaches to it, and no mysterious
phantom parades it at midnight.
1t is pretty, tumbledown place
empty, tenantless, and all but useless
for the owner has not been seen for
years his very name is not known, It
has passed out of the remembrance OF
the village folk.
Old Daniel Newton, Stella's father
wished very much to buy the old
place and the land upon which it
stood, but the matter was found to be
entangled in so many lawyers webs
that Mr.. Newton had abandoned all
thought of adding it to his other es
tate in despair, and the Hut, as the
people Familiarity called it, was left tc
its natural cobwebs and dusty ruin
The Vale was rather solitary, there
being no near neighbors of its own
class, but it was always we'll filled
with visitors and country cousins, and
did not feel dull.
The nearest house of any import
ance was shooting box, three miles
distant.
It was let on short terms to shoot
ing and fishing men, but was generally
empty at Christmas, there being lit
tie Or no hunting in its neighborhood
to tempt hard-rding gentlemen into
becoming tenants.
1t was to let now, and Mrs. Newton
sitting III her open carriage, regrets
it.
There are no neighbors; really it is
quite desert of a place." she said
half in complaint, half in a tone OF
satisfaction, for she remembered that
no neighbOrs are better than bad ones
bad ones in her definition meaning in.
eligibles in the shape of poor second
sons, who might run away with her
daughters heart and spoil her chance
of marrying a lord or a duke.
at is rather dull said Stella,
glancing around the country, "but ii
is very beautiful mamma. have never
see any place I like better than the
Vale"
They tell me Dovewell is a mag
nificent place" said Mrs. Newton
softly.
Stella flushed
1t may be, and yet | might not like
it so well. The Vale is so snug and
comfortable. l hope We shall always
spend Christmas here"
The ladies had been for a ride, the
day being beautifully fine, the roads
hard and frosty. and the air bracing
and the carriage entered the Vale
gates as Stella made the remark.
Yes" said Mrs. Newton, Il sup,
pose our visitors will arrive tomor.
row. How many will there be?''
Stella counted upon her fingers.
There's Margaret, one: Charlie
Venner, two: Uncle AdolphLs, three
the poor little Cummings. seven; and
old Mrs. Docket. eight. Quite a fam
ily party
Yes said Mrs. Newton. with
rather a dissatisfied sigh. ct was
your fathers wish that they should
all dine here on Christmas day, and
! suppose they must
4 am glad TO see them, Tor my
part sid Stella. cordially 81 think
it is only right that a family should
gather +0ocfba,, o-ra VAR II ic r~