Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-08-20
CHAPTER IX.-Continued.

we'll"
Far too we'll" said Violet "Any man
NAV think himself lucky to get three
hundred year to which he has absolute
" no legal claim from a person whom
he has treated so shamefully as he has
treated you"
Poor father!" said Ianthe. 81 sup
nose he cannot help his nature. At any
rate. he is my father, and / must do
what l can for him"
The girl heaved a sigh. Her thoughts
went back to the six months she had
spent under his roof, and inyoluntarily
her lips eurled in smile. Nobody who
saw her then could possibly recognize her
now. Nobody, in fact, had seen her then
who was likely to see her now-except
Denis!
Their correspondence had dropped as a
matter of course when Ianthe went to
school After that she had been too shy
to begin again Then her life became
full of other interests, and during the
last two years Denis had 1een almost
forgotten Now he would once again be
her nearest neighbor, and because of that
alone he would be most important per-
son in her life She wondered what her
new impressions of him would be- How
would he compare with the other men
whom she had added to her list of
friends9 On what footing would they
stand?
Il WISH" thought 1anthe with burn
ing cheeks, "that those two unlucky pro-
posals had never been made. Oh, hope
be has forgotten what happened when
last we met If / had seen him even
once in between it would not be SO bad"
The day after Ianthe's final inspection
of her house was TO brig IL number of
guests. Every spare corner was to be
utilized as guest room before the great
day arrived. The ball was being given
by Lord and Lady Mellenden, old friends
Of her grandfather's, who had taken a
fancy to the friendless girl. 1t was LAZY
Mellenden who had given her her season
in London and had presented her at
court. The old lady had determined that
the coming -of-age of her favorite should
be celebrated by a ball. The month was
August and nearly all their friends were
in Scotland. What more appropriate,
then, than that Ianthe should lend her
house to her friends, becoming for the
time being merely one of their guests?
The idea was full of novelty and there
fore pleasing. Ianthe was amused to be
one day mistress and next day guest.
The hosts arrived fairly early next
day in order 10 be able to greet the
party which was arriving by the later
train. Ianthe yielded her place at lunch
with laughing grace.
Now, remember, my DEAR said Lady
Mellenden, as she took the place of
L. Ill
infringement of my rights. You are not
even to have peep at the ballroom I'M
til you enter it with my other guests"
Lady Mellenden looked at Ianthe's
young face with fond admiration Al
ready she had various matrimonial
schemes floating in her head with regard
to her young protege. Ianthe must make
q splendid marriage. Her beauty and
wealth entitled her to do so, and GER
tainly she should not lack her oppor-
tunity. Several most eligible young men
were to be of the house party. Ianthe
was on terms of friendship with them
all, was quite pleased, it appeared, to flirt
with each in turn, but Lady Mellenden
had to confess that she had as yet shown
no sign of preference for any particular
one.
Most of the members of the house
party were to remain q week as Lady
Mellendens guests. After that Ianthe
was having a small and select few on
her own responsibility, but naturally
those did not include any of the young
men whom Lady Mellenden regarded as
eligible.
Chief of these was Gervase Oliver, son
OF famous diplomat and heir to vast
riches from his American mother. Ger
vase was decidedly Lady Mellenden's
favorite. His deliciously frank cosmo-
poItan manners were charming to all
women, and Lady Mellenden was inclined
to think that Ianthe's inclination leaned
slightly in his direction. Then there was
Lord Duly, whose name unfortunately
rather indicated his nature. He was
lanthe's most open admirer, but he OBJ
Yiously bored her. Apart from his rank
there was nothing to recommend him,
but with Lady Mellenden rank counted
for a great deal. Then there was
troop of lesser attractions, any one of
whom might make quite an excellent
husband for the girl, and about whom
Lady Mellenden was quite Indifferent.
Lady Mellenden knows what she is
about" said one of the girl guests to
another. 1T was very willy idea to
bring these young men here and let them
see Ianthe's possessions. I've seldom
seen any place quite so prettily situated
It's quite like the castle of a fairy
princess. Yes, my dear, a Highland
estate and good shooting are valuable
additions to Ianthes charms. Gervase,
with all his gold would find it hard to
get Just such another place as this"
AT the same time Ianthe was lettering
IN the glen with Gervase Oliver. Both
these young people were perfectly well
aware of Lady Mellenden's scheme con-
corning them, and each was equally
aware Of the others knowledge
Gervase found himself occasionally
wondering if they would marry. As far
as ms nature allowed he was in love
with Ianthe, but his was not a very
ardent temperament. The frank manners
that were his conspicuous charm con-
cealed a rather cold. calculating nature.
as ne walked with the girl up the lovely
glen he rnap{o1I, -.