Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-12-30

by an inspection Of my studio?"
And as he stood upon the first Of
! the flight Of broad stone steps he held
out his hand.
Stella hesitated
What would Mrs. Newton say?-
What Sir Richard what all the pro
prieties put together?
"My-my horse she said. Il can
not leave her"
NO." he said. II will have her taken
care of and the bride mended. Ste
phen! Stephen!" he called.
Stella started and turned around
and saw the man Stephen HargraVe
approach and take the horse, touching
his hat to Stella as he did so with
keen, watchful expression on his set
| ace.
Stella waited until he had led the
lorse away, then she said:
do you know that that man was
discharged servant of Sir Richard
Vildfang, Mr.. Felton,"
eyes," he replied, with a quiet, mu-
steal laugh. 81 know it; if you re-
member, the poor fellow came to grief
N Christmas night at this door,
Il do remember" said Stella and
then added, mentally: Il shall never
forget that Christmas night"
well, rough and surley as he is,
took fancy to him then, and was
quite sorry to hear that he was Sir
Richards permanent servant. The
other night he came here and vowing
that he was starving, asked me to en-
gage him. OF course, he told me that
he had been discharged for no fault;
they never are; and equally, of course,
/ did not engage him until had writ
ten Sir Richard"
Stella looked surprised
You wrote to him? He said nothing
of it, and we lunched with him yester
day"
Louis FELTON, smiled significantly.
Sir Richard is a man of business
and the world" he said, cOncisely.
but see, there is the first fake of my
prophesied shower. VIII you enter?"
He held her hand to assist her on
the steps, and, with the air of Knight
Templar, ushered her into the hall.
Well" she said, please go on; |
am curious to know how you came to
engage him after all"
Sir Richard courteOusly and speed
lily replied to my note by sending per
special messenger an answer to the
effect that the man stephen Hargrave,
had left his service for no particular
fault; that he had been disobedient
and was too unpublished for a gentle
mans servant, so as l thought his
, roughness would not offend my unre
fined ears and sensibilities, and, as /
did not dread disobedience so much
, as Sir Richard evidently does, l en-
gagged him
And he has behaved" asked Stel
la.
Admirably" replied Louis FELTON,.
He is not count in disguise, but he
is civil and obeys like Newfoundland
dog. In fact, l congratulate myself up
on having that rare acquisition, a good
and faithful servant"
You don't think" hesitated Stella,
No" he replied. I think he has
seen some trouble Or horror which he
cannot rid himself of and | think he
fancies himself under some strain or
mental slavery, to whom I know not
But let Us leave Mr.. Hargrave to time
and circumstances. Will you not come
to the fire? Fuel is not so scarce an
article as it was on Christmas day"
Thank you," said Stella, gazing
around the little hall with unfeigned
interest. But may look a little
longer? This might be the hall of one
of King Arthur's knights of the Round
Table. 1t is beautiful. Why, there IS
not a piece of oak furniture or armor
in it younger than three hundred
years.
NO." said Louis FELTON,. q do not
suppose there is"
Then he drew aside a curtain which
bad hidden small oriel window, and
Stella uttered an exclamation of ad-
miration.
How beautiful! And did you restore
that stained window with your own
hands?"
Yes" he said, and not so difficult
an undertaking as it may seem. But
will you walk into my studio?" he
said, opening a door leading from the
hall.
Stella, as curious as Bluebeard's
wife, entered a large, lofty room
which was hung with black velvet ano
faded tapestry and through which 2
stream of rose-colored light pouring
from a stained window, fell upon
multitude of marble figures and stair
airy which were arranged around tn.
room.
A block of marble stood in the cor
uer, and in the center OF the room wa
l slab upon which a group of figure
vas dimly discernible.
How beautiful" said Stella, unde
er breath. And did you carve al
hese?"
"All of them" he replied. There ar
OF many, and they are all very poo
r be assured they would not be here
why not?" she said. Where woul
hey be-"
sold with the rest" he replied
7ughing
Il must go around and look
HEM" said Stella. What's that?'
'Adriadne," he replied, and he wer
round with her, listening with d.
light he did not care to conceal to he
ofty expressed admiration ard woI
Ter.
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