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

gone. 1t was nothing 10 speak Oh.
Pm glad of that" said Lord Mar
nnion; and as Stella raised her eyes
and looked at him with a frank,
friendly smile the countess felt re-
lieved
She need not fear of her son. There
was nothing but friendship between
him and the beautiful girl, and her
IadyshiD knew that there never would
be anything more, for love for such
women as Stella Newton comes at
first sight or never.
"HaYe you saved me dancer said
Lord Marmion, examining Miss New
toms tablets with eagerness, as he
passed her half an hour later, and
during the pause.
Yes, there is one more" she re-
piled, two"
Then grant me the happiness Of
sharing them With his lOrdship," said
a low, soft voice behind her
She started, turned almost pale,
and as she looked around edged
slightly away.
She knew the voice.
It was that of Sir Richard Wildfang.
"Oh, Sir Richard, here at last" said
Lords Marmion. Have you seen my
mother? She was at the end Of the
room a moment ago"
YES" said Sir Richard, "and
came from her with message for
you. You are to dance with Lady Paul
inc Marches"
Lord Marmion went off like an ODE
dent son, and Sir Richard offered his
arm to Miss Newton.
Stella had not spoken yet, for she
had given him her hand to shake In
silence.
in silence she generally greeted
Sir Richard, for Stella, usually so self
possessed with every one, was always
strangely moved when the great Sir
Richard approached her.
He had 80 quiet, so self-assured a
way Of presenting himself when least
expected or thought of; he was so
calm, so selfrelant and seemingly so
sure Of his welcome that the girl,
moved by that unreasonable antip-
athy, was always embarrassed.
She hoped he did not notice it, and
to hide it she generally spoke quickly
and cordially as she did now.
you are late, Sir Richard, are you
not?" she said, without looking at
him.
yes" he said glancing down at her
and then around the room with an air
of proprietorship which she was con-
scious of and yet could not openly re-
sent. pleasure must wait on business
for me, Miss Newton. | am but half
a butterfly in these halls of delight.
There is always the grub behind the
wings"
He smiled.
She smiled in return.
His voice was very pleasant and mu-
steal, yet she hated it; ay, hated It,
though she had heard it so few times
and told herself daily that it was
wicked and unreasonable to do so.
But / am glad l came when l did,
or that other dance, the last on your
list, would have gone and the pleasant
est part of the evening would have
been lost to me"
Il thought business men never paid
compliments" she retOrted, trying to
be at her ease with him.
"Only very seldom; when they do
be assured the compliment is some
thing graver than is usual. But what
Is the dancer" he said, taking the
tablet from her unresisting hand. "a
quadrille and a waltz. I may have the
waltz?"
She looked up with faint flush of
eagerness, then looked down quickly,
evading his eyes, for she was about
to tell a falsehood.
Il promised the waltz to Lord
Marmion."
He raised his eyebrows regretfully.
Then l shall be satisfied with the
Quadrille. Shall we walk to a less
crowded part of the roOm?'
She inclined her head, and they
Joined the ring of 'promenaders,
This is, suppose, the countess
last ball before Christmas?"
YES" replied Stella. THE last, /
believe. They are going to Dove
Hall 10 spend Christmas"
And wisely; the country is the
place for holiday festivities. Do you
leave London?"
Yes she said, and she could not
suppress a sigh of relief Mamma
has made up her mind to spend
Christmas at the Vale"
'Tndeed?" said Sir Richard, with a
smile of pleasure and satisfaction, as
If he had heard it for the first time.
This is fortunate for me-"
'Why?" she asked, with dim fore
boding.
Miss Newton" said a voice at her
elbow, II have been looking every
where for you. This dance is mine, I
think" and her partner for the
Lancers carried her off, and with a
low bow to Sir Richard before he
could reply.
Sir Richard was not a dancing man
Tonight he had made up his mind to
dance only once, and then with Miss
Newton. He had seated himself com
fortably on one of the seats in a cool
recess and watched.
In all the heat, the glare of the
candelabra. the ripping. floating
strains of the grand music, Stella
Newton felt that he was watching.
With the prattle of her talkative part,
uer in her ear, she still heard Sir
Richards soft, 4 am fortunate"
The Lancers came to an end. as all
things must, and the crowd divided
nfs into hiffnrnnt Sirnntinns nra . =