Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-11-11
CHAPTE Err III.
a Bold Declaration.

spurns,
All filthy lucre.
Austen.
MY dear Stella, circumstances al
ter cases!"
The speaker was Mrs. Newton; the
person addressed was her daughter
Stella, upon whose beauty Lord Mar
mion had passed so decided an en-
comium, and the scene was the small
drawing room Of Mrs. NewtOn's villa
at Hyde Park Corner.
AS a slight pause followed the
lady's enunciation of a wellknoWn AK
iom, we will fill it by remarking that
Mrs. Newton was a thin, pOmpous
lady, good at heart, but of lofty am
bition, whose sole aim and object in
life was to see her daughter Stella
we'll married.
Mrs. Newton came Of a trading
stock; her husband, whom Lord Mar
mion had spoken of as old Daniel,
was Of trade also; he had made
money, and Mrs. Newton was endeaV-
oring to impress upon her daughter
the necessity of a solemn watchful-
ness to the main matrimonial chance.
Stella Newton justified Lord Mar
MONS Iaudation.
She Was-stay! call to your mind,
reader, that superb portrait Of the
Spanish orange girl which Murillo has
left US; add to it, as the cookery book
says, a dash of Sir Peter LeIys pic
ture of a countess, and you have
fair idea Of Stella Newtons outward
appearance.
Her inner portrait she shall herself
in her own words and actions reveal.
At the moment of her Introduction
she is seated in an attitude of easy,
negligent grace upon blue satin fau-
teuiI; in her hand was a half-closed
book; in her lap was curled a Mora
Wan pug.
She smiled thoughtfully, almost
daringly and glanced at her image as
it was reflected in one of the numer-
Gus mirrors with which the room was
studded.
Mamma, l have heard that before
SO often that begin to doubt it. Say
that feelings alter cases, and l will
respond readily enough. Tell me
plainly, mamma, why l should think
of marrying Lord Marmion before he
has himself ever said a word on the
subject?"
Mrs. Newton shook her tatting and
her head at the same moment.
Stella, you are really incorrigibie!
Lord MarmiOn is too we'll bred a noble
man to speak out like a common-sr
err"
Sweep" suggested Stella, with
arch sweetness.
Gentlemen continued Mrs. New
ton. You must judge from the ac-
lions, from such apparent trifes as
his manner when he meets you, or
says goOd-by, or hands you a fan, OF
in facts, does any one Of the usual
pOlitenesses for you. Does he blush
when he shakes hands with your"
Never emphatiCaIly replied the
beautiful girl with merry twinkle
of the deep, lustrous eyes.
We'll, then, that is a sign that he
thinks more deeply than most men"
retorted the worldly minded woman,
with quick promptness. Does he low
er his voice when he talks?"
mo, mamma" said the girl, stung
into irony. He neither whispers
nor shouts in particular, but talks as
a sensible young gentleman should.
He does not put his hat in the UNI
brella stand and the umbrella on his
head, or stumble over the door mat
when he comes in. He doesn't flush
or turn green when I ask him how
the countess Is, and in fact he shows
as plainly as a man can do that Stel- |
la Newton is no more to him than the
daughter of the man in the moon"
She threw the unfortunate pug with |.
a rudeness highly detrimental to his !
health on the wolf-skin hearth rug,
and arose TO her full height.
Very beautiful she looked as she !
stood, half fronting her matchmaking
mamma, faint flush ON her clear
olive cheek, a sparkle of defiance and |
satire in her full eyes.
Then, my dear, it behooves YOU to !
be extremely careful. If Lord Marmfon |
is not already in love with you, it's
time he was"
"Why?" asked the girl, turning to
confront the mother with distended !
nostrils and a ring in the voice that
denoted the possession of pride and
courage as well as beauty. "WhyF
am not in love with him"
MY dear Stella!" exclaimed Mrs.
Newton, much shocked. How ex-
tremely abrupt and rude that sounds! /
Not in love with Lord Marmion? MY /
dear girl, you should not speak so |
loud. Lord Marmion has thirty thous- /
and a year, and his peerage dates
back with the Leonhardts.''
rs that any reason why I should |
love him or become the future Count |
eSs Of Marmion?" asked the girl, |
straight and resolute as a dart NAM
ma, you trouble me more than I can
say by the constant reference to the
subject. Lord Marmion has never said /
Gle word more than ordinary friend |
ship would warrant. If Lord Mar
mion's title is dated back as far as
Adam's-to tenacy of Eden, and nos
sessed the Golconda mines. I wouId
not marry him! No. though he is
young, handsome and honorable.
would rather than sell myself to the
highest bidder marry the first passer-
oy-ay, even that man on the other
side Of the road"
In her energy she raised her long.
slender hand, and to emphasize her
declaration 0oin+od - ~ ;s:.,,