Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-03-03
CHARLES GARVICE

"sir Richard is little late, my deal
Stella" smiled Mrs. Newton, as she
glanced at the clock.
"Ah, here he is," said Lord Mar
mion, "and I'll wager your clock il
/ fast, Mrs. Newton. Wildfang is al
ways punctual."
The door was opened and Sir Rich
ard entered.
Very calm, placid and seIf-assuret
he looked, and almost handsome.
The soft, delicate light fell upon hi
! clean-cut face and smoothly brushed
hair. and showed up the darkness ana
depth of his small, defiant eyes.
He stood for second looking OF
the scene, the lawyers at their table
Stella at her place by the window
Lord Marmion beside her. Mrs. New
ton coming sailing across the room
to rress his hand.
Then he advanced, with his soft, sci
srile
"My dear Mrs. Newton, / am not
late, hope? No your clock is fast;
there strikes the hour"
Then he glided up to Stella and
bent over her respectfully, devotedly.
Then he shook hands with Lord
Marmion, and after chatting few
minutes, sauntered to the lawyers
who were all smiling and ceremoni.
GUS, inwardly worshiping the wealthy
and influential man who was about to
put the coping stone to the edifice by
marrying a young and beautiful heir
ess.
The parchments were spread out /;
Lord Marmion, with the puzzled look
upon his fair, young face which al
ways settled there when business was
in the wind, leaned over the table,
while the contents of the various
deeds were explained over and over
again to him, and soon Mrs. Newton
joined the gentlemen at the table, and
Stella sat alone, gazing at the fire,
paying no heed.
The conference, or conversation,
went on in pleasant hum, the law
yers' dry voices above the rest, and
she still sat Indifferent and listless.
Suddenly, however, one word smote
her ear and aroused her from her
lethargy.
I'm the matter of the purchase OF
the Hut, as it is called, at Heavi-
thorne," Sir Richards lawyer was
saying with dry slowness, to Lord
Richard intended and still intends
purchasing it,"
NO." said Lord Marmion, quite
aloud, and entirely missing the frown
of warning which Sir Richard bent
upon his solicitor, who for his own
part, was SO wrapped in his explana-
lions and definitions that he himself,
usually keen-sighted enough, did not
observe the frown, and went on with
slow distinctness.
Eyes, Sir Richard, was DESTROYS of
obtaining the house and land pertain
ing, with the ultimate object of add
AiS thC Aohu W VIC Fdl0 estate, dS d
slight token-ahem-of respect and
esteem for Mrs. Newton. SO runs this
memorandum, which is clause in
the deed, and which goes on further
to state that the house shall be pulled
down and"
A slight movement from that part Of
the room where Stella had been sit
ting caused him to turn his head.
Stella had risen, and with dread.
full pallor was gazing at the group
around the table.
Mrs. Newton, with mingled alarm
and surprise, went to her.
Are you faint, my dear Stellar"
NO." she said, in a low voice.
1.-THE room is hot, think"
Then, as Sir Richard quietly opened
the door, she advanced slowly to the
table.
what was that l heard about
Heavithorne?"
The solicitor took up the deed, and
with deferential smile, commenced:
Il was explainiI : to Lord Marmion
| the proposed deed of gift of the Hut
at Hawthorne, which Sir Richard is
DESTROYS of purchasing The house is
to be pulled down, and the land add
to the Vale, thereby greatly improving
the estate. So runs the deed, which
we could now properly execute blu,
| for ono uroaf hiudy.onoo Lfbo ho,,ce
and land are not yet ours, though
Sir Richard has made every effort te
get them into his possession.
You see, my dear Miss Newton,
he went on, glancing at the deed, an6
entirely unconscious of the express
/ sion of Stella's face and the fixed re
gard of her eyes. you see, there Il
some difficulty in finding the owner
a young man by the name of FELTON,
Louis Felton-who seems to have dis
appeared from the face of the earth
or, at least, to speak more correctly
has eluded the most minute inquire.
of our agents. 1t is possible-indeed
it is very possible-that he is dead
Sir Richard stepped forward an,
almost snatched the deed from tn,
lawyers hand
Excuse me-" he said. you ar,
wearying Miss Newton. The deed il
of little Or no consequence; be goo,
enough to lay it aside"
Then, as the astonished and mort
fed lawyer bowed in compliance, ST
Richard led Stella away.
She went passively, like some on
lost to all uses of world or life itself
and sank into her old seat and he