Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-02-20
MISS HOLLlSTER.
Hopetield Manor.

OH | exclaimed, bowling ANY
further Introduction is unnecessary.
Miss HOLSTER"
THE name is familiar? | recall that
General Glendenning mentioned that
you were related to the Ames family
of Hartford, and your mother was a
Farquhar of Charlottesville Va. If
you bear your fathers name, dare say
1t was he whom | met ten years ago
In Paris. There is no reason therefore
why we should not be the best of
friends
1t was a kind fate indeed that
had led me back to the Asolando, and
introduced me to the aunt of Virgins
inamorata 1t may well be believed
that | was immediately interested. at
tentive, absorbed AS she smoothed
her gloves, Miss Hollister continued to
speak in low musical voice that was
devoid of any of the quavers Of age.
ION the day l reached my sixtieth
year, Mr.. Ames, | decided that my
humdrum life must cease. The strict
est conventions had guided me from
earliest childhood. My experience of
life had been limited to those things
which women of education and means
enjOy-or suffer, as you please to take
1t. Two years ago | chartered yacht
and cruiSed among the Lesser Antilles.
enjoying many adventures. Later |
crossed the Andes, and | have just re-
turned from Switzerland. where ] ac-
cOmplished some of the most difficult
ascentS. | have Il clipping bureau en-
gagged to inform me Of all rumors of
hidden treasure and sunken ships, and
] hope that of this something may
come, as | retain Il marine engineer
and corps of divers and can leave at an
hours notice for any likely hunting
ground This may strike you as the
most whimsical self indulgence. Tell
me candidly whether my remarks so
affect you"
IF it were not that your benefac-
tons of all kinds have given you noble
eminence among American phianthro-
pists | might be less biased in favor of
the sort of thing you describe but your
gifts to orphanages. colleges, hospi-
tails
All" she interrupted. enough of
that. Philanthropy in these times Is
only selfish exploitation. the recreation
of the conscience stricken. hut you
see no reason why" she pursud e ger
ly. IF | wished to dig up the Caribbean
sea in search of Spanish doubloons, |
should not do SO? Answer me frankly,
without the slightest fear"
81 assure you, Miss HOLSTER, that
such projects appeal to me strongly. |
have often lameuted that my own lot
fell in these eventIeSs times. AS an
architect proved something of a fail
ure; as chimney doctor | lead a use
full life, but the very usefulness of it
bores me. and besides many people
take me for a sweep"
Il dare say they do. for unfortunately
many people are fools. Bnt | am bent
upon adventure. My physician pro-
nounces me good for ten years more
of active life. and | intend to keep
amused. If were young man like
you | should crawl through chimneys
no more, but take to the open road.
resent the harsh clang Of these mean
ingless years. AS | walked among the
hills that lie behind the manor this
morning l heard the bugleS calling.
should like to ask you further as to
your unusual profession, but errands
summon me elsewhere However,
something tells me we shall meet
again"
She rose in her swift, birdlike fashion
and passed lightly down the room and
through the door. She had left q dol
lar beside her plate to pay her check.
which | noted called for only 40 cents.
! glanced at the cashiers desk. The
aureoled head had not reappeared but
Immediately | heard voice murmur-
ing beside me, ! had believed myself
alone, and in my surprise | thought
some wizardry had made audible one
of the verses on the wall.
What Of Rafaers sonnets, Dante's pic
ture-
1t was she whose aureoled head ! had
marked earlier in the receipt Of Gus
tom, the girl who had vanished as Miss