Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-01-23
CHAPTER xxi.
Through Purple Curtains

VAT HEN Nan made up hel mind
MAJ she acted with lightning
rapidity. She would force
Stuart to an avowal of love
that would fix their relation be
yond disturbance by the little singer.
She had too fine sense of values to
permit herself to become entangled
in an intrigue.
She could wait and gain in power
for the waiting. Her physician had
told her that Bivens' days were num-
bered.
But on one thing she was deter
mined. She must know that Jim loved
her still, loved her passionately. mad
~ as she believed he did. But he
must say it. She had no difficulty in
persuading Bivens to urge Stuart to
visit their country estate in the noun
tains of North Carolina. The doctor
had ordered him there to live in the
open air.
The young lawyer refused to go at
first. but Bivens urged with such pa
thetic eagerness he was compelled to
accept.
1t was warm. beautiful morning
the last week in March when he alight-
ed on the platform of the little railroad
station on the estate and took his seat
beside Nan in her big touring car, The
fruit trees We're in full bloom. and their
perfume filed the air. The hum of
bees and the song of birds he had
known in his boyhood thrilled his heart.
Its glorious. Nam" he exclaimed.
"Your coming makes it perfect, jim"
she answered tenderly.
AS the river made a graceful curve
Bivens' house swept into full view-a
stunning pile of marble 300 feet long,
its tower piercing the turquoise sky In
solemn grandeur. The stone parapet
on which its front wall was built rose
in massive strength hundred feet
from the ledge in the granite cliff be-
fore touching the first line of the white
stones of the house itself.
At the end a formal garden had been
built on the foundations of masonry
which cost 100000.
For an hour the car swept like a spir-
it over the miles Of smooth macadam
private roads Bivens had built. At
each graceful turn his wonder increas-
ed ut the luxurious outlay of millions.
From each hilltop as the huge gieam-
ing castle came into view from a new
angle. revealing its marvellous beauty.
he thought with touch of pity of the
stumbling figure of the stricken man
limping through its halls helpless. lone
". miserable What strange FRANKS
fate plays with the mighty as well as
the lowly, SO frail was the broken
body now he did not dare risk cold
by taking a ride with his wife.
The machine turned suddenly up
hill and gIded through two iron gates
opening on the lawn. and the great
white chateau doomed before them in
fash Of binding beauty. Stuart
caught his breath. He shook hands
with BivenS and was shocked to find
him so weak
The little man held his hand with
lingering usefulness rs he looked into
his friends strong face
You don't know how rich you are.
lin" he said feeby. with this hand
that grips like iron. q give mlllonS
to feel my heart beat ike yours today
You'll get better down here" Stuart
answered cheerfuly
I'm trying it anyhow" he said list
lessIy Make Yourself at home. old
boy This house is my pride. ! want
Nan TO show YOU every nook aud cor
uer in it, wish | couId trot around
with YOU. but | can't
AS soon as you've changed your
clothes" Nan sid familjarly come
down to the library and IN show yon
/ around"
Stuart followed the man assigned a
MS valet 10 the electric elevator and
+ in n minute stepped ont on the fourth
floor He observed with smile that
* ra.p1 nm bar XrqG ~