Stella Mowbray.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2643, 28 August 1906, Page 2

Stella Mowbray.

(All Right* Reserved.)

A CAPTIVATING ENGLISH-AMERICAN LOVE STORY.

By the author of "A Girl in a Thousand, "Two Keys," Ac, 4c PART 3. INTRODUCTION.

Stella Rosevelt Mowbray, an orphan girl, of about fifteen or sixteen years of age, is a passenger on the Albatross steamship, bound from England to New York. Her father, the only relative on whom she could depend,* had died three months previously, and Stella was going to her rich aunt, who had promised to give her a home. The voyage is tempestuous. Among the other passengers is an elderly man who is strangely attracted by Stella's beauty, and tender, loving ways. She confides her story to him, and the mention of her name has a strange effect upon him. His name is Jacob Rosevelt. The Albatross weathers the storm, only to encounter a worse fate. Fire breaks out on the ship, and the passengers and crew are forced to take to the boats. Terrible privations follow, and Mr. Rosevelt is reduced to the point of death. Stella, whom the captain has favoured in the matter of food, tenderly nurses him until a passing steamer rescues the wrecked ones from their perilous plight. Then the reaction sets in, and Stella falls fainting into the arms of a manly-looking young fellow, who stood watching her with pity. This young gentleman introduces himself as Archibald Shcrbrooke. Arriving at New York, Stella is met by a woman, who conducts her to the house of her aunt, Mrs. Richards, and our heroine soon realizes that her new life is not to be as she expected.

CHAPTER V. BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT. "What does this mean ?" she demanded, passionately. "Why am I received in this strange, this heartless manner, by my mother's cousin ? Why did she presume to cast aspersions upon my mother and father, and talk about print dresses, and assigning me duties as if I were a mere servant ?" Mrs. Blunt's breath was fairly taken away by these swift, indignant sentences and questions, and she looked at the young girl in speechless surprise for a few minutes. Stella was wonderously beautiful then, in spite of her soiled and disordered attire, with her flashing eyes her blazing cheeks, her scornful, curling lips, and proudly-poised head. "What does it mean, I say?" repeated Stella, impatient at the woman's silence. Mrs. Blunt found her tongue at last. "Mercy on us, child !" she ejaculated, her astonishment showing in her tones. "You have a temper of your own, or I'm much mistaken ; and you'll need it too, if you're going to live in this house." Then she added more thoughtfully : "I'm afraid, miss, you've come over here with a wrong impression— I really am." "What do ycu mean ?" Stella asked. "How have I come with a wrong impression ?"

"What did you expect when you started to come to America to live with Mrs. Richards ?" the housekeeper asked, evading her questions by putting another. "I expected that my mother's cousin, who papa said, was wealthy and able to take care of me, and had promised him to do so, would give me a place in her home as a member of her family, and give me an opportunity to perfect my education, so .that I might be able to take care of myself. This was what my father understood her promise to mean—this is what I expected. But from the reception she has given me—cold and heartless, and such as I would not have given the meanest beggar who came to my door—from her disrespectful and insulting remarks about my parents, and what she said about my 'duties,' I am afraid that my position here will not be a pleasant one." Mrs. Blunt's homely face was full of pity as she listened to what Stella had to say. T 'Poor child," she began, "you have expected far too much, and j>erhaps it would b« a mercy to tell you at once how mistaken you are, if you think you arc going to find a pleasant home, and a chance to got much of an education here. When madam got your father's letter, and knew that you would soon be an orphan, she said that it was 'just the thing,' and you would do nicely to supply the place of Maggie Flynn, the chamber and errand girl, and who was not exactly trustworthy. She said the 'English peasants always made good servants,' and you were strong ami wholly dependent upon her, and she could train you according to her own notions. And to make a long story short, you are to make beds, and do chamber work generally, wait upon madam, and run errands."

And the housekeeper heaved a sigh of relief that the diflicult explanation was over. And diflicult it was, with those glittering sapphire eyes fixed upon her, and that beautiful face g! nniing with scorn and indignation. "In other words she intends to make a servant—a slave of me," she said, with quiet sarsacin, but with uplifted head. "Ye-es, if you must put it so, miss," Mrs. Blunt reluctantly admitted. "What wages am I to expect '!" and the clear young voice rang with intense scorn. "Wages ?" "Yes, wages. What did sho pay Maggie Flynn ?" Stella demanded. with a bitter smile. "Six dollars a mouth ; but—but I don't think madam has thought about wages for you. She is to give you a home for what you do : and besides wha.! I have told you. you are to wajt ujpon Miss Josephine

who it not sparing of her commands, either.*' "Who is Miss Josephine, pray?" "The young lady of the houseMrs. Richards's daughter.""How old is she ?" "Just turned eighteen." "Two years my senior," murmured Stella, reflectively. "Well, Mrs. Blunt," she added, after a moment or two, and looking up with a clearer face, "show me to my room, please, and let me have a good bath, for I need refreshing sadly—if only I might put some clean underline!) on," fthe added, wistfully. "'You shall," the woman quickly returned. "1 suppose madam never thought of it. and it is a shame. There, wait lien.-." she added, as she threw open tin- door of a small room on the front of the house in the third storey, "and 1 will bring you a change of Miss Josephine's ; they will be a trifle too large, but never mind, so that you're comfortable." She sped away, and as Stella removed her hat and shawl, she looked about her. The room was very scantily furnished, but it was clean, and as there was only a single bed in it, she knew she was to have it to herself—a point on which she congratulated herself. Mrs. Blunt soon returned, bringing clean, fresh garments, and Stella felt that she had never realized before how great a luxury cleanliness was. "You can go to the bath room at the end of the hall," she said, laying them over Stella's arm. "I have filled the bath, and I'm sure you'll feel a great deal better after it ; then I'll come up again in about half an hour, and take you to Miss Haker ; and—l forgot—here's a comb i I've never used."

Stella felt very grateful to the kind-hearted creature, and made the most of her opportunity. She had a refreshing bath, then combed out her luxuriant hair, rearranging it as carefully as she had been taught to do in her own home, and when she had done she looked as bright, and felt as fresh as a new creature. When Mrs. Blunt returned at the end of an hour, her plain face relaxed into a smile, though Stella had thought that smiles were at a discount with her as a general thing. "Well, you do look nice, or I'm much mistaken ; and those hands—they're much too nice and fine, in ray opinion for drudgery;" and the woman glanced admiringly at Stella's small white hands, which to be truthful, she was a little proud of. "Well, I am ready to go to Miss Baker," she said with a little sigh. "It is evident that I shall not be in a condition to do any work—or drudgery, as you call it—until I am properly clad." "She's true blue, and it's an abomination to make a servant of her," muttered the housekeeper, as she led the way to the sewing room. Miss Raker was in the midst oi fitting a ball dress for Miss Josephine—a- rather fine-looking girl with black eyes and hair, a brilliant colour, and a full, graceful figure. Mrs. Blunt introduced Stella and then gave Mrs. Richards's orders about the 'two print dresses." "Goodness gracious ! Are you Stella Mowbray ?" ejaculated the pet and pride of Mrs. Richards's mansions, with a stare of surprise. Stella bowed a cold assent to this rudo salutation, and then walked quietly across the room, and seated herself by the window. Miss Raker, however, had nodded and smiled kindly at her, and she felt she would like the weary-looking seamstress.

"Well, I guess mamma will be glad you have come," Josephine pursued. "She has been nearly plagued to death with that Maggie Flynn. You're to take her place, you know, as chambermaid and errand-girl." Stella did not reply, and Miss Baker darted an indignant glance at the rude girl. Stella's heart was swelling within her until it was ready to burst with insulted pride, and bitter disappointment. She had longed, when she was alone in her room to relieve herself with a burst of passionate weeping. but she dare not give way to it lest it should unfit ycr for everything during the day ; but now it seemed as if she could not endure much more. She had never dreamed that such a reception as this awaited her. She had pictured to herself, many times, being drawn into the arms of a pleasant, gentle-voiced woman. who had loved her mother, and who would love her for her mother's sake if not for her own. She had thought to twine her arms about her neck, and laying her head upon a sympathizing bosom, tell her of her dear parents, what their hopes and plans had been for her, and what her own de-sires for the future were, and expected to receive only kind and encouraging words in return. How different it all was, and how cruel that all her hopes must be crushed in this unfeeling way. She had been ambitious to become a cultivated woman and scholar, and to follow out her father's plans for her education, and come up to his standard which was a high one.

But instead she found that she was to be degraded to the level of the common servant, all her prospects destroyed, all her hopes crushed, and she felt as if she could not bear it. "I will not submit to it. I will not give up all my hopes. T will not be a servant !" she said over and over again to herself, as she sat there and waited for Miss Baker to attend to her needs, and felt rather than saw Josephine's impertinent inspection of her personal appearance. "You've a wonderful head of hair," that young lady at length observed, as she approached her after being released from the seamstress's hands. "J think I never saw such a heavy braid before ; and I believe it, will just match Nellie Colton's—she is papa's niece. I'll toll mamma to send for a barber to cut it oIT. Of course, you can't afford the time now to take care of it, and it would make such a splendid band for Nell." Stella regarded her in blank astonishment. The effrontery of the young lady was simply overpowering. "Indeed !" she at last, quietly replied. "If Miss Col ton is in need of a band of hair, she will doubtless find it at almost any hairdresser's in the city. I intend to keep mine." Miss Richards coloured angrily : for Stella's great blue eyes met hers, fearlessly : and her tone betrayed an independence which did not promise well for an.\ tyranny which sin- expected to exercise over her in the future. I "Win will do exactly as mamma desires, miss," she cried ; and then

she turned and left the room.. Stella's face was very red, and she swallowed an angry sob as she turned to Miss Baker. "I am ready to sew," was all that she could say. She. longed to get some work into her hands, hoping thus to destract her thoughts from herself and her bitter disappointment. The seamstress cut off the breadths of a skirt and gave them to her, pitying the pretty yet despised girl from the bottom of her heart. "May I use the machine ?" Stella asked glancing at it. "Do yen know how '!'' "Yes, thank you. Mamma had a machine just like that, that 1 have often used." She arose, and going to it Miss Baker saw at once that she was fully capable of using it. All day long she stitched and sewed working quietly, yet rapidly, and by night one dress was nearly completed. "You sew very nicely," Miss Baker said, as she examined her work late in the afternoon, "and this print will make you a very neat dress. I wish Mrs. Rishards would allow me to trim it, but she told me to make it plain. She is in a hurry about other work."

Stella said nothing to this, but after the seamstress had gone home, she cut and pieced together some ruffles from some scraps that had been thrown aside ; and all the long evening while the family were downstairs entertaining visitors and making merry she was sewing and finishing off the print dress, that she might have something fresh and clean for the morning. Hut she was so sad and lonely ! Ami she could not help thinking of the previous night when she had sat in the gay saloon of the steamer, and chatted so sociably with Archibald Sherbrooke and felt a strange thrill of happiness in sitting beside him. She had not been allowed to eat with the family during the day. She had not seen Mr. Richards, and did not even know of how many members the household consisted. It was evident that, she was to be ignored, except as her services were required, —that she was to be made a drudge, and her proud young spirit resented it with all the strength other nature. "I will never live so—l am above it I am capable of better things, and I will not consent to become a nonentity," she said over and over again. But she was wholly dependent upon these people ; her father had consigned her to their care. She had no money save a letter of credit for a hundred pounds—the sum total realized from the sale of all the dear objects which she had been accustomed to see in her home ever since her infancy, and this she had been advised by the lawyer, whom Mr. Mowbray had chosen to settle his affairs, to consign to the care of Mr. Richards. But she had concluded since morning to say nothing about it to any one.

She had no other friends —if she had possessed them she would have flown to them at once ; she was a forlorn stranger among strangers, and she could see no way at present out of the difficulties surrounding her She had eaten with Mrs. Blunt, who was very kind to her. and tried to tempt her appetite with all the daintiest bits upon the table ; but the poor child was so sick at heart that she could scarcely swallow a morsel. When Miss Baker came the next morning she looked the surprise she felt, as she opened the sewing room door, and saw Stella seated within, sewing busily upon the dress she had been making for Josephine the day before. And truly the young girl was a goodly sight to behold. Her beautiful hair had been brushed until it shone like .satin, and then gathered into a simple knot at the back of her head—she did not, intend to June it ciil off. and she hail dressed it in this way so as not to attract attention to it—while the clustering locks which fell over her forehead, almost touching her eye brows gave a pieplant expression to her fair face. J hi- eyes were bright in spite of her "night of tears." and longing for the dear old home and familiar faces over the sea : her cheeks delicately (lushed, and (he fresh prinl dress, which tilted her slight, graceful figure perfectly, and which slv had so tastefully trimmed, could not have been more becoming if it had been made of the richest materials. "Why, Miss Mowbray, how ever did you manage to finish your dress, end put so much extra work into it after f left last night ?" the dressmaker said, with some misgivings about madam's approval when she saw it. "I managed it because I needed it." Stella answered. "I did not like to put on the dress T wore on the steamer again, it was so soiled and disfigured ; and 1 ruffled it because ( like pretty things, and have Keen accustomed to them." "I am afraid Mrs. Richards will object to so much trimming because she was so particular to mention that it should be 'plain,' " and Miss Baker, glanced dubiously at the tutiles up und down the front, and at the neck and wrists.

Stella marie no reply t<: this, bin. her rod lips settled firmly and hotsmall head was lifted with a quick, proud movement, which told that she intended to exorcise hor own taste as far as she was able in the matter of her own wardrobe. The second morning after her advent at the Riehards's mansion, as she was descending h her breakfast she suddenly encountered a portly, good-natured looking man on Ihe stairs. She glanced til him and was about to pass on with a slight salutation, when he stopped short and regarded her w it h surprise. "Hullo ! Who are you •>" he asked, brusquely, yet not unkindly. Stella coloured as she replied : "I am Stella Mowbray." "Stella Mowbray !" ho exclaimed, in surprise. Then he added, w it h an appreciative glance at her golden head, with its dainty curls, her great star-like e\ es. ami red lips : ';That sounds well—very appropriate too, I should say. When did you arrive'. 1 We have been very anxious on your account." Stella's scarlet lips curled slightly. It appeared thai he had not been no tided of her arrival Mrs. Richards had not considered it necessary to speak of the welfare of one whom she intended to make her servant. They had l)een anxious on her account ! fie might have experienced some uneasiness concerning her—his kind

eyes and pleasant face seemed to indicate that he had a good heart ; but the other members of his family, she judged, would not have grieved very much if she had really gone to the bottom of the ocean as they feared she had. "I arrived the day before yesterday —Tuesday," she said, somewhat coldly, in reply to his question. "Ah, I was in Chicago that dayreached home last night. You've had a pretty hard time little girl, have you not ?" "Yes, sir," Stella returned, wondering if he had any idea how hard, while the tears rushed unbidden to her eyes at the kind tones. "I never thought to see land again," she added, trying hard to suppress a sob, as she thought she would almost rather have died than have come among such cold hearted people as her mother's cousin's family appeared to be. "Well, well, you are safe now. thank Heaven, and you must try and be as happy as possible with us." Mr. Richards* said, still more kindly as he remarked her agitation. Stella lifted her great eyes to his. with a look of surprise. Could it be possible that he did not know tin: position she was destined to occupy in his household ? Jt certainly appeared so. for he was looking down on her with admiration and even something of affection. "Thank you ; you are very kind." she said, with a sigh, as she turned and left him.

t'H.M'TKK VI. STELLA'S APPEAL. Stella went down to the housekeepcr's room after licr encounter with Mr. Richards, ami ate. her breakfast in a very thoughtful mood. Mrs. Blunt watched her curiously and with a troubled expression on her honest face. "Child, if you don't cat more you'll die or I'm much mistaken ;" and she deftly slipped a dainty slice of buttered toast on her plate as she spoke. "Thank you, Mrs. Blunt, but I believe 1 am not very hungry'this morning,'' she returned, with a sad smile. "I should think not, indeed, nor ai any other time. You haven't eaten a "square meal ' since you came into this house," the good woman said, with an injured air. Stella was too deeply occupied to heed it, and, finishing her coffee in silence, arcse, and proceeded slowly upstairs to the sewing room, intending to finish her other dress that morning. There was a look of resolution on her young face ; her eyes gleamed with a new purpose. "I will do it," she murmured thoughtfully, as she stood outside the door, one hand resting upon the knob. "J may as well make a bold stroke for myself at once, or I shall sink into nothingness. I cannot—l will not grow up ignorant, and have poor papa's care in the past go for nothing." She turned the handle of the door, and passed into the room. She found Mrs. Richards standing in the middle of the floor, holding up an unfinished dress in both hands, and inspecting it with no pleasant expression of countenance.

She glanced at the young girl as she entered, and as her keen eyes' ran over her dainty figure in its new and tasteful dress, her face grew dark. Stella bade her a courteous "good morning," but she did not deign to notice the salutation. "Who trimmed these dresses ?" she demanded, sharply. "I did," Stella answered. "Who told you to do it ?" "No one ; but I like pretty things, and as there were plenty of pieces which could not be used for anything else, T made them into ruffles." Stella spoke very quietly, but a. bright red spot burned in her cheeks "You like 'pretty things ' do you? And that is how you think to spend your time in this house, [ suppose," Mrs. Kichards answered, sarcastically. She received no answer, and continued : "The pieces you have cut up into senseless ruffles I intended you should make into patchwork for the servants' beds during your odd moments." Stella glanced at the numerous 'senseless ruffles ' that encircled the matron's ample figure, and thought there might be such a thing as a distinction without a difference. "I've half a mind to make you sit there and rip off every one," Airs. Richards proceeded, still chafing over the matter, and flushing as she noticed Stella's glance, and half read her thought. ••The idea of a chambermaid with ruffles and furbelows! And I lielieve the seamstress has made your dress so tight that you cannot breath," she concluded pouncing upon the poor girl to make an examination of the offensive robe, for the slight graceful figure was net pleasing to her.

"No : my dress is not tight, it tits me nicely." "Then you are laced,"- persisted madam. "Laced !" repeated Stella, who did not quite understand the obnoxious term. "Yes, your corsets are too tight." "Oh, I never wear corsets. Mamma did not approve of them." Mrs. Richards hit her lips, and coloured with vexation, She was not showing to advantage in this controversy, l! was clear that Stella's per fee | form was the work of Nature's own hand, and she was oblig''d to pin up with it. unless she tied her in a sack to hide her comelv outlines. "Well," she said, throwing aside the dress she had | n examining. "I want you lo come with me now. I am now going to assign you your regular work. For one thing, you are to make all the heds in the house except those in the servants' room; and \ mi are (~ keep .Josephine's and mine in order, wail upon us generally, and sew when then? is nothing else to he done." Stella stood looking down at the eaipet in a thoughtful way, while her would-be taskinisl ress reeled nil her instructions; then she raise*l her eves which looked almost black instead of their beautiful blue, and fixed l hem full on | | K . u mean's face. "fid you undeistand!" Stella began, "w hen papa wrote to \ on asking von to assume the guardianship of his onh child, and superintend her future education, thai he had am idea that I should come into the family as a servant '.' I am sixtwn years old, and although 1 have been laugh I to do many things in iny home, and to do them well, I

have never done any hard work. T have spent most of my time in study and papa left written instructions with me, regarding my future course in that direction. 1 am very fond cf music. I can paint and draw quite well, I am told, for one of my age, and papa wished me to keep on with these accomplishments so far as I was able, to. and attend faithfully to the other branches of my education. 1 tell you this that you may understand something of the disappointment I have experienced, since my arrival in this country, to find that I was expected to fill the place of a common servant. Do you think my father intended you to make me such '.'"

Mrs. Richards regarded the girl in astonishment, while her face grew crimson with shame and augur. She knew very well that Albert Mowbray had never dreamed that she would degrade his daughter in this way. Hut Albert Mowbray was dead and could not interpose to prevent it. She was obliged to curtail expenses just now in some way, and when she found she must have this girl in her family, she had decided to dispense with the expense of one servant and impose her duties on Stella. Hut she had not once imagined that she would dare question her right to do with her whatever she saw lit. and she was amazed as well as angry at the quiet dignity and independence with which she made these statements. and called her to an account of her duty to her. "I don't know what your father intended . or what you expect." .she returned in cold, precise tones. "1 know that he wrote me you would soon be an orphan ; that you had hardly a friend in the world, and that he would leave you almost a pauper. ITe asked me to superintend your education, so that you would be able to earn your living by and by. I intend to do so, and as you have nothing save your own hands to depend on in the future, I am going to begin by making you useful at once. Do you suppose you are going to drop into the lap of luxury and be reared in idleness ?" she concluded, with biting sarsacm. "No, Mrs. Itichards, Tdo not," Stella returned respectfully, yet not one whit abashed by the way Mrs. Richards had perverted the letter which her father had written. "I am willing to be useful—J wish to be useful. I should be unhappy to be. idle : but T am very unwilling to be a common drudge, with no time nor opportunity to pursue my education. You say I have nothing save my hands with which to earn my living. Ycu are mistaken. I have brains, and I intend they shall serve that purpose." "It seems to me that you are making a saucy tongue serve your purpose pretty early in the day," retorted Mrs. Richards, an angry red leaping into her face. "I do not mean the least disrespect in what I have said, Mrs. Richards; but I cannot give up all the hopes and aspirations which my father has fostered all my life without making an effort to accomplish them. lam frank to confess," Stella continued, colouring, while her lips quivered, slightly, "that from voir reply to my father's letter, 1 inferred that I should be received into your family, as an equal, and that you would give me a mother's care and counsel during the next three or four years of my lile. Papa, I know, also understood it so, and died content, feeling that 1 should be well and kindly provided for."

Mrs. Richards felt wry uncomfortable, for she know thai every word that Stella uttered the truth. She know, too, that she was doing a mean and cowardly thing in making this bright and talented girl, a servant ; but she must have a housemaid. If she must curtail expenses she would do it in this way rather than in her own or .Josephine's wardrobe. "You are very impertinent, miss, and have been reared with altogether too high notions for one in your position," she said, angrily. "You ought to be thankful for a rcof to cover your head, and anything to cover your nakedness, coming here, as you did, destitute of everything. An equal in my family, indeed ! music, painting, and drawing ! What will Josephine say to that. I wonder. And who, do you suppose, was going to pay your bills ? It won't do you any harm to have some of this independence taken out of you, and I'll have you understand, once for all, that you will fill Maggie Flynn's position in this house, or none." Stella bowed her head coklly. She saw that she was helpless for the present, and must yield to the inevitable. "Very well." she said, calmly. "T understand from Mrs. Blunt that Maggie Flynn was about my age. that she had six dollars a month liesides her board, and two evenings out, a week. I will consent to fill her place, for the present, upon the same condit ions."

"I'pon my word "' exclaimed Mrs. Richards in a towering passion at this unexpected proposition . "I never heard anything like that in my life. You forget that you are indebted to me. at this very moment, for the clothes you have on." Stella could hardly repress a smile at this calculating outbreak. "You have given mc the print for two dresses," she answered, with ready tact —"the cost of which with us in England, would be fourpence a yard. I have nearly made it myself, hut you can deduct whatever you see fit, and I will attend to my own wardrobe in the future. Tf I do Maggie Flynn's work I must have Maggie Flynn's pay and privileges," she concluded, deeidedlv.

"You will have nothing of (ho kirwl." Mrs. Richards was fairly hoarse with anger. "You forgot that your father has consigned you to m.v guardianship for the next few years, and you will do exactly as I direct you. Hut we have wasted time enough in ihis kind of talk. You are to come with nie at once and I will set you to work." She followed the woman as she was hidden, without a word, thinking il 11,' SI id discuss tin 1 question "no further just then. Hut three was, nevertheless, a determined gleam in her glorious e.\es : her .form was as erect and proud, her step as firm as if she fell herself in i'\i:rx respect (he equal of the woman who appeared hound to oppress her. Ml da\ long she was kepi steadily Jt work. Not. a moment was she allowed to rest except when she was eating She made hods, swept and dusted rooms, and ran errands, until every bone in her slight bod\ nehed wilh weairiiM-ss. and liit small feel were noarh Mistered Her delicate hands had never oe.r-

formed such menial tasks before, nor had her gentle heart ever throbbed with such revengeful, rebellious feelings. It was eight o'clock before her hard mistress released her from her labours, and told her to go directly to bed, so as U. be up early in the morning and sweep the front steps before people should begin to pass. She went to her room as directed, but instead of retiring, she took from a chest of drawers one of the packages of paper which she had rescued from her state room on the burning ship, and weary as she was, she again descended two flights of stairs, and, approaching the library door, tapped gently upon it. A deep manly voice bade her come in, and she entered, with a firm and decided tread. Mr. Richards was sitting at his desk, engaged in answering some business letters. Stella had timed her visit to him, for she had watched, and seen him go into the library after tea was over. He looked up as she closed the door behind her, and his face relaxed into a kind smile as he saw who it was. The girl had interested him in the morning by her grace, beauty and intelligence, but. he had been so busy during the day that he had scarcely thought of her since. Tie did inquire for her at dinner, but there were visitors present, and his wife made him some evasive reply. If the truth cculd have been known, she was rather reluctant to inform him what her intentions were regarding the young stranger. "Do 1 interrupt you, Mr. Richards" Stella asked, modestly, but without advancing beyond the threshold. ''Not at all, Miss Stella. I have just finished. Come in, and sit down," he answered, heartily. To be Continued.