Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1874-01-20

latter quality not being an excel
lent thing ip a woman, for it never
fails to bring trouble in its train,
and Estelle's case was no exception
to the rule.
Estelle was an orphan. A mild
old lady, Mrs. Mold, her aunt, lived
with her at Vane Abbey, as the
tasteless modern structure had been
presumptuously named. Mrs. Mold
possessed decided talents for di-
recting domestic affairs--and it was
well she did, for tire household
would have Jared hut badly had the
management of 1t depended on its
mistress. Estelle was gay, and
free, and careless as bird In spring
time, and she showed more temper
than was quite proper at times.--
She was something more than pref
ty, and yet you could not call her
beautiful. She was sunny-haired
and sunny-faced. Where was q
charm about her which defied an
alysis.
Being beauty and an heiress,
Estelle was Of course, not without
suitors. Indeed there was quite a
swarm of them, "like bees around
a honey comb" Mrs. Mold said.
Osmund Ormsby more elegantly
observed, "like butterflies awound
q wose." People said that Walter
Miles and Osmund Ormsby were
equally favored by the young lady.
But people were wrong.
Estelle had been engaged to Walter
Miles for nearly year. Through
her caprice the engagement had
been made known to no one save
Mrs. Mold.
Walter Miles loved her devoted
ly. He was neither handsome nor
very brilliant, but he was sincere
and true hearted. He was, gener-
ally, sensible and clear-sighted, but
love had blinded him, and had fall
len into the mistake of believing
Estelle almost faultless.
Osmund Ornsby Fourth son of
Sir D'Estrange Ormsby, be it un-
derstood,) was a fop and fortune
hunter. He was distantly related
to Estelle through her father, who
had been an Englishman. Osmund
had come to America with thoughts
intent on conquest. The fourth
son of Sir D'EstraDge Ormsl'y was
not an exceedingly great person in
England, hut in the new world
things are entirely different, you
know, even the seventh son of a
knight is thankfully received, and
eagerly married by the most eligi-
ble young ladies. As Osmund was
the son of q baronet, his chances
were immeasurably superior. Act
ing on this belief, he took the ear
lest opportunity of honoring Amer
lea with his presence. But he was
somewhat disappointed to discover
that the first quality heiresses-for
O-mund wanted youth, beauty and
refinement as well as wealth-did
not seem inclined to scramble for
him, Notwithstanding the oft-re-
peated proclamation that he was
son of Sir D'Estrange Ormshy, go
he consoled himself for the indiffer-
ence of the city bellies by visiting
Vane Abbey and endeavoring to
captivate Estelle.
Estelle's little eight-cornered
boudoir was the prettiest room in
the house. Glossy leaved ivy vines
climbed over the gilded picture
frames, and the scent of roses from
the flower stand mingled with the
aromatic perfume Of the fir-cones
with which the little lady liked her
fire to be supplied. She was seat
ed at the piano, playing a noisy
"show piece" The door opened,
and Walter Miles entered. His face
was not as cheerful as usual.
~ thought I'd find you here, Es-
telle. I want to speak to you"
"Plah-a, Monsie,uS" she re-
sponded, wheeling around on the
piano stool, and looking up at him
with the sauciest of smiles.
~ don't understand French" he
answered grimly. "You had better
keep that sort of stuff for Ormsby."
"Some people possess sufficient
tact to hide their ignorance; 9TH
ers are 100 frank" She was evil
IDENTIFY prepared for battle.
"There are many defects worse
than q want of tact-hirting, for
instance"