The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-20

spaoQlan thaxas in tha~ ElE.nast f the,aya,.I
ming, and we had merry time. At one
time Stella and your sister Mary were
standing out on the veranda. Edna and
4 were playing chess inside, but so near
the open: window that we could see and
hear them perfectly. Mary laid her
hand on one Of Stella's braids, saving,
''This is new, isn't it? Is it your own
hair? FL. ,f
Stella said EYES," simply and indiffer.
emily I believed her of course. When
the cousins and friends were all gone,
Stella had romp with her little sister,
before her mother took her up to bed.
In the play the braid had become loosen.
ed. Stella stepped into the back parlor
and was rc-arranging her hair in the
gllSS and | SAW her take off the braid
and hold 1t in her hand. 1t was separate
from her head. saw it distinctly, and
l could not shut my eyes to the fact that
she had lied-a foolish, miserable lie, for
vanity's sake How could she g. and
Ransom was silent, walking with agitated
steps back and forth across the room.
''Come now There's some mistake,
know. Stella isn't such fool and
weakling, I'm sure, and you ought to
know it, too! I'll write to Mary and
ask
you shall do no such thing. I saw
with my own eyes or would not have
believed it. Besides, it would amount to
nothing. If Stella would lie for vanity's
seke, might not Mary do the same to Sc
cure what she believed to be for the hap
piness Of two Of her best friends? There
don t be angry, dear Arthur! But if
Stella is not true, where shall look for
truth?
Arthur gloomily studied the fire, with
his elbows on the table and his head in
his hands. You may be sure there's a
mistake J. at last he said. 'You'd bet
ter let me write and find out. It'll save
you and Stella both deal Of misery, for
do believe the girl loves you and is
mourning now over your hurried visit,
and-how did you take leave? Did
you come right away?''
81 came right away. Twas too much
shocked to make use of any of the com.
monplaccs, but withdrew abruptly"
Arthur urged still the expediency of
writing to his sister, but Ransom was de-.
termined, and he concluded not to inter-
NEEDLE. Christmas would soon be there
when they would all be together again,
and then perhaps all would come right.
So Ransom went about his business as
usual, prompt, faithful, efficient,-but
with sore spot in his heart, of which he
would not suffer himself to think, lest he
! be tempted to the weakness ofregretting
a decision he believed to be right one.
And Stella too performed her daily du-
ties and smiled to hide her wounded
heart. Fancying she had deceived her.
self in thinking Ransom Wilder cared
much for her, she began battling and
trampling down the love that she had
dared allow to spring up in her hear for
him, and shutting her own eyes to the
fact OF its still more and more vigorous
up-springing. Perhaps she grew a triae
paler, but she Was M re than ever reso
lutte in the performance Of what she chose
to consider her duties. Keeping hesself
, busy as a bee from morning till night,
cheerful, even gay as ever, apparently
no one suspected a hidden sorrow. Even
her parents guessed nothing. Her pillow,
that safe confiuant Of young girls troub-
les, could only have told Of the restless
/ head and the burning oheek-possibly a
tear or two but no whisper of what was
the matter. At last Christmas came and
Arthur vent home and Ransom to his
uncle's house, the former fully resolved
to find out the mystery il possible, and
bring reconciliation to his friend the
other stern|y resolved to confine himself
to his unele's premises as much as posi-
bic and to see but little Of Stella.
Arthur talked with Mary on the very
night ofhs arrival.
''Why. it was all true. As if Cousin
Stella would tell lie! y said Mary indig.
nantly.
''But he saw her take off tho braid -
quite away from her head,' said Arthur
still perDlexed.
''tt was her own hair, nevertheless
You see We girls save combings what
comes out and when we have enough
we take it to hair dresser and get il
made ue into braids or curls.
"Oh u glad to be enlightened!' said
Arthur. "lt'll all come out right now"
Ofcourse Ransom did not keep his res
olution; and at the end of the holidays
he Welt back, very happy, for Stella was
his promised bride.
News from England of the 18th brings