The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-03-11
DOTS FATE.
by FLORENCE PERCY ALLEN,

There she is" said Dot. as n tall
slight figure, with a trr.fling black dress
and scarlet shawl, came around the
corner by the lime trees, and walked
slowly toward the N. "That's Miss Ma
verick-and oh, Rex! she's lovely"
us sheY' 81 Id Rex, little obviously.
SHOULDN'T" but the near approach
OF the strf Ager kept back the remainder
OF his Sc e'Atence, and with his lowest bow
he expressed himself delighted at meet
ing 1iss Maverick, while she, after a
ca m survey of the young gentleman,
and a few words to him and his cOmpan-
ion, walked toward the house.
80 that is Rex" she said to herself.
"Dot's fate-lucky little goosew
So you think she is lovely, do you ?"
said Rex, as the tall figure passed by.
q" Not very good taste on your part, /
think" but, oddly enough, he turned
his handsome head and looked after
her for all that. "a music teacher
or something, you said@'
"Yes," answered Dot; "papa used to
know her father years ago, when they
were boys, and he found her in mean
little school in the city; and, you know
how he is, he brought her here for the
holidays. am sorry you do not like
her"
"Never mind" said Rex, loftily;
"pcrhaps she will improve on acquaist-
ance meanwhile let's talk Of something
else" but still, when turn in the path
brought the graceful figure, with its
scarlet and black draperies, into view
again, he turned his head and looked at
her once more. "She walks well-like
Spaniard," and then the hall door closed
behind her.
That evening, when Miss Maverick
Joined them, Rex felt the interest of the
morning increased. Her dark. oval face
looked well by gaslight; her eyes were
large and lustrous; her heavy black
hair, braided in coronet, and destitute
of ribbon or ornament of any kind, was
a wonder in itself, and, although her
dress was so plain that, on another wo-
her tall, graceful figure made it seem a
garb fit for princess.
Her manner, too, pleased Rex: she was
lady-like, quiet and dignifed; brilliant,
too, he found, wien he heard her con-
versing with his uncle, but she scarcely
: noticed the young gentleman who was
30 crltlcally regarding her.
ga fine woman" said Rex to himself.
"I rather admire her." but the fine wo-
man, apparently ignorant of his kindly
feelings, was unapproachable and distant
all the evening.
The next day it was the same, and the
next, and so on, until at last Rex Ian
caster, handsome, petted, conceited fel-
ow that he was, became fairly piqued by
the singularly chilly manner of the
"poor teacher" toward whom, of late,
he had been unusually suate and ami
able.
He was only a boy as yet-only
twenty-one; a handsome, idle, good
natured, good-for-nothing boy-home
from college for short time, and very
much disposed to have regular good
time during his stay. He was, as we
have said, handsome, idle good-for-
nothing, and in that capacity had been
falling in and out Of love continuously
since the remote period when he first
donned pair of boots.
His rooms at college were decorated
with innumerable pictures of the bright
particular stars which had guided his
footsteps from time to time.
He left college deeply in love with no
less than three young ladies, but when
he had been away tive days he proved
false, as usual, and on the evening of the
third day after his arrival at his uncle's
he would have unblushingly affirmed
that Leonora had freckles on her nose,
that Rosamond painted, and that Marie
was little goose !" also that his cousin
Dot was the Sweetest little girl in the
world d"-such is the constancy of man!
That Dot should be 10 considered by
the young gentleman had been one of
the "family plans" ever since Dot,
red, wrinkled, meek baby, had made her
appearance; and, to this end, Rex was
sent to pass his spare time with his
uncle, when Dot being pretty, pink
and-white, babyish little girl, Rex ap-
peared in fair way to carry out the
family plans on his own responsibility.
"Dot is darling" he said, medi-
tatively, as he strolled down to the beach
alone, Dot having been borne off to
make some stately "calls," in which
Rex fatty refused to participate. "Such
dear little kittenish thing-so different
from that Miss Maverick. Halloa ~ for
a sudden turn around a jutting rock
caused him almost TO fall over n dark
robed figure, which sat there gazing out
at the sea.
"I am sure / beg your pardon" he
said "I didn't know that you were here.
~
The great dark eyes were turned slowly
upon him.
"Ab, il is you," she said, with q smile
which made Rex wonder how he had