Middletown transcript., 1876-08-12
Criminal Storu.
Written for the Transcript
ELSIE LEE.
Continued from last sceeh.
CHAPTER Sd


| Elsie's sparkling eyes and cheek
flushed with recent exercise, made
striking contrast to the pale cheeks an
langnid air Of Miss Earle, the worn OF
belle who had come to the country /
recruit her health. AS the game pro
ceeded the latter found an opportunit
to whisper in Elsie ear, Do you kno,
i envy you. Miss Lee r. Envy her
the elegant Annette Earle, who had sci
dom known an ungrati6ed wish, env
her Elsie judged her neighbors b
the cuQpmaIye standard-sef- Inca
pable Of deceit. she trusted all other
till she had conclusive evidence Of thei
unworthiness Unaccountable as An
nette's assertion seemed, Elsie inwardly
reproached herself for doubling one o
whom she knew SO little. Her amazed
look made Annette repeat with earnest.
ness, II do truly envy you What |
glorious opportunity you have for fir.
tation with Mr.. Howard It may read.
lily be seen he is already half in love
with you"
Excuse me, Miss Earle, but think
you are greatly mistaken" Elsie's quiet
dignity and look Of grave surprise was
rather confusing to Annette, which she
strove to conceal with gay laugh. ex-
claiming under her breath rs it posi-
ble you have not seen it"
Elsie was annoyed and turned hur-
riedly away to recover her ball which
had been croqueted some distance. The
remainder Of the morning she studiously
avoided Annette Earle.
On her part, Annette regarded Elsie
as the oldest girl she had ever met. II
believe she is actually offended, and I'm
sure it is not every girl who could aet
a chance to firt with such aserious man
as he He is too Independent to care
for wealth. so | know that 1, who shud-
der at the idea Of meditating seriously,
cannot have pleasure Of little Irritation
with him" Annette was not as heart
less as might be supposed, but her char
acter. like that Of most human beings,
had been moulded by the influences
brought to bear upon her. Her every
wish was. pampered by an eyer-indul-4
gent mother, who lived in cesseless
round of gaieties. Frivolous novels
formed the greater part Of the lady's IL
brary, to which her daughter had free
access The ipjudicious parent thought
the books she found pleasure in pcrusing
could not possibly harm her child. An
nette had never been taught to regard
he wishes or feelings of Others conse-
luently became selfish and exactipg.
To make herself agreeable to the oppo-
,ite sex, to be fattered aud admired, to
bring her adorers to her feet with pro-
Of love and finally to flirt with
hem seemed ber highest ambition.
It was evening, and the sisters we're
gain alone. Silence had fallen between
hem. and was abruptly broken by Elsie
aging, ri presume l must satisfy your
uriosity now, Lulu. by giving you an
ccount Of my folly. It was humiIiat-
ng in the extreme, but its effects were
beneficial to me.
"When / entered Oak wood Seminary
was stranger in strange land l
vas attracted Immediately toward gentle
edith Stanley. but Mary Conner. fol-
owed by troup of merry, laughing |
iris came up to me, offering to make
ne acquainted with all the rules and |
equations. and to introduce me to all |
be agreeable girls, with the declaration
hat they knew we would soon be firm
riends.
Ateacher bad introduced Edith STAN
y, who shortly after excused herself
n the plea Of having music lesson to
ractice mentioned the circumstance
} Mary, who seemed to be leader Of the
arty, and to my great CONSERVATION
he laughed boisterously. This laugh
as echoed by her satellites, and iu
erisive tone she said she chopped was
OF going to allow myself to be influ-
need by that proud, naughty girl.
axe my advice and avoid her society
foolishly closed my eyes to Mary Con-
er's coarseness and vulgarity when I
srceived how very popular she was in
,e school. It would not do to be sim
ular. and however repugnant to my
'eiings | concluded to make friends
ith her, though l could not consent to
roid Edith entirely.
Zone day, toward the close Of the
urth week. | was walking with Edith
I'd enjoying one of her delightful con-
when Mary suddenly rushed
pom us. Roughly seizing me by the
m she breathlessly said. "Come, come
iicklyr and attempted to drag me
way. Il have no time to explain just
w, so you will have to excuse her
les Stanley with q mock courtesy to
dith Sitting the2voice Of conscience
turned to follow Mary. saying won't ,
u come too, Edith 2 With look of
ingled surprise and reproash, Edith
lietly answered, No. thank you, l
ii remain here.' Mary hurried me
ray scornfully telling Edith she might
~ there moping aloDe.if she liked
en- turning to me said 'of course you
low what you are wanted for. Re-
ember you've promised to firt with
'ank Jones, and you can If you will. ID