Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-11-16

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ceptance- But not for a thousand Laurel
tons would | spend life-tim with her, wher
an hour exhausts all her entertaining and in
structive ability"
81 wonder what Aunt Sarah and the Judg,
would think if they knew my private opinion
of Maud and Ida? To be sure Ida's nice, lady
like little thing, and has about as much minC
of her own as butterfly. doubt if she evel
really does think beyond the arrangement Of
pretty yellow hair and the fit of those marvel
Gus tiny slippers of hers"
From which it will seem that Mr.. Frank
Hazleton had been very observant.
There's the Misses Cloudesly-sensible,
intelligent girls as ever saw; only Florence
will persist in tyranizing over dear little
Irma-"
Then the dinner-bell abruptly dispelled his
mental criticisms, and he went down to find
them all gone in but Irma Cloudesley, who,
with suspiciously fearful face stood before
the mirror. She startled, half guilty, as he
entered.
''Oh, thought you had gone in. You're
late, Mr.. Hazleton"
"And so are you. What has kept you?"
He saw the flush surge over her cheeks
'I-oh-nothing g-much."
Has Florence been teasing you again?"
He went close up to her, looking down
into her face
'No-nothing at all. Please go in to d:n-
ner, Mr.. Hazleton."
She looked really distressed, he saw, but
the headstrong fellow did not obey at ALL
''Pll go in moment, Irma. Tell me first
if you are angry with me, that you seem so
eager to get rid of me-not only now, Irma,
but always. You avoid me continually"
She blushed roster than ever, and turned
her face away.
mo, lrma, you must answer me- Have l
offended you?"
"No, Mr.. Hazleton, you have not. Please
60 to dinner. They won't like it; Maud will
think"
''Irma, positively will not go to dinner
unless | know what is the matter with you,
if | never eat a mouthful again. What will
Maud think What right has my cousin to
think anything about what l do2"
"Oh, Mr.. Hazleton-you-you are cruel to
ask me. 1t was foolish in me to say word"
every word you say is very sweet to me
little girl. Tell me why you dread Maud's
knowing we are here together? Tell me Irma,
or shall-kiss you"
"You know well enough" she faltered des,
perately. ''You know they all expect you to
marry Maud and"
Frank laughed, and suddenly caught her in
both his arms and kissed her.
''Don't struggle, Irna. You are my little
darling aren't you? You love me, don't you?
Because 1 love you so very dearly, Irma. dear
little Irma! Maud knows never shall marry
her, and know 1 shall marry you, shan't II"
ooh, Frank" She whispered it shyly,
blissfully, as she looked into his handsome
face. ''You ought not to love me, and lose
'Laurelton.' Indeed-indeed-I am not worth
so much"
81 consider myself the best judge of that,
Miss Cloudesley. Perhaps you think in your
humility, that you are not more to me than
ten thousand 'Laurelton's.7
''AmI-really-am Frank"
He kissed her over and over again.
''Shall we go to dinner-or, has your ap-
petite vanished? Mine has, after such nectar
as your kisses"
She laughed; then he saw her beautiful
mouth begin to quiver.
''Frank, you won't be angry, will you?
Promise me. 1t wasn't my fault, truly, but
grandma's."
She looked so wistfully at him, and her
language was so puzzling, that he laughed
outright.
"Angry?-never. Promise you?-anythingr
She leaned her head forward, 30 he could
not see her face.
81 am not Irma Cloudesley, but Irma Ran
som. Sister Florence and l changed identi-
ties with Maud and Ida, who are really the
Misses Cloudesley. So after all, Frank, you
shall have Laurelton, if you will take it. Will
you, with me?"
That of course, settled it, since Frank was
so anxious to have Irma
And so, after all, Aunt Sarah's ruse of aoap'
accomplished the desired end, on the unalter-
ed principle that she, and the rest of US wo-
men, understand that men are stubborn crea-
lures, who are sure TO do exactly contrary to
the way you want them to do.