The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-01-25

beng dragged ON in hot, angry haste.
Mrs Manlcu laughed
"MhN, Erla. amy one would think Won
took II as a personal afruut Nou know
you think Mr. King is apcriect bear, -
The gloves Wyrc huttuucd NiudtctivclN,
and Mrs nantnvillc took mp her sun
shade Ia depart
There WAS a perfect tempest Of emo
ton in Erla's BRAN aud heart, and out
of the rlotIug confusion there sprung am
almost savage determination a. convince
Mr.. King of his mistake IN considering
her the uuiutcrgstiug boohy he thought
her
She would make lim admire her. and
make hmm like her, Hud wicked ar not,
She would draw him un ta care for her
with all hlS soul. and thcu- oh, what ii
revenge she would have
She WAS so charming, so hewitcmug
50 iuesistlhly fascinating that King
came under the influence admirably, and
succcCied IN creating the impression
upuu her he desired to create, that he
Was not bear, but refined, agree
able gentleman, who cuuyerscd. danced
and tig,eI equally we'll,
That Was "A grand day for them both,
they were together all day. while Mr.
Marltn and Dantonyille and his wife AS
snmed reprachful looks and laughed IN
their sleeves
Ii was rich little drg1ma-this play
ing AZ swor,is' points first, and then.
gradually becoming really Interested, and
irving 10 assure themselves IL WAS only
their good luck that made them So hap
- a. I'D
together. little dreaming that they We're
reported engaged many a time.
Bu. il suddenly came to a cllnaN-a
prvme,htated climax on the part of the
c,,-causuirttors-au Mrs Marirn took
the initiative by coming IN upon Erla
one day as she sat alone, with a book
she had bgeu reading.
"Au alone? What a wonder and what
blessing. for | never get AN opportuui-
N ut "a word with yuu since that odiOus
fellow of q KING hangs So continuously
around Won. | DO think, Erla, You
ought 10 be little ashamed Of Your
sell.
The graceful figure straightenei
suddenly.
Il oughs2 Really, Mrs. Marlen,
You have changed your mind greatly
about Mr.. KING. who is scarcely the
'u,auus fellow you take him 10 be. /
find Lm delightful
Il have changed my mind about him,
am happy 10 say. | see HIM now as he
is-yaiu, frivolous and conceited as q boy
E.rla. take NV advice, and have no more
to do with him. unless, AS | hope and
pray. il is only Irritation.
& z. Z. z 1sNr.u
~, and Mrs. Marden SAW paleuess ON
the ayerted face.
She smiled and went on, rs she arose
from her chair
Don't hate me. dear, for saving what
| have. viii you2 But l am older than
YOU. by 50 many wears, and | don't think
Mr.. King is 3 tit match Tor YOU -
Then the golden head came proudly
up. and the blue ewes looked straight IN
Mrs. Mariens.
Mr.. King is a III match for a
princess Of the blood royal if he chose to
50 honor her He doesn't intend 10
marry me -
Then Mrs Marden went ont, laughing
all the way down the hall, until she met
Florian coming impatIently, hastily IN
her direction. with a determined sparkle
in his dark eyes and pale, eager anxiety
on his handsome face
.'Will find Er-Miss Vincent in the
parlor? Is she alone ?"
She told him yes, with grave coun-
tenance. and then went straight to her
recipe book 10 hunt up the directions for
the wedding cake she meant 10 give
them
While Mr. King went into the lonely.
silent parlor, 10 find Erla crouching IN
corner uf the sofa. crying softly, IN the
sudden knowledge that had been forced
10 her by Mrs. Marlen's worls-the hui
initiating fact that she was in love with a
man who, IS she had proudly said,
didn't intend Ia marry her.
He walked over to her, his heart
humping in strong, audible beats, his
face pale. his ewes full OF tenderness.
He stopped beside her, and lifted her
lovely head
=. Erln, is it true you hate me quite rs
much as they tell me? Erla dear little
girl, if you only knew how love you
Erla quick ,-you do care for me, my
darling, my darling -
Her arms were claspcd around his
neck, her eyes looking in his-and, as
matter Of course, the wedding cake was
wanted.