The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-03-17
STORY OF A PICTURE.

imaginable, with the wide, noisy rive
tumbling and foaming at the foot c
the gently sloping lawn-with its dozel
| of huge shade trees and its broad piazzas
with rustic chairs and hammocks
There were lots of boarders in the sui
Try July weather that had driven then
out of the hot, steaming cities into th
breezy country. and it SO happened tha
Mrs. Stratheden's party was particular,
pleasant and congenial.
Particularly lovely little Ethel Flores
tan, with her bright bronze brown eye
and Iitianesque hair of delicious auburn
and her complexion white as milk-fair
naughty little Ethel, whom everybody
loved.
On this especially bright July morning
when the fervid sunshine was pouring
down such floods of beauty over river and
lawn. and wood, Ethel had taken her lit
tie basket of fancy-work and copy OF
''That Lass o'Lowrie's," and gone of
alone to favorite nook, down by the
water side, where there grew tree whose
gnarled trunk stretched out like a seat
over the messy bank.
She made charming picture with her
gray linen dress so cool and neat, and the
blue ribbons at her throat and in her
lovely hair; and if Arch Conyngham
could have seen her, as she sat there,
thinking of the time they had met, of the
unmistakable admiration he had evinced
for her, he certainly would have been
even more interested in her than he was.
Away down in her heart, Ethel knew
that be was her lord and master, and as
she sat there, as girls will sit and dream
sweet dreams, and build lovely air castles,
Nina Maynard came down the path, dark
as gypsy queen, her white teeth fash
ing, her cheeks glowing.
''I've been hunting high and low for
you, Ethel, she said, eagerly. 'Imight
have known you would be here, though.
What do you think2 We have had an
answer to our letter."
Ethel looked a little wonderingly.
"Your letter? [ don't remember
Ethel! Is itpossible you have forgot
ten the advertisement we girls answered.
You do remember, surely-Capt. Sartor-
is2"
Aswift little flush warmed Ethel's face.
She rarely blushed, and now her naughty
little head erected itself as the pale flush
crept over her face.
''Ninai You really never were so fool
ish, SO absurd, as to answer that adyer-
tisement. Why, l was sure you only
nAanaAt IT passing iaat y~~"~l oie-
and kathie."
Nina laughed, thesweet, girlish melody
ringing ont on the quiet morning; then
she suddenly assumed confidential man
ner.
Don't Ethel! somebody might hear
you. OF course we answered it, and
signed it 'Ninon May'-as near my name
as l dare go-'Ninon May, on behalf of
several young ladies equally interested
And what do you think but he has ans
wered it2 A splendid letter, too-full of
fun and mischief-and he wants our pho
tographs!"
Ethel listened, in cold and indignant
little way.
Ours
Nina understood the indignant ques-
ton conveyed by the word.
'.Why-yes. Where's the harmi We
needn't send them unless
Ethel quietly stepped down off the tree
trunk seat, determined, almost imper-
ial, look in her eyes.
Don't say we or our again, if you
please, Nina, Understand distinctly, l do
not,.in the least countenance such absurd
and immodest proceedings, and will have
no part whatever in the affair."
Nina flushed under the sweet, indig-
nant eyes that were flashing their accom-
panying protest.
's1t seems to me you are rather over
doing the matter" she said angrily.
Then, as Ethel's lips curled in just the
merest smile at the girls passion, and
even evident consciousness of the irregu-
Iarity of the affair, Nina could not restrain
the wrath that came boiling up to hei
very lips.
"You are just too mean for anything.
] perfectly hate your goodygoody peo
ple."
And then she went away, leaving Ethe
tranquil as ever, to resume her delicious
reveries of Arch Conyngham, and the
memories of the glances of his eyes an6
the reverent admiration of his manner =
one of those sweet, sweet dreams that
are so unspeakably precious to woman's
heart when it is just awakened from Its
girlhood sleep of years. touch of the
master hand of the Prince Lovely.
While enraged little Nina, with Grim
son cheeks and sparkling eyes, founcet
emphatically back to her room.
Il never saw anybody half so mean.
she told herself, as she famed hersel
vigorously after her rapid walk. "Ethe
is regular kill Joy! We would have haG
such sport over Capt. Sartoris and hi
letters. But now"
And wicked little frown wrinkled hel
forehead all up in a nest of criss eros:
puckers-a frown that meant she neve
again could feel quite as jolly over th,
escapade, since Ethel's cold, dignified re-
serve. and also that she would like to ge
.'even" with her.
"And I will, too" she thought, sud
denly springing from her chair, an
reaching for her photograph album o.
the table between the windows. "Ethe