The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-04-04

"But | can't see why she should OBJ
ject to anything Of that kind. A
long as my intentions are honorable,
and don't forget that you are lady
and that | am a gentleman, who has
any right to find fault? ?"
"She's always quoting Jack Hartley
to me. said Lettie. 81 believe ] half
hate him just on that account. He's
her ideal, and she blames me for not
thinking as she does. He's good
enough, but if | don't SEQ iii to accept
her opinion as law and gospel, I'd like
to see hei make me" Letties eyes
flashed defiance as she announced her
declaration of independence.
"Some day You'll get rid of being
domineered over" with look and
smile that set Lettie's foolish heart in
futter. Some day. If We could
only force circumstances To come to
our terms there wouldn't be any some
days. 1t would be now.
Vaughn staid there for an hour
with his pretty, tender speeches.
which might have meant 50 much,
but which simply meant nothing al
all. But Lettie didn't know that.
! A week later he went back to the
city. Lettie could feel the kiss that
he left on her cheek AT parting for
DAYS after, As she thought of the thou
sand tender things he had said, and
of the vague hints he had given of
coming back if he could succeed in
doing what he hoped to. He had not
said, in So many words, what he was
coming for, but Lettie thought she
understood what it was well enough.
The DAYS were lonesome ones after
Vaughn went away. Aunt Jane felt
completely gu, of patience with Lettie
for being so foolish as to think he
cared for her. Her old eyes were
keener than Lettie's Young ones.
Because she stated her opinions frank
lv, Lettie kept aloof from her, and
nursed her lonesome feelings and her
hopes and was miserable and happy,
after fashion, all at the same time.
If no one else believed Vaughn had
been i'm earnest she did.
The fall went by and winter came
and with it letter from Aunt Marcia.
saying that she wished Sister Jane
would let Lettie come and stay with
her awhile and see the city.
Lettie was wild to go. Vaughn
was there. Of course her Aunt
Marcia's station was at the lower part
of the social ladder, and Vaughn
would never be likely to descend to it
unless there was great attraction for
him there. But, it she went to the
city she could see him, and when he
found that she was there, then, then .
And Lettie wove such delightful and
foolish dreams of what might be when
he discovered that she was near him
that she was sure she should be broken
hearted if she did not 60.
She went. Aunt Jane saw plainly
enough why she wanted to 60. and
gave grim consent after thinking it
over. Perhaps it might be the mean.
of curing Let lie of her foolish fancy
For some DAYS Lettie heard nothing
of Vaughn. Then, in crowd, some
one spoke of him, and from the con-
versation she learned that he would
be at a new opera that was to be given
that night, in company with some
friends from the south.
She coaxed Aunt Marcia into going
to the opera. She wanted to see
Vaughn to let him know that she
was there. If he found that out she
felt sure he would come and see her
at once.
The brilliant scene bewildered her.
She had never seen anything so gor-
geous before. 1t was like fairy land
or heaven. The music wrapped her
in ecstacy, and seemed crying over
and over:
Poor, foolish, foolish Lettief
He Is coming, he II coming
She looked about her. Suddenly
she started. and turned pale with
emotion, for she had seen him. He
was just coming in with a woman on
his arm. A woman whose face was
exquisite as fpwer, and whose gar
ments were rich and beautiful. max
ing her CONSPICUOUS among the many
radiant and splendidly dressed women
there.
Two men in front of them began to
talk of Vaughn.
Hes lucky fellow" one of them
said. "She's as rich as Jew, they
say"
..Cho,r Inralu fhaf,S Sura ra.nnnd