The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-12-25
SAVED AS BY FATE.
BY SARA ID. ROSE.


"What can it be. Louise. that is so
cb0rming about Alice? Any one but
her would be pronounced homely, with
those features; besides, she Is straw
berry blonde, she is freckled, and she
has the most immense feet-wears q
six. at the very least"
Il am sure / cannot say, but fascinat-
ing she certainly is; it must be in her
manner or In her accomplishments
Who would ever have thought when
she came here six months ago that she
would now be the belle of Lancaster 2"
Il didn't, I'm sure, or never would
have allowed papa to offer her home
with us; just listen to that voice!"
And Jeanette Taylor paused as the
sweet tones of her cousins voice came
floating up to them from the music
room.
"She is practicing up for the concert.
I'd give the world to keep her away
from there. Claude Moltrop is sure to
fall deader in love with her than ever,
for she does look stunning in her con-
cert dress, in spite of her red hair"
"Do you think that would make any
difference, Jeanne? Wouldn't he fol-
low her just the same if she did not
attend the concert"
Hardly, for, you see, Claude knows
nothing OF this sudden summons Alice
has received from Uncle George, and if
he should not meet her tonight, feel
sure could secure him before Alice
would ever see him again. for you know
she goes in the early train"
II rather think so myself" unused
Louise Lorton, Jeanne Taylor's
married sister. He seems to be almost
as attentive to you as he is to Alice; it
may be only her singing which attracts
him. What are you going to wear to-
night, Jeanne?'
MY white tissue, but know it's all
vain to think anything about it, if she
sings at that concert. / wish dare send
her away this minute, and Jeanne Tay-
Tor looked at her sister with despair
and anger in her black eyes.
at was a mistake, fathers bringing
her here" said Mrs. Lorton. ~But you
must do nothing rash, Jeanne; perhaps
1 may find way to prevent her attend
ing the concert
"Oh, Louise, how? have positively
begged her not to go, have even limited
that it was unladylike to sing in public,
but she is not to be turned from her
course single iota."
Mrs. Lorton smiled, and, bending
over, whispered in her sisters ear few
words which acted like magic upon the
despairing look in Jeanne's face.
ooh, Louise, if you only could she
said.
Il think I can," replied Mrs. Lorton.
And now go down stairs and offer to
help Alice with her packing, and then
when you are both dressed come to me
in the dining room where, will have
glass of lemonade prepared for you"
Jeanne departed with little tri-
umphant laugh, and Mrs. Lorton took
up her sewing with a self-satisfied look.
Alice Taylor was an orphan. Her par
ents had left her a small fortune, and
when her uncle Harvey had offered her
a house with his own daughters she had
accepted, not because she could not
support herself, but for the companion
ship she had hoped to find with her
cousins, who were about her own age.
She had missed something IN their de-
meanor from the first, but they had
never been particularly unkind. Still
the lonely girl missed the love she had
craved with such intenseness. Soon
after her arrival. her cousin Louise had
married, and was soon her fathers
housekeeper, and acted as chaperon
for Jeanne and Alice on all society oc-
casions.
After she had been in society a few
times people had discovered that plain
little Alice Taylor possessed beautiful
voice and an indescribable charm of
manner, and she began to be courted
and fattered until six months after her
arrival she was the acknowledged belle
of the small town.
Mrs. Moltrop, one of the leaders OF
society, had decided, just as the story
opens, to get up a charity concert for
the benefit Of the INDECENT of Lancas-
ter, and Alice Taylor's voice was to be
the particular attraction. Mrs. Mol
trop was very popular, and her only
son Claude was considered the best
catch" in town, and Jeanne Taylor,
before Alice's arrival, had been reason
ably sure that the prize was her own.
But there was change. yet she strove
with all the tact which is given the
young society lady to place herself
first in his regards; but, alas for her,
Alice's company was preferred to her
own. She was secretly very angry,
and Alice perceived an unpleasant
change in her, which she could account
for on no other grounds than the true
ones.
About this time she received letter
from another uncle of hers, who wished
her to fill daughters place to him.
She hailed the change with Joy, and
had planned to start for his distant
home the morning after the concert.
All this had been kept perfectly quiet
by her cousins, for they feared she
would receive an offer of marriage from
Claude Moltrop before her departure.