The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-11-28
Medcra turned crimson with vexasion. My cousin Grace r she said. "No. n1ANd WM ara su 3~aA~a

Mf cousin Gracey' she said. q No, indeedl We are not-in trade"
 What possessed her to utter this delih. crate falsehood Medora could not aEer- ward have told. Partly the sting of false shame, partly a disinclination for Mir. Herbert Valance to know that her relA- tions were, to use her expression, mot ladies srd gentlemen"
 Mir Valance looked up at the sign over the door.
 The name is May" he remarked in. differently.
 "Yes," said Medora, angry at herself blushing so deeply, but we are no rela- ton !"
 Mir. Valance thought over the matter ; he aiterwari met Mss May at party given by a friend. where pretty Grace Craxall ~1s also present; he had taken rather fancy to the pretty blue eyes and delcate blonde beauty of the forrer Valance Hall, on the hlll jus, ou, of the city, was solitary enosgh, now that his sisters had all m married and gone away. and perhaps a man might find less at tracuve and graceful wife than Medora May. But he could not be mistaken, he thought, ID Grace Craxall identity.
 And so the next evening, about the same time, he sauntered into the shop
 Grace was beain1 tho 5s;S.:!y -c!c:: little 'unter, taking some newly baked maple caramels of the pan. She looked up with smile.
 Good evening, Mir. Valance" said she.
 "So," he thought, wasn't mistaken after all. And the little blue-ey ed seraph IS mortal enough to tell lie in spite ot her angelic appearance"
 But he looked sGteneIy at Grace.
 "t didn't know you were in trade" said he.
 Didn't you2 We'll" retor,ed Grace, !" am my Aunt Deborah's shop, girl at present. l always come here in the even. in5s, to help her, because" she added, wlth sweet shade of seriousness coming over her face, "aunt was old and poor, and she didn't qulte know how to main tain herself in independence and, unfor- tunateiy, my wages at the factory are not enough for us both. 50 advised her to open this business, and she did, and she's doing we'll; and she bakes the most de- l!cious bread and pies you ever ate, so," wuh sauoy twinkle under her eyelashes "lf you know of any GU us,omers, will you please recommend our hrm9 ?"
 "To be sure shall," he answered in the same spuit "And am very glad, Mss Craxall, to see that you are not ashamed ot being working. girl
 "Of course, l am not" said Grace. Why should be2"
 But your Cousin Medora is"
 Grace gave hule shrug of her shoul- ders.
 "Very likely" said she. "Medora and I differ ID many things"
 MT. Valance bought pound of cara. mels and went away.
 ''She's beauty" he said to himself And she is sensible beauty into the bargain. One of those rare creatures in our country, thoroughly well-balanced grl."
 He must have been very we'll pleased with his purchase, for he came again the next evening, just in time to walk home with brace Craxall. And they talked over Aunt Deoorahs affairs, and con. cluded, as flour was low just then, it would be favorable opportunity for the odlady to lay in her winter stock through MT. Valance, who was acquainted with one of the great New York grain mer chants
 Only few weeks had elapsed when Medora May was electrified to learn tn at her cousin Grace was engaged.
 To some master baker or journeyman couiectioner, suppose" she said con- temp,uously.
 "No,' sad Grace, with eyes roguishly sparkling, |" to MT Herbert Valance" "I- -don't-believe-it," said Medora, growing red, then pale.
 [" But it's really so," said Grace. "And we are to be married in three months And Aunt Debby is to come to the Hall and live with me as soon as she can dis. pose ot her business to advantage. And, dear Medora 1 hope you will often come and visit me there"
 Medora May did not answer. She could not. But in her secret heart she recognized how infinitely more successful in lie list had been Or aces true, frank honesty, than her own subtle and devious course.
 Like many others, however. the lesson had come to her too la,e.-Exehange.