Daily Republican., 1885-07-10
AGGIE'S IDOLS
BY GERALDINE FLEMING.

BY GERALDINE FLEMING.
"My DEAR" Aggie's guardian said to
her, lis she really 30 lovely and good
your schoolgirl friend, who is coming
TO visit us?"
Fay I.orayne is just the sweetest
girl in the whole world" Aggie an
swered with enthusiasm. She is In.
deed lovely, and then she is 30 coaxing
and innocent"
Mr.Albert Godfrey smiled as IL he did
not consider the enthusiastic little
eulogy as altogether convincing.
MI Godfrey was not very young, nor
was he particularly handsome. He
was tall and straight and OF dignifed
presence, hisliair and mustache were
silvery gray but he had the fresh and
roseate complexion of boy, md his
dark eyes were brilliant with fires which
age itself could never quencA.
els Miss Lorayne younger than
you ?" Mr.. Godfrey querled presently.
"She is older-four or five years,
believe" Ageie answered with an in
voluntary glance at An opposite pier
glass v hich reflected her slim figure,
her earnest gray eyes, and the abun-
dance of lustrous auburn hair waving
smoothly back from delicate and pen.
sive face. "But seems great deal
younger Fay is one of those rare crea.
tures who can never seem old she will
be al ways like chiid-so winning and
uusophisticated and dependent. Fred
is already hal! in love with the picture
she sent me-"
"Beware he does not become wholly
in love with the original" Mr.. Godfrey
commented.
IL am afraid you are always inclined
to be unjust 10 poor Fred, she returned
very soberly.
III do not mean to be-" he protested
gravely. "For your sake, Aggie,
should like to acknowledge OF him
some attribute which l colld Justly
honor"
~ do not think he is more faulty
than the 10 ost of US" she said, perhaps
| with less conviction than with COM
mendable determination to defend thu
young gentleman who was some timt
| TO be- her husband. Poor Fred Is Otter
quite despondent because you seem 81
! Indifferent toward him."
because am 80 Indifferent abou
concealing his innumerable monetarJ
obligations" Mr.. Godfrey interpolatet
grimly. "But IL 1 did that ! shoul,
beggar myself, 1 fancy"
FIRED does not value money" sh
admitted reluctantly.
"Does he not 2" he said with sud
den amused smile. "Is Miss Lorayn
an heiress ?" he asked abruptly.
al think 30, 1 am not sure" sai'
Aggie, flushing resentfully at the un
pleasant significance of the question
"But you distrust Fred too cruelty
You might be kinder; he is the onl,
relative you have in the whole world
you have none to love but him"
As she ceased the flush had changet
to somewhat conscious blush, and sh
lowered her serious eyes before tn
singular look he turned towards her.
"In the whole world l have none Il
llove-none," he repeated In q voice o
unfamiliar and almost startling inten
sity. al am alone-utterly alone, AM
10 shall be till die"
Then both were silent, Aggie will
her eyes fixed upon the dainty needl
work which lay neglected on her trim
white apron ; and he with his strangel.
agitated countenance turned toward
window, upon which shone the pal
golden sunlight Of delicious spring
time morning.
In tbs midst of the silence cab rattle
up to the curb before the elegant hous.
there was a g,eam of violet satin an
tawny, baby curls as diminutiv
form alighted and tripped up the hig
granite steps. and directly their gues
was ushered into the parlor.
my precious friend, am so delight
ed to be with you again." Miss Loray
ne cried effusively, as she settled heI
self like tired kitten In the mos
luxurious chair of the room. " Really
Aggie, have been absolutely wrotche
since we parted at that blessed oil
IS minary-you used to do every thin
. for me, you know, and l am such
Lelpless little thing
Aggie was painfully conscious ther
was "a dry smile behind the silver
mustache of her dignited guardian, an
the vivid flush was of downright ange
now.
Possibly her Girl.idol was the lea.
bit gushing and nonsensica!; bus the
Fay was such child such all unr,
served and unsophisticas5d child An
she would not have her most admire
and best lovedone ridicu led by any bod,
especially by anybody as unjust an
cynical and sarcastic as was Albe
Godfrey
81 am equally glad to have 20
with me once more, Fay" she said, d
she fondly kissed the babyish pinl
r and white visage which had nestle
contentedly against the luxuriou
s cushions. "We shall live the old Ii.
over again while you are here, only W
: shall have Fred to escort US abou
/ instead OF some prim and rigorou
: teacher"
Goa, that will be delightful - pul
red the winning guest, her big, childis
0 eyes glittering b meath the tawD
g ashes, her pink lips unclosed in
I. satisfied smile which only just reveale
the small, sharp, pearly teeth. "An
4 your Fred will do everything Just q
h we shall wish, OF course. And inten
to go every where, aud shall want 5
!, much attention | am so dreadful
y incapable Of caring for myself, yo
= know" she concluded plaintively.
I "You shall have no lack of attsntio,
:. you sweet child" ARgie assured her, :
will promise you that. And Fred
!, always comp!aisant and consideraJe I
|. everybody; no reasonable person coul
J. help being pleased with him and ever
J. thing he does, size added as II retaliati,
. thrust toward Mr.. Albert, who mai,
? tained a suspiciousiy imperturbab
: couutenance.
II " She is welded to her idols, let h.
. alone" he thought, AZ day followed ds
land he fancied she had become moi