The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-02-14
MADCAP MAY.

She was not beautiful, few people in
deed called her pretty, but all the men
STAYING 1T orwell House ran after her, and
all the women, as II natural consequence,
we're desperately jealous OF her.
Had orwell mouse been private man.
sion, this state OF affairs might have pro-
duced serious complications, but as it was
simply u buardins -uousc, where people
could come for as snort or rs long ! time
as they chose, and could so away at mo-
ment's notice, provided only that they
paid their bills, masculine intatuation and
feminine jealousy were matters which did
not concern the two cmincntly rospccta-
bic ladies' who presided over the establish
ment.
They listened to May Ea'ston's rattle,
they also listened to many spitcful things
said about her. and in each case they
smiled and prudently forebore to utter .
word that could give offence TO any one.
So Madcap May, as she was often called,
pursued the uneven tenor OF her way,
equally untouched, by the adu!ation OF
the envy SO freely awarded her.
DIT il most singular proceeding for Q
girl who claims to be a gcntlcwoman, to
20 careering about the country with no
other protector than n hoy Of iourtcen,'
remarked Mrs. Prudholm, snccrngly,
when our heroine was The subject Of CON
VersatioD.
"Tndeed, does Miss EaIston 20 career
ing about the country" asked quiet,
mild looking lady who had arrived IN DO
yercourt the previous day.
"Yes,-at least | don't know what else
YOU can call it," was the somewhat con-
fused reply. "There is some story told
about her father having left her here, and
about married cousin coming TO chapc-
rome her, but no father has been here in
my time, or cousin either, and L and my
girls will have been here three weeks TO-
morrow
"Then you think the father and cousin
are mythsi" asked Mrs. Drake, quietly.
Mrs. Prudhom shrugged her shoulders
cXprc>sivcly as she said.
at doesn't matter much what | think;
YOU and Miss Ralston became friends at
once, / observed, and therefore you will
no doubt be prejudccd in her favor; still,
even you, Mrs. Drake, must admit that II
S not the correct thing for an unmarried
@iri to 20 out in boat with Captain Fer
ris and Mr.. Smythe, and only her little
brother TO take care OF her, and without
asking any other lady to join the party
"Thcre you are in error, Mrs. Prud-
holm, Tor She urged me to go with her; but
am afraid of the water said Mrs. Drake.
.But as you would not 90, she could have
invited somebody else. | would have al
lowed either of my daughters 10 have gone,
out Of sheer kindness TO "a poor nothcrlcss
girl, or would have even joined the par
iy myself with both my Gaughters.'
"Why didn't you volunteer Ia do so!'
asked the newcomer, with slightly cicvat-
ed eyebrows; ''surcly the offer shonld have
come from YOU
"NO, it should not" replied Mrs. Prud-
holm, with great dignity; ''only last week
allowed my sympathy to get the better
Df my judgment, and my daughters and
were neglected most sAamciuily. What
che men can see in her cannot imagine"
ono, nor can ;" here cnimed III Mrs.
Thorrold, the jealous wife of careless
husband, aud mothes Of three mismanaged
children.
"Then you DONE admire Miss Eaiston."
asked Mrs. Drake, sweetiy.
"No; but my husband does" was The
spiteiul reply; che even carries his admit
ration 30 far rs 10 order me to be civil to
her, and though | do all in my power to
keep him and the children from following
her about, | dou'tin tue least succeed
"Tncre can't bG much harm in the girl,
il the children like hcr," remarked Mrs.
Drake, quietly.
al don't know about that" was Mrs.
Thorr0ld's dubious reply.
Tue conversation WAS here interrupted
by tue entrance OF May Ealslon herself
Sue came into the room with her
face flushed, her eyes bright, her wavy,
fully brown hair hanging III pretty Gisor-
der about her pleasant sweet oval face;
and she swung her vide Oiuc-lined hat IN
her hand, as she looked lLughinsly at three
children who followed At ner neciS, aud
then addrcssiu. herself to Mrs. Tuurrold,
said
Erred wants 20 go III my canoe with me
Mrs. ThorrUid; Will you trust him to my
carc!'
"And want to 90 too" clamored both
the Otuer children.
al can only take ono ut a time," said
May 10 the noisy brood; tncn, glancing at
their mother, enc repeated her question:
"Will you trust tueln 10 me, Mrs. TuOr-
roldg"
"Certsiniy not, Miss Ralston; l should
have thought YOU migGt have been Salts
fed with rODbing me OF the affections oil
my husband without trying to steal my
childreu's love from me-" Aud Mrs.
Thorrold's face became white with rage
as she uttered tUis outrageous imperti-
hence.
May Rals;ou, iUr moment stood petri-
eed with establishment.
The accusation was so cruelty unjust;
the outburst of petty spite SO utterly un-
called-fOT.
Sne had played with the spoilt children,
but it had been to please them, not for
her own amusement; aud ~ for tneir ia
tber, she had not spoken to him uOzen
times in her life.
Staring at Mrs. Thorrold with bewil-
dered gaze, she next turned her eyes up
on Mrs. Prudholnl, TO see If she coucurred
In condemning her.