Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-08-27


or, and hot wave of crmso dyed
Lcslie's tair face To the very roots OF
her rich. tawny hair.
Fannie laughed merrily IN answer,
while Mrs. Hard ng shot look at the
lovely companion from her br ght,
black eyes an insolent look of mingled
amusement and disdain.
What an idea. You do take up
with such ridiculous notions, Fa. ME. "
she remarked, with her ever-ready
shrug, and short. dcrisive laugh. that
was meant TO crush in the bud any
similar motions that might possibly
exist in Lcslie's mind.
The girl, however. did not deign TO
notice the intended slur She SIM
ply said, with an appealing glance that
went straight to Fannic's kind heart;
Il trust YOU will leave my name out
of such discussions hereafter, Miss
Remington.
And then, in her proud, quiet way,
she rose and left the room with an air
of graceful dignity that a queen might
have envicd.
Ten minutes later, with her large
white SwiSs-covered hat shading her
flushed checks, and her book in her
hand. she was pacing slowly up and
down the beach, but her mind and
heart were too full of excited thought
to permit her TO read, or even tonotice
the lovely scene which the sunset was
painting on the still surface Of the sea.
Calmly as she had borne it, that
subtle. barbcd thrust of Mrs. Hard ng's
had gone straight to its mark. 1t had
stung her to the very soul. 1t came
homo to her now for the first time,
with thrill of bitter shame. how COM
petely Hugh Mansfield had realized
her perfect ideal Of manhood and how
often his image had, of late been a
part OF her sweetest day dreams.
Several times, in the first two or
three weeks following their arrival,
they had met by chance once during
enc of Leslic's early. morning strolls,
when the dew was yet glistening in the
hearts of the wild flowers she was
gathering and the wood was ringing
with the trils of thousand fluttering.
silver throated birds.
The young man : quick, firm step, rs
he came striding down the woodland
path, switching the dew off the grass
with his light cane rs he walked, start
led her 50 that she let fall the hatful of
sweet June roses she had gathered, and
they lay scattered on the dewy grass
directly in his path.
With graceful apology he stopped
and ass sted her in gathering up her
fallen treasures; then. when he had
seen the last yeivety pink blossom safe
" replaced in the wide trimmed straw
hat, he had gone on his way with her
few modest words of thanks, uttered in
voice marvelously low and sweet,
lingering pleasantly in his ears.
Leslie did not dream what lovely
picture she had made that morning in
the eyes of the young millionaire
standing there in the tender light that
was still half shadow under the leafy
houghS, her soft white gown prcttily
defining a 1.-the and graceful form. the
bare head crowned with ricN coils of
tawny hair that waved in silky rings
over u broad. white forehead, and the
wide straw bat, with is lu;terine pale
pink ribbons, fill Il 10 the very brim
with hlu>hing, dew wet roses.
Nor did she know that hc.had secretly
carried on, of those same roses away
with him rs a souvenir OF his meet
ing with the lovely wood-nymph, rs he
called her in his thoughts.
Later. only few-days ago, had come
q formal introduction given by Mrs.
Harding. and most reluctantly. as Les
lie clearly OWNED by the cold, hard
glitter in tie widows black eyes and
the slight. but scOrn!ul cmrhas with
which she uttered the explanatory
words my companion, carefully adj
ded aftar Leslie name.
An amused smile was Hugh Mans
fields only recognition of the little
trick, and there was light in his hand
some dark eyes as he took her hand
that made Lcslic's heart unconsciously
beat quicker.
After that, in n proud, graceful little
way all her own, she quietly avoided
him. With all her dreams and Les
lie was something of n drcamer-shc
was not romantic or simple minded
enough to fancy that he, the lionized
millionaire would think seriously of
girl in her position. and she was far
too pure and proud to permit any at
tcntons from such Is he that might be
/ lightly misconstrued
And now, pacing the shingly beach,
/ she knew, at last. that another feel
ing, stronger and deeper than pride
alone, urged her TO ily from his pres
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