Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-06-26
and turned the wide hall into skat-

MT. and Mrs. WlntOn. AT first
Vaae had been shocked. But the
more he studied her original charac-
ter, the more he become reconciled
to it. Tolerance gave place to adj
mlration, and that, in due time, to
love. He had always felt vague
longing to discover a woman in
whose character he hoped to find
originality and freedom from affec-
ton. If he could only teach Lottie
to love him, what splendid woman
she might become!
He would wait patiently aud hope
fully, he reasoned, as he walked
away. Taking volume from his
pocket, he sat down on bench un-
der an elm, and began to peruse it.
Soon merry laugh caused him to
look up, and he saw Lottie riding
down the lane on her milk white
Floss. Very bright and piquant she
looked in her riding habit as she
drew rein beside him.
9Sir Owl, Pm on my way to meet
Miss Alice now and while I'm gone
| shall expect you to comb your hair,
part it in the middle. put on a clean
collar, pin flower in your button
hole, and act very aesthetic and dude
like" And with a merry laugh, she
rode away.
For weeks after Alice Mays ar
rival the house was filed with COM
pany. Vane devoted himself almost
entirely to her, leaving Lottie to
amuse herself. AT the frequent pic
MICS Alice shone as the chief star of
the occasion. She might be gone
all day, but returned with her ele-
CANT costumes as perfect as when
she started, while Lottie would lose
her parasol and fan, and tear great
holes in her dresses, aud came home
with her face and hands as black as
a gypsy's.
When Vane and Alice went rid
ing, Lottie would show off Floss and
jump hedges, thus provoking earn
est remonstrance from Vane. Then
the brown-eyed witch rode faster
than ever, sending back gay peals
of laughter to the dignified couple
whom she left to bring up the rear.
Of late Vane thought he detected
a certain recklesSness in Lottie's
freaks. When going up the noun
tain, where it was SO steep that he
dlsmounted to lead Alice's horse,
she gaIloped on, putting whip to
Floss, who rushed up the rocky as
cent, tearing up pebble and turf,
over wide chasms, and along mar.
row lodges, where single mistep
would have hurled pony and girl
down to instant destruction.
Vane trembled; but to hide his
fears, he gave Alice his full atten-
ton.
One day he went into the library,
and found LOttie seated on the win.
dow-sill. She was unusually quiet.
She had been watching Alice, who,
with book in hand, was promenad-
ing on the lawn below, under the
shady trees.
She is very beautiful" said
Vane, looking towards the grace
full figure. I" wonder if she would
marry mes"
"Vane Winton, haven't you ask.
ed her yetf"
"Not yet. Perhaps | shall today.
Do you think / had better do SO? :"
"Most certaialy." And she ran
off singing merrily.
In short time she was tearing
down the road on Floss at break
heck speed.
After she had gone, Vane went
ont to Alice.
"What ails Lottie ~ that lady in
quired.
"Lottie? | do not understand
"As she past me just a few mo-
ments ago to mount her pony, /
spoke to her, Let me 60 Alice
May ? she snapped, and 1 noticed
tears in her eyes. And then she
rode off so recklessly that am fear
full she will put Floss in bad tenn.
per-"
Alice spoke lightly, but Vane's
face paled as he walked back to the
house, and waited anxiously for
Lottie's return.
Presently he caught sight of Floss
being led slowly back by strange
man. Then followed a carriage with
two men, one of whom held girlish
figure in his arms.
at took place down on the river
road" explained one of the men to
Vane. "The girl was riding like
the wind when all at once the pony
made plunge, and the girl landed
among the rocks.u
Mr.. and Mrs. Winton came hurry