Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-12-17

| lOZen questions anu was quite inter-
ested about you, and this morning
flies of without stopping to set eyes
on you.
A smile curled Charles upper lip.
"She is lovely he said. 1T is very
unk.hd of her"
NASTY little vixen,' retorted Leslie.
In his heart Charlie was secretly
provoked. Leslc's sisters were nice.
cherry. fresh-looking girls. but they
could not hold candle To Lillian. He
was dying 10 see her again. He had
never felt such an interest i'm a girl be-
fore. She did not make her appear.
ancc that evening. and the following
morning at breakfast she was still alb
sent. He was piqued. 1t was simply
ridiculous for her TO go on stunning
him on account OF II stupid little con
tretemps that might have happened to
any one.
I'm afraid" he remarked with n
touch Of pique. rs they were standing
in the hall waiting TO start on their
shooting expeditions; I'm afraid it is
| who am driving Miss Fannie out of
the house"
'Humbug" returned Captain Les
lie. "Why should you?" Then. as n
sudden thought struck him. he turned
on his heel and went into the morning
room.
Mother" he said, ask Mrs. GRAY
to dine tonight, and make Lillian come
back, whether or no.
As Mr. West was a gentleman of in
dependent fortune, ana she had three
daughters, Mrs. Leslie was not alto.
gcthcr displcascd at the pretty cousin
having abscnted herself
''Of course ! will ask them. nv
dear, she replied; ''but they are so
busy with their bazar that am not at
all sure | shall persuade them to
come"
If YOU don't" observed Leslie
pontedly. West will fancy YOU are
keeping LII out of the way on pur-
pose. | am pretty sure he thinks so
now"
GEORGE" exclaimed his mother in
dIgnantly. how can YOU say anything
SO abSurd?'
We'll, take my advice. and have
her back tonight and Captain Leslie
departed without giving his mother
any time to make a rejoiner.
He had. however. said quite enough.
Mrs. Leslie forthwith put on her bon.
net and went down TO the rcctorv. She
found Mrs. Grey and Lillian sitting UNI
der tree together making a languid
prctense of ncedlework. Mrs. Leslie
greeted both atlectionately. I'VE par
tlcularly wanted YOU 10 come up and
dine with Us tonight she said to the
rectorcss; land this naughty truant
must not remain away longer" smil-
inc swcetiv on Lillian
"Oh. aunty we are so busvr cried
the young lady. plying her needle Wig
orouSly.
You must not quite forget. my
love, that YOU are my guest, said her
aunt with Il certain amount of dignity
and tone that implied reproof
Lillian understood it and colored
deeply.
Il shall be delighted to dine. inter-
posed Mrs Grey. hastily: land YOU
must not blame me for monopolizing
so much OF l. ! an time.
Il do not blame any one" returned /.
MR.. Leslie, naivcly; but | hope to
see You both at dinner tonight
50, aS Miss Lillian had no desire 10
offend her aunt, she overcamc her re-
)ugnancc to meeting Mr. West. and. /
o that gcntlcman's great delight, he
lad tie pleasure of taking her 10 din
Ter that same evening. Two or three
lclghbors had been inv ted But. al
hough Charlie had an immense fund
II small talk and WAS reputed excel
ent company. he failed altogether in
- ia ia, g.,
'or. She appeared. as she was, per-
Getty uncomfortable. and only respond
ID to his sallies by monosyllables.
1t was Il glorious moonlight night.
md after dinner some of the young
people went out into the gardens.
'harlie watched his opportunity and
bounced on Lillian. keeping her engage
81 in conversation until they were
eparated some little distance from the
'thers Then he said suddenly, and
Without a slight flutter at his heart
"Whv will you not speak TO me?
surely it is not my fault that suck a
tupid little accident should have oc.
urred. Why need YOU bear malice
ecauSe ! was put in the room that
our brother had been occupying?"
watt crimson racing through her fair
kin.
IL shall never, never get over itr'
he said, putting up her hands To- cover
he flames that were burning her face.
What can you have thought of me?
Ill anyone were TO know it | should
ever hold up my head again.
Il hope YOU think | am Il gentle
IAN, cried Charlie. Indignantly. Il
oppose You don't think one word ,
'ould ever pass my lips on the sub
,ci?''
VIII YOU swear it?" said the dis i
omitted maiden. ,
And he swore by all his goods. AZ ,
,r that she became more friendly. I
lie had up TO this time entertained
Jotcd aversion TO matrimouv-ev
ow he could not quite make M his
lind To propose to Lillian. but thought
G would wait and see how he felt. He
rs delighted 10 find that she ! we'd in
ondon. and struck up tremendous +
with her brother. whom he L