St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-18
BLANOHE's GOOD LUCK.

broad veranda of the Acapulco hotel a
Long Branch-Theresa Middleton, tall
handsome. and stylish, with jetty hair
large, dark eyes. and yellow roses in he
hair; Sophie Dean, slight and graceful,
type of the most exquisite blonde loneliness
and Blanche Follett, an insignificant. chest
nut-haired lassie, pretty enough when on,
came to examine her features, but nothin;
beyond the average.
How soon are you to be married
Blanche?" asked Sophie.
Il don't know. AS soon as Guys fathe
returns from Europe. suppose"
And are you to have your trousSeal
from Paris? Oh. dear. 1 wish it was |.
said Theresa, enviousiy. You Schemins
little thing! Who would have suspected
you of captivating rich husband2"
Il don't care whether he is rich or not
that love him. That is enough"
lit wouldn't be enough for me-" said
Theresa. Il must have cash as well as
caresSes. But come girls, it's time to dress
for tea. Those handsome young Cubans
will sit opposite us again. and even a
handkerchief filtration is better than
nothing. Blanche went join us. but we
don't care for that
What funny old man, all in snuff
color, that was that sat next us this after
noon at dinner." laughed Sophie. And
how he stared at us. l shouldn't wonder ii
he were some rich widOwer."
''HOrrid old fogy!" said Theresa. do
you know. girls. he has taken the room
next to ours?" l saw them carrying an
antediIuvian trunk in there little while
ago. Depend upon it he's the first cousin
to Methusaleh! Pm sure l don't know
what such wretched old creatures want at a
place like Long Branch. Why don't they
stay at home and nurse their rheumatism
in their own back garrets?"
Hush, Theresa" whispered Miss Follett,
glancing around. He is sitting on the
other bench, just beyond. He will hear
YOU"
who cares if he does?" said Miss Mid
dleton, insolent in the pride and flush OF
her young beauty.
The gray-haired old man, who had been
sitting with both hands claSped over his
gold-headed cane and his eyes intently fixed
on the changing glorieS of the sunset sea,
looked up here.
Il suppose, young lady," said be, ''you
think that the old have no business to exist.
Perhaps when half century or so more has
rolled over your own head you may think
differently on the subject"
Theresa cOlOred and tossed her head So
phe Dean Uttered as she rose and shook
out her fOunced muslin robes preparatory
to going up stairs, but Blanche FOllett
fingered behind after the other two had
swept away. and glanced pleadingly up in
the old mans face,
II hope they have not hurt your feelings,
SIR" said she, wistfully. They mean nc
harm; only they are young and foolish"
No, my dear, no." said the old man,
kindly You, at all events have gentler
nature and more womanly temperament. y
The August moon was at the full thai
night. and long after midnight Sophie and
Theresa were practicing on the guitar and
singing sentimental songs. when waiter
tapped at their door with message.
please. miss, No. 49's compliments. anc
e has a bad 'eadache and can't sleep, and
wouldn't the young ladies Obllge him by
leavin' hoff a-singing."
"What nonsenser cried Theresa, sharply.
LIVERY one is free to do as he or she likes
in hotel, believe"
Blanche. ''if the old gentleman has head
ACHE
''Pshaw! A regular fuSsy old bachelor, y
said Sophie, petulantly, Ito spoil our prac-
ticing in this way"
For Blanche was resOlute in insisting
that the guitar should be put away, and SO
the two pretty girls went grumbllng to bed.
''What do you think, exclaimed Sophie.
coming in the next morning, dripping and
radiant from her bath. ''Old 40 is sick!
The doctor was there half an hour ago. and
Just saw the walters carrying in ice for
his head"
"Some horrid fever" cried Theresa,
turning pale. II mean to change to some
other hotel at once. Blanche-where is
Blanche? Why, she's gone l declare! How
provoking, when we are in hurry to de-
eide upon the matter"
1t was more than an hour before Blanche
Follett returned. and when at length she
entered the room Theresa and Sophie were
half through the task of packing their
trunks.
"Blanchep cried the former. petulently,
'swhere have you been"
"In the next room. with sick old gen.
tleman, doing my best to nurse him."
Are you mad?" cried both the girls in
chorus.
.No-only human. If it was my father"
added Blanche. courageously. do you
think l should want him to die alone and
unattended in hotel like this?"
blanche. you are crazyw cried out Miss
Dean. '.What do you suppose Mr.. Arch
field would say to your riSking your life
thus?"
II do not think there is any risk" said
Blanche, calmly. Moreover l believe
CIV would bid me do my duty at any and
all hazards"
s.My dear" said the sick man one day to
Blanche FOllett. after he had grown conva-
lescent under her care, Il have much to
thank YOU for. Before l saw you l never
knew the soft touch of daughters hand
upon nv brow, the music of daughters
footsteps around my bedside. Nor shall
consent to part with them now. mean to
keep YOU always, nv child"
Blanche coIored and started at these in
COMPREHENSIVE words
For don't think you have have once sus-
pected." he added. with quiet smile, that
all vOur secret charitable Offices have been
rendered to-Guy Archield's father!'
Blanche was more frightened than ever.
Surely the old man was insane.
Mr.. Arch6eld is in Europe" she said,
hesitatingly.
He was. my dear" the old man an
swered, dryly, but he returned on the
Adriane. and he is here by your side. tel
egraphed to Guy this morning: he will be
here in half an hour to confirm my words.
Little Blanche, will you give me a daugh-
ter's kiss nOw?"
My own Blanche. you have won his
heart said Guy Archteld. THE only
doubt ever entertained about our marriage
his consents solved at last. He hOnors
you as you deserve"
And the prettiest of all Blanche Follett's
wedding gifts was the parure of diamonds