The Wilmingtonian., 1886-07-17
Fairly Paid.


seven and a medical student, two things l
never could tolerate in tho man | honor with
my heart and hand" And lovely little Lot
tie Rexdal laughed very wicked little laugh
as she pushed the end of her red silk parasol
INTO the soft soil under an old apple tree, at
the same time glancing saucily up at her
companion, scholarly young man,
why do you ask me she resumed.
'tBecause wanted to be made fun of, to
be ridiculed by the little girl that | love-"
replied Vane Winton, smiling sadly at the
pert young lady perched on the back of a
rustic gardenseat, her brown frizzes falling
roguishly into her dancing brown eyes.
'Now that doesn't sound bit like our
own grave Vane, who studies medicine and
cultivates an ice cream complexion"
can ice cream complexion ?" asked Vane
Winton, a little mystified.
''Yes that's Lottie Rexdal's term of stu
pents compilations. You book. worms study
away until your faces take ON the hue of
sweet compound, answered tine roguish girl.
'If you would only be grave for while
l might talk to you," said Vane.
eyes you know Pm such rogue that
should put you to the bush thousand times
day." chimed in Lottie.
81 am willing to run the risk
"Ah but shall not agree to any such
sacrifice. Marry some steady, sensible girl.
Alice May will be here in one hour. Be po-
lite, and captivate her. Miss May is SO
highly cultured and grave that she will
surely not be less than sublime in your eyes.
I'll tell YOU"
But Nane did not stay to hear more. lie
walked off, leaving gay Lottie Rexdal laugh
ing merriy.
Lottie was the ward of Vane Winton's
kind father. She had been orphaned at
very early age. A maiden aunt had then
adopted her. When Lottie was but ten. aud
her education not half completed, her kind
relative died. But before that she had sent
for Mr.. Winton, her girlhood's lover, and
made him promise to receive the little or
phan gitl. The kind man consented, and
80 Lottie became an intimate of Vano Win
toms home.
Naue was the only child of wealthy par
epts, and at the time when Lottie came to
his iarthel's house lie was away on the Con-
tinent. .-...-.-.4
When he returned three years afterwards
he found his ward sister" as he ha called
her i'll his letters, away at some s,hool for
girls. So it happened that Vane and Lottie
had never met until six moths before Vane
was fine scholar, but he had never studied
any profession. Now, at the age of twenty
seven, realizing perhaps that cit is never too
late to mend" he was fitting himself for
the ministry.
Vane was irving to study at his home that
summer. Sometimes he found it impossible
to do so amid the tempest aroused by mis-
chievous Lottie Rexdal. She drew open the
unused piano, and made the house ring with
her clear bell-like notes. She filled the
library with flowers, tossed up Vane's
books, and even scribbled on them. She
rode every horse on the place. romped with
Prince, the great shaggy dog, tore hel
dresses, went bare-headed, and turned the
wide hall iuto skating rink.
She was utterly spoiled by both Mr.. anG
Mrs. Wnton. At first Vane had beer
shocked. But the more he studied her orig
inal character, the more he became reconcilet
to it. Tolerance gave place to admiration
and that, in due time, to love- He had always
felt vague longing to discover woman il
whose character he hoped to find originality
and freedom from affectation. If he could
only teach Lottie to love him, What splen
did woman she might become
He could wait patiently and hopefully, HI
reasoned, as he walked away. Taking ;
volume from his pocket, he sat down on ;
bench under an elm, and began to peruse it
Soon a merry laugh caused him to look mp
and he saw Lottie riding down the lane ol
her milk-whte Floss. Very bright and pid
uaut she looked in her riding habit as sh
drew rein beside him. tnIly f
''Sir Owl, I'm on my way to meet Mis-
Alice now; and while I'm gone l shall ex
pect you to comb your hair, part it iu th
middle, put on clean collar, piu- d fiowe
in your buttonhole, and act very gsthet
and dude like" and with merry laugh, sh
rode away
For weeks afterAiiee May s arrival th
house was filled with company. Vane de
voted himself almost entirely to her, leavin
LotJie to amuse herself At the frequen
picnics Alice shohe as the chief star of til
occaslons YsRs qigHt pe gone,all day, bu
returned with her elegant cest,lnls asyperfec
as whe.fshe stafted, while, LUstis wobld los
her parasol and, fass3 s3and tear great holes j
her dresses, and come home with her fac
and hands as black as gypsy's.
When VanB and Alice went riding, Lott
would show off Fless and jump hedges, thu
provoking earnest remonstrance from Van
Then the brown-eyed witch rode faster tina
ever, sending back gay pcaIs of laughter
the dignifed couple whom she left to ibrin
up the rear.
OF lafe Yape thought he detected certa
recklessnsssitl IRit sfreaEi 4Whep goir
up the mountain, ,s&aere it was SO steep thi
lie dismounted to lead Alice's horse, she ga
Ioped on putting whi%tes ESlosS sRllosrusht
up the rocky ascent, tearing up pebble al
turf, over wide chasms, and along narro
lodges, where single msstepE would. :hs'
hurled pony and girl down 't6s instants d
struction.
Vane trembed but to hide his fears
gave Alice his fulsaaention, i IL y
One day lie went, t,irAo the Nbyary AMI foul