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

lit NJ his dark face most winningly.
"What must one do, he went on, in n
tone half testing, half serious, ''to OBJ
tain an occasional audience of your
maiestyP l will do anything-only tell
me. DO You know quite earnestly,
"that you have not allowed me the
chance to speak one word with you in
three whole days."
''Indeed, How YOU must have suf-
fered! she rctorted, lightly. her care
less tones just tinSed with irony, and
she hastily Withdrew the hanG she had
permitted to merely touch his fer an in
slant. ''But am not in society, You
know" she added. fearfi that he
might guess the real truth, land have
duties which keep me quite busily &C
cupicd. Even now" she added. glanc-
ing toward the widows cottage, Il
must be gong. Mrs. Harding
What! You don't mean to say YOU
are going the moment | am so fortr-
nate as to find you?" he interrupted,
with rueful countenance, indeed.
II must she rctortcd lightly, MS she
moved away. Then. glanc.ng bacl,
indillcrcntly. she added, with careless
smile and nod, Good evening, Air.
Mansfield.
"Jovc! how she does manage TO cut
me short whenever try TO talk with
her. muttcred the young millionaire,
gazing after the light, vanishing form,
with puzzled frown on his handsome.
dark face Why does she do it, I'd
like to know? Is it pride, or-what'
No other woman ever tried, or cared,
to keep me at such an icy distance, I'm
sure. But she is so different from all
others. in every way! Just glance
from those deep, cool gray eyes. and
then she is gone. All! my far, proud
Leslie. "
lie walked up and down the beach
for time. half-hoping she might re
turn. But she was not visible again;
and three hours later Mansfield was
smiling and uttering his meaningless
compliments TO the fashionable women
who throngcd about him with their
sweetest smiles. while his thoughts
were forever drifting away to a fair,
proud face with gray eyes that seemed
to be gazing upon him with their
mocking light from the far-of, frozen
pinnacle Of an iccbcr,..
Mrs Lou Harding had CHANGED to
witness that brief interview on the
beach and startled. uneasy look
flashed into her glittering black eyes.
Ill have to get rid of that girl, ! see
that she muttered vindictively draw
ing her breath hard as she watched
them from her window. "She is lovely
in her old stylc--dangerouSly so; and
it'll be impossible to keep her in the
background any longer, now that he )
insisted upon having an introduction
| TO her. ! won't mention this affair, of
course, but III find some good excuse
for discharging her before two day
have passed. | would die before |
would admit that looked upon her as
n rival.
Mrs Harding kept her word. And
when, after several days hal passed
without a glimpse of Miss Weir, Mr..
Mansfield made some inquiries eonccr-
ming her, the Young widow put on C
pretty air OF injured innocence.
"ohc left me very unexpectedly. and
I must own that felt rather hurt over
it since | had kept her SO long in my
employ and had done so much for
her. said She, with charming little
pcut but she said She expected
soon to be married and limited AZ
some old romance which had just
ended all right, rs an excuse for lcav-
ING me SO suddenly, SO suppose /
really ought not to blame her, after
all"
The look that swept over Hugh
dark. handsome face and settled gloom.
liz in the depths of his beautiful dark
eyes. rs he heard the startling news,
convinced the pretty little schcmor,
/ illtL Sllt Idh hON StHN i>'oi-C ~ Nllt
moment too soon.
But the watering place suddenly los;
all attractions for the young millionaire
He left at once, not caring particularly
whittier he went; and, 10y some strange
fate, found himself at the end OF the
first day. in the very same hotel. At
which Leslie Weir was stopping ON her
way TO take hew situation.
In the shock of the sudlc meeting,
Hugh blundered forth the story of his
honest love. and Leslie. having heard
it, threw aside her GOODNESS and reserve.
and then the whole truth came out.
"Sincc you have no relatives or
friends to consult, my darling plead
ed the impaSsioned lover, "lct Us be
married here ut once, and we viii
return 10 the fashionable Watering
place we have just left 20 spend our