Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-09-06
Miss GRANDSON.


She came in the full glory of autumn's
| richest coloring, when October was
written on every hill and vale in the red
and yellow tints of fallen leaves, and the
! deepened richness of the Indian summer
and atmosphere bathing all in golden
| splendor.
Brother Ralph and stood on the ver-
anda to welcome her, and as sic came up
the broad white steps, the mellow autumn
sunlight flashing back from her golden
boir and seeming to hide itself in the dark
depths of her wondfous brown eyes, she
became associated in my mind with the
rich, dusky beauty, the still glowing
splendor of that Incompatible month
October; so always thought OF her, and
SO think of her to-day.
/ took her small gloved hand in mine
moment with few pleasant words OF well
come, then Ralph did the same.
And, ere he reached it, which was not
quite as soon as he should have done l
noticed an unusual flush mount to his
handsome. fair face, and feared that he
was in danger of losing his heart at the
outset to our fair goveIness.
a. Yes. this rare creature was to be our
ooyerness. Not mine nor Ralphs, for we
we're long past our school days, but we
had two troublesome young sisters, TO
take charge of whom Miss Grandson had
travelled long way. Hers was singular
beauty. the like of which had never seen
before. Her complexion, one wouldthlnk,
should be fair to match the bright dazzling
cold ON her hair, but it was not; instead 1t
suited her deep brown eyes, and was what
1 can only describe as q creamy olive with
a spot of richest crimson on either cheek
She was tail and graceful, with an all
that was half commanding and look,
asbIeb e5d %o Of S the ad desf
passion of intensity of Octobers warmth
vefIed unuer ner srlfIesu maze.
Such was Flora Grandson when sh'
came TO us. and it is not surprising ina
RaIuh's ewes fingered on her lovely fac
until he was compelled to turn them ava.
, for shames sake. Time passed YER
pleasantly. We lived in the country
. rather. lust outside of stirring town, an
we could therefore combine the pleasure
of both city and country life.
How Miss Grandson enjoyed her OUT
door ran,bies with the children in tn
/, brilliantly tinted autumn woodsl Ralp
frequently accompanied them, much
her ANNOYANCE, II seemed to me, wh
/, watched with jealous eyes every move
il ment that indicated his growing intere
t in the charming stranger.
10 We knew nothing of her save that 81
y was from Southern city, and was throw
- upon her own resources for support. ID
her beauty spoke for itself. and telt Col
yinced the moment that Ralph hrst 8
his eyes upon her that sooner or later ;, ;,
would break his heart. l wonder why u
=. Thought. never struck me that she, po
= ---.s-soe, --o~.Id he sled 20 win hiHA For
on husband But it never did.
There was not the least sign OF coquet
about her, nor did she seem to care at
\ for his attentions. She accepted the
quietly, smiling when she could not eva
"a them, yet 1 always felt that she Won
- rather he did not offer them. liked /
for that, though i couldn't get over I
idea that she would be his fate.
One day, very late in November, t
sun shone radiantly and almost SUNNI
warmth pervaded the atmosphe
- Tempted by the beauty of the scene
oaa oat. donned nv hat and cloak and went for
lec- stroll in the leahess woods. / had I
gone far when the sound OF Ralph's vo
7. struck my ear 1t was strained and {
spairing. and he was saying, oh! b
earnestly: -,
hopei"
Have not told you there is none?
heard her answer, almost desperately;
,o., desire that you will never mention I
.esr subject again, Mr.. Perciyal.
eet Not caring to play the eayesdroppe
walked away and Joined the children, '
were PLAYING some distance further
Miss Grandson and Ralph had not s
me. But my blood was boiling at
N thought OF Ralph suffering through
II When / saw him again the poor
looked ms white and miserable as
ghost. The next day he Left usfor an
.s,,- definite time, pleading some business
ect- cuse, but L knew we'll what had dri
au23 him away. loved him dearly and CO
- hardly bear the loneliness of the he
after he was gone.
-, At last, exasperated by her CT
oueenly loveliness, when my own h
was aching SO, I vented my sorrow
displeasure upon Miss Grandson.
was sitting by the window reading,
she inst raised her eyes to give me
erms long. steady look, slightly mingled
500 snrprise. and then dropped them to
1.tf PttifN' book again without word. ! then
- her what had overheard, and repe
}. angrily that it was her fault that IL
had gone away. sf. ...uio
Il am sorry, she said quietly,
YOU heard what you did. No one "
- ever have known OF your brothers di
|u pointment from me. But surely,
Percival, you can not say that have
'iI. couraged his unfortunate love eitht
word or look" .r--. -
I was forced to acknowledge that
had not.
"OrN But, since he did love you, in spi
- all, why should you have refused
Miss Grandison2 Is not Rhlph yC
I. rich, handsome, and good enough TO
woman on earth2' ~ tLt,
aHe is all that, Miss Percival, 81
lpSs piled sadly.
Then Why"
~Ihave no love to give, she intern
OOS. hastily; and even could love any
ifu have not the right.
nnom mot the rightT' repeated. The
bh0I. are engaged 70 some other2"
!. ~No," she said quietly, but sa