Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-04-13


in Europe. and only knew of his faith
er's death from paragraph in the
newspaper. Naturally. she could not
help being moved at this news. But
her lip curled with contempt as she re-
called the fact that he had deserted her
the moment she became poor.
She slept but little that night, natur-
ally. The children were especially try
ing all day, for the prolonged heat was
telling OH their tempers. So, after les.
sons were over, Grace started for
walk, following the little brook. on its
shady side. as il wound to the sea 1t
was pretty streamlet; widening. at
places, to quite small river. and in
places full OF water lilies. Turning n
corner. Grace came suddenly on Miss
Marlton, sitting in boat, pretending
to fish, but looking up every moment
rs if she expected some one.
a pet dog was in the front OF the
boat Hearing Grace $ step the pam.
pered play thing sprang up aud began 10
bark furiously AT her. At the same in
slant, Miss Marion detected cur hero
inc, and, opening her large lazy eyes
stared again, this time even more SUI
DtltlliONNlN IMAM lut hdN DtIpIts NIlhtf
hurried on rs fast as she could, her
cheeks hot with modification and
anger. But her haste was not sufficient
TO carry her ont of sight and hearing.
before she saw manly form--which
she knew only too well-and heard
voice that made every pulse of her body
thrill. 1t was Stuyvesant Mort mer.
who had suddenly appeared from n
grove on the other side of the stream.
and TO whom Miss Marlton called TO
come and row her home, turning her
boat, as she spoke, toward HIM.
How Grace got back to the house,
that afternoon, she never knew. She
must have almost flown, for she was
out of breath when she arrived. She
was glad when night enabled her to es-
cape from the children again. She
spent long hours fighting down her
misery. Yes, there was no doubt, "
she said to herself. Only the closest
intimacy, only an approaching mar
riage, could explain her tone aud man
ner: it was that of ownership; and his
was that of only too willing service.
And again she said to herself: "Oh,
how despse him" And then: How
| despise myself, for being affected by
it at all.
The next day broke more sultry than
ever. Mrs. Leigh, who was kind
hearted woman in her way, noticed
Grace's exhausted air, and. attributing
it to the heat and the confined school
room, suggested that the children
should take holiday.
They look a little peaked, poor
things. themselves" she said. Il have
been promising them a picnic all sum-
mer. down on Briery beach. Suppose
YOU all bundle off together, in the don
KEY cart. and spend the day there.
will have a nice lunch put mp for YOU.
The road for most of the way lies
through shady lanes. You will be the
better for it. my dear. yourself.
They had gone about a mile, and
were slowly climbing a sandy hill
Grace driving, and the two Little girls
and their brother chatterng away in
the highest spirits. when suddenly a
pedestrian came out from the woods
on the right, and. springing nimbly
down the bank, was going in the oppo-
site direction, when little May called
aloud
Don't YOU know me. Mr.. Mr..
Stranger? I'm the little girl who
lost her penny Yesterday in the village,
and you were the kind gentleman to
find it for me- "
Grace would have given the world
if the child had not spoken, for she had
recognized again. only too well, that
tall. 1.-the form and that free, sw nging
step. She said TO herself: "Hc saw
me-he was hurrying away, and now
this vexatious child has called h m
back; he will think / whispered to her
to do it. and he and his bride will jeer
at me all the more.
Stuyvesant Mortimer turned at Nav 5
call. and coming up to the cart with
quick impuls veness, cried. holding
out his hand to the child:
"Whv. so it is. absolutely my little
fairy, but now disconsolate no longer.
We are going Oh quite an expedition.
too, aren't we? a p cnic, or something
like it?"
Graces whole body was culver of
nerves. She sat with her eyes down
cast and her face half averted. appar-
emily absorbed in studying her right
hand. which held the reins.
"Oh, yes answered MAY, ION a
picnic. And we're going to have such
jolly time. Don't you wish you
were coming too?'
"Of course do" with hearty SYM
pathetic laugh. Jolly times are not
so frequent with me, | assure you. that
/ can AFFORD to miss a chance of one.
But will Mss-Miss-I beg pardon for
not knowing her name-allow me
Good God! it is Grace herself"
Up to this moment he had been so
engrossed with the child that he had
only vague idea that there was n
governess sitting next to her; but who
the governess was. or even if she were
pretty. he had no thought But now,
as he looked up, rather expecting to
see some sour-visaged. middle-aged
spnSter, he beheld the sweet downoast
profile of the only woman who had
ever touched his heart. and who was
now looking all the more lovely be-
cause of her half-mourning dress and
the traces of sorrow and suffer NJ on
her face. Hence the broken ejacula-
tions with which he checked the re-
quest be had been about half spOrtvely