Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-12-06

wide open.
Picking up her neglected volume,
Beatrice crawled cautiously into the
pretty swaying hammock, and lay
there contentedly.
IL was near shutdown, and soft
cool breeze had sprung up, stirring
the green leaves, and blowing refresh
ingly upon the girls hot brow. She
read on, until the letters seemed to
grow dim and uncertain, and her
sweet blue eyes reluctantly closed.
She did not know how long she slept,
but suddenly she awoke with start,
to find the evening shadows lowering
slowly about her; last CLEAN of red
fingered in the grey sky, and one love-
~ lustrous star shone family in the
soft haze.
Almost involuntarily Beatrice turn
ed her eyes from the heavens, and let
! them rest upon the green-covered
! fence beside her.
Her heart gave big throb, half OF
fear, but she neither moved nor cried
out.
Looking down upon her, through
|
mans face-a handsome pale face,
lighted up by a pair o. brilliant dark
eyes.
For one briet second that intent UNI
fathomable gaze met hers: then the
branches closed and the face disap-
peared from her sight.
Beatrice lay still II few moments,
trying to shake off the unreality creep
ing over her. Had she been dream
ing, or was the vision real? That ques-
ton remained unanswered, and with a
slight shiver the girl slipped from her
hammock and fled into the house.
.sWhy. Bee. how scared you look!
What is the matterP" Avice exclaimed
impulsively, as she rushed amongst
! them.
You look as though you had seen
a ghost" Nance added mockingly.
Beatrice sank down on chair near
the table, and leaning forward, she
ga2cd with awe-flled eyes at her Sis
tiers.
That is what | have seem she
whispered.
"A ghost?" Nance cried merrily, and
low laugh broke from her. "Oh, Bee,
how silly you are!"
''Indeed, but | wish you had been
there" Beatrice answered, her resent
ment rising against Nance, Il nearly
died of fright
Gone, this grows serious. Tell us,
Bee. all about it, there's a good girl!'
Avice broke in softly, giving Nance a
sly pinch TO keep her quiet
Il had been sleeping, Beatrice be-
gan impressively.
$50 l should Think Nance inter
rupted audibly.
Hush" Avice urged, giving her an
other sharp pinch.
suddenly | awoke. feeling strange
and uncomfortable, like one feels when
one is being closely watched. Hap
pening TO glance up, | saw white
face cleaning through the branches
of the trees--a pair of the most bril-
liant eyes i have ever seen, gazing in
to mine
We'll" Avice interrupted eagerly,
land what did it doP"
disappeared! And though | listen
ed, l could not hear the faintest sound
of footsteps, nor the slightest rustling
of leaves!"
dear me. how fearfully romantic!"
"Be quiet. Nance! Did you look
well to see If anyone was hiding thereP
A flush rose to Beatrice's cheeks,
and little nervous laugh escaped her.
mo; truth to tell. | was much toe
| Fl. IL, l.; ~. a..
(Which side of the fence was it?''
Nance asked quickly, struck by a sud
den brilliant idea. "This?"
"No: the other"
Nance laughed heartily. her blue
eyes full of mischievous mirth.
"Goosew she said disdainfully; "you
might have guessed il was the person
next door-our next door,
Nonsense! | tell youit was a mans
facet"
"Of course. Probably the husband
or son come home from the city, and
taking stock of The premises! How
flattered he would be il he only knew
he had startled you nearly out of Sour
wits
Beatrice looked incredulous, but die
not contradict. Nance might be right
indeed, possibly was right, and the
face she had seen belonged TO one o.
the new inmates next door.
The Stanleys never kept late hours
so at 10 o'clock that night every light
was extinct in the house.
Had Beatrice only peeped through
J her snowy curtains out into the moon.
} lighted garden, she would have seen g
mans form strolling about the neigh
boring garden long, long after. and
smelt the nice scent OF cigar waited
on the breeze.
But she slept on unconscious ofthis-
} and rose in the morning as bright and
fresh as daisy, all her fright dis
PEELED, and, perhaps, all memory o.
the scare of yesterday forgotten.
Early as she was in the breakfas'
room, Nance was there before her
, and Beatrice was surprised at the ami
, nation on her face as she turned Il
greet her.
Bee" she exclaimed impulsively