Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-12-13

saw your parcel fall TO the ground"
Beatrice looked up at him fully this
time, her eyes brimful of interest. Ii
did not surprise her now TO see that
handsome refined face amidst such un-
congenial surroundings.
you are an artist?" she asked soft
ly.
He smiled, and drew sudden deep
breath.
"A very bad one, I'm afraid, but
still an artist"
"Ohr'
The girl did not speak after that ono
eloquent exclamation. Her fair checks
were flushed with an unusual color,
and her eyes sparkled brightly.
Looking at her, Stewart was struck
afresh by her delicate beauty, and his
heart was stirred with "A swift warm
feeling which strangely surprised him.
Silence reigned until they reached
Ivy House, and at the gate Beatrice
paused to take her packets
She smiled at him very sweetly as
she thanked him; and he, with that
new sensation still thrilling through
every vein, watched her fit towards
the house, his eyes full of a tender
light.
Beatrice's delighted face as she rush
ed into the dining room struck Avice
at once, and she paused in the act Of
sewing new bows on to the sofa-cushion
to gaze enquiringly at her sister.
What is it, Bee? How pleased you
lookm she said TRANQUILITY.
$50 | am" Beatrice answered. 81
met him just now, Avice, and he il an
artist
"Met whom? who is hep"
Next door, of course" Beatrice
added impatiently. Il thought his
face was an uncommon one when first !
saw it.
$50 uncommon that you took it for
a ghosts"
Beatrice started, and glanced to-
wards the open French window.
Nance stood there, looking at them
laughingly, her slender young arms
full of blue flannel.
don't interrupt, Nance; it isn't
polite Wen, Bee, and where did you
meet him?n
"As was coming down the lane, |
happened to drop that wretched parcel
of wool, and never knew it. However,
our neighor, who had been sketching
in field close by, saw the packet fall,
and brought it after me. He was per-
fectly cour eous, and insisted upon
carrying all my bundles home for me. "
"Do you mean TO say he walked as
| far n : the Uato with VOuph
Yes.
A horridcd expression crossed
Avice's pretty face. and she screwed
up her mouth into fearful grimace.
Nance looked too astonished for words.
What good thing mother happen
ed to be in the garden! How angry
she would have been to see you arrive
under strange escort.
One bright afternoon the girls took
their work and books into the garden,
glad OF the soft fresh breeze that was
springing up.
Beatrice, in a clean muslin dress,
azure-tinted, and relieved by knots Of
dainty ribbon. sat on the edge of the
hammock. swaying gently to and
fro while she read aloud TO her sisters.
Avice was in her favorite rush-chair,
! her busy fingers cmbroidering pretty
| plush table-cover for the drawing
room. Nance, always idle when pos
sible, lay full length upon the messy
| ground, her fair head propped against
| Avice's blue dress, her hands clasped
loosely together over a few sweet
scented flowers.
Beatrice was reading from Tenny-
sons princess" and her clear voice
| fell softly on the air. mingling pleas
antly with the songs OF the birds
above, and the hum of passing insects.
The poem Interested them all, though
they had read il over and over again.
No sound had power to arouse them
from their happy content, and neither
saw the dark eyes gazing at them over
the ivied fence-the handsome face,
now full Of dreamy earnestness.
The trio made such n fair picture OF
sweet maidenhood, no wonder Stewart
Lindley examined them with more
than ordinary interest A slight smile
curved his lips, though ever and anon
a half-troubled sigh escaped him.
Presently Beatrice ceased, and clos
ing her book with a sharp bang, she
flung one shapely arm over her head.
She looked very lovely, her face just
flushed with excitement, her eyes
darkened by an unusual brilliancy;
the brown notched trunk against which
her head rested threw into greater re-
lief the golden hair and the dazzling
fairness OF her skin. Her round
figure, in its loose blue draperies, was
full of sweet grace.
don't you wish you had been Prin-
cess lda?' she asked softly.
That depends" Avice answered
lazily. 81 should not have cared
much for the fighting"
Il think that is what would
have pleased me most. 1t must have
been rare fun TO have seen them all
putting on brave airs, while all the
time they were shivering with frightn'