Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-07-21
HORSESHOE Luck.

/ thirty-and why should one be
compelled to give up all the sweet
ness of life at six.and-thirty? I'm
sure l don't look day over thirty;
and Algy Vaue must be that at
least ~
Mrs, Blythe was ~ very pretty
woman-not the bud, but the full
blown rosa plump, dimpled,
peachy checked matruu, who knew
exactly how to nlaar the most Of
all her mlddle-aged advantages.
She had married Maj Mortlake
Blythe at II, and hb had left her II
widow at p.
4" | shall never be such a fool as to
marry again ~ said Mrs. Blythe.
For the major had hy no means
been perfection. He had left her
just enough. by dint Of strict econ
omy, to live upon, especially as her
only child had been taken to
"bring up 10y quiet Quaker cou-
pie, the majors relatives. And
until now Mrs. Blythe had adhered
resolutely to her decision.
But Algernon Nanc was II royalty
handsome fellow, and the pretty
widow was but human, and she
had scribbled "R1samond Nane,"
"Mrs. Algernon Vane,n over and
over again in her blotting book, and
she had treasured mp a flower he had
worn in his button-hole. and she
had corresponded with him during
the winter he had spent in Bermu-
da, writing sprightly aud amusing
letters, with seml-tone of serious
ness underlying all their sparkling
| gossip.
"He likes me a little now,' said
the widow "and I'm determined he
shall like me good deal more. I'm
tired of this solitary life; Pm tired
of counting every penny half a
dozen times before spend it. Algy
is independently rich, and he is my
beau ideal of a man. With him
do believe | could be quite, quite
happy. He don't know about Lydia;
but, of course that would be no ob .
lection. Uncle Joshua and Aunt /
Rebecca will keep her Dear me,
dear me! she must be growing to he
a big girl now,n and Mrs. Blythe .
shuddered at the idea.
At this moment the door flew
open, and in burst a tall, dusty, dis
hevelled young girl, some halfahead
taller than Mrs. Blythe herself, with
the white.capped maid following
helplessly behind.
"Please ma'am," said the maid,
"she wouldn't wait for me to take .
her card up
Mamma, I'm LYDIA cried the
breathleSs apparition. Little Lid
dy, mamma-don't you remember?
Tell that hateful girl to go away.
\ card indeed? Am | to send up
cards To my own mother?'
Mrs Blythe stood appalled,, in the
soft yellow light streaming through
the China-silk curtains. This fair
haired, sun burned young giantess,
with the peony cheeks and the big
blue eyes, the ill-titting gloves and
faded cambria gown-could it be
possible that this was the "little Lid
dy" of ten years ago? Oh, if Mr., .
Nane should see her.
The girl looked around like one
who views the enchantment of n
fairy palace,
"Oh mamma, now pretty you
are" SAID she, "and what a lovely
room! Are you glad to see me, mann
ma darliug?"
"My dearest child" gasped the
widow, "what has brought YOU
here?n
Lydia clasped her hands; her ,
fell.
Mamma ~ said she, Pm the most !
miserable creature in the world |
aud l want 500"
Lydia! \ hundred dollarsw
"And you must let me have itw )
vehemently went on Lydia. "Tve
killed Uncle Joshua's prize colt!
That is, | didn't exactly do it my,
self; but l was riding Pretty Jane
round the meadow, just for practice,
and | forgot aud left the bars down
and the colt got out on the railroad
track, and the train came along,
and-oh! never can look Uncle
Joshua in the face again, unless l p,
have that SlOO TO pay him!
al shall he able to earn plenty for
myself before long, mamma she
added, breathlessly, "for can ride
better than the woman in pink
tarleton and spangles who jumped
through the hoops at the circus
When the old Gypsy told my for
tune last year az the county fair
she said horseshoe would bring
me luck some day; and l knew Of
course, what she meant. 80 I've
been practicing riding ever since,
whenever / could get away from
Aunt Beck aud Uncle Joshua, and
-
"Mrs. Dappleton Ames Is in the .
drawlng-room, ma'am,' said the
white-capped maid, appearing with
an oNidiEed silver card receiver iu
her hand.
And Mrs Blythe checked her
daughters condolences at once.