Telegram-herald., 1890-05-02
CHAPTER III

Joe Page kept sn anxious watch on the
door al day for Mss Naae. Alice was
nee little thing, bat q man OF the world
Ike himself found, Of course. metal more
attractive ia higher type of woman.
However, he lounged away the 6ay con-
tentedly enough. The little par.or, a.
usual. Was cheerful and sunny, and Ally
was always viVaciOus aud stout tenn
pered. and secretly rehshed bar Of Cos
SIP. as every woman does, however well
bred Joe mentally pAtted her on the
head patronizingly. What a thorough
little houseEeeper wss. 80 tender and
watckful with her mother tooi they were
intimste as two happy girls together.
Just the very wife for Jeems Nodges.
There was a whisper going sbout the
neighbOrhOod that VOdges had been a
suitor for Alice ever since the little girl
had left school, which was in fact but a
few months ago.
I'D give all I'm worth 70 know IL he
has changed his mind since he saw Hiss
Vane." thought Joe. looking steadfastly
al his boot tops, his heart in a fierce glow
Of jealousy. "But how the deuce Is q
fellow 20 find out"
"Secundus is training that pony cspit-
ally" he remarked The bay, you
know? Vogdes intends it Is a birthday
gift for Miss Vane."
Now, there had been a vague rumor
that the pony was 10 be broken for Alice.
Il never knC.v woman ride more
beautifully than Charlotte. Mrs. McIn-
tyre remarked quickly.
Il always think of Di Vernon" said
Ally with little gush OF enthusiasm.
by the way, Vogdes bade me give
you his compliments, Aunt Letitia. Hs
will ride over this afternoon. Tom wants
to see Miss Vane."
tom is very fond Of dear Charlotte"
said Ally. Everybody is that, though"
forcing smile; and then the little girl
got up and went up to her own room
in great haste, only TO sit down and stare
at tho whitewashed wall when she
reached it. Charlotte was lovely, there
was no denying that; especially in that
puffed yellow silk-and her arms and
hands were models for a sculptor, as
Cousin Joe said-"When they are clean,
Ally added as foot note in her secret
soul, with malicious toss Of her head.
"But that is no reason why she should
take-my-my friends away from me,
said Ally, trying To- hold back the tears
in her blue eyes. Cousin Joe hasn't
asked me to dance once this summer,
and even Secundus brings all the bou-
quets for Missy Vane, and now there's
Tom gone! Dear little fellow! 1t was
hard she couldn't leave me Tom"
The little urchin was in the habit Of
running down to the cottage every day,
and Alice's devotion 10 him when no.
body saw herr was something wonderful
10 behold. How she brushed and curled
his yellow hair! how she slyly sewed on
missing buttons, or darned tears in his
trousers, whispering, "Poor little moth
erless felloww
Meanwhile, down stairs, Mr.. Page en-
tertained Mss Mcintyre with some Of
his most brilliant anecdotes of society
and blase bits of philosophy. Alice's
mother, he remembered, had been both
bCitC e-4u bcl NSpl IL A4tA NOut-is 1AAN ~
was worth while 10 show her how su-
perior young men Of this day were in
savoir vivre 10 those OF her own.
The lady, her white fingers busy with
her wool, turned Joe over and over, and
read his whole secret leisurely; that he
was fercely jealous of Vogdes, who ne
believed meant 10 put his fate 10 the test
with Hiss Vane tonight. The poor boy
was as helpless in her gentle handling as
a miserable little mouse upon whom a
white motherly old cat has laid her vel
vety paws
She smiled complacently as she went
up stairs to dress for tea. Poor Char
lottel that would be terrible menage
for any man under her rule as house
keeper. But she was thankful that
Vogdes' attention had been directed from
Alice. A widower with an unruly boy.
man whose early youth had been
Scared with passion, was not the hus-
band she would choose TO take her pure
white flower 10 his bosom.
1 --
| 10 bD continued.