Mohave County miner., 1890-06-07
THROUGH A KEYHOLE.

THROUGH A kEYHOLE.
When the evening boat, quite crowd
ed with passengers, swept gracefully
up to the pier at Highbeach, one Of
the first to cross the gangway was
MIR. Willis Tracey. youngest partner Of
the well-knoEn banking firm Of Tracey.
Stokes & Tracey.
He was a misunderstanding man Of
IS, with fresh. healthy complexion.
clear, blue-gray eyes. and light auburn
mustache. His whole appearance was
suggestive Of good nature. prosperity.
and content; but at the present mo
ment he betrayed a little nervousness,
rs his eyes ran rapidly along the long
piazzas Of thu. hotel, where people were
promenadinc and enjoying the sea-
breeze and tile sight of the bathers On
the beach.
Evidently his search was unsuccessful
until his attention was attracted by
voice, which called out in shrill and
Juvenile tones:
..Lor', ma. IL there amt old Tracey!
What's be dOin' here, wonderr
prominently presented to public notice
lifted his hat to two ladies, who were
smiling down upon him from the piaz-
"a, while small boy. in Lord Faunt-
leroy cap and jacket. grinned a patron
izing recognition.
As he passed on, faint and con-
scious blush suffused his face. That
lovely creature with the golden locks
and rose-and-lily complexion, who had
so radiantly greeted him. was Miss
Juliette BessaIny. TO whom he designed
that very evening to offer his hand and
heart.
The blush had not quite faded from
Mr.. Tracey's face, when he found him
self accosted by two ladies. who we're
just descending the hotel steps to the
beach. He stopped and shook hands
with them In cordial, unembarrassed
manner.
In fact, the elder OF the ladies was
the widow Of his deceased uncle. and
had, since his mothers death, been liy-
ing with him and taking care Of his
house.
He had sent her to Highbeach about
q week previous. partly to meet Alice.
her daughter by first marriage. who
was there as companion to an invalid
lady; for Mrs. Tracey's husband had
died insolveat and left her poor.
1t was Alice who now stood by her
pother's side, quiet and smiling, as she
gave him her hand.
"Why, Willis, this is snrpriser
Mrs. Tracey said. II received your
note to-day. and did not expect you
until tomorrow"
Yes, know that I said something
about being detained by business, but
managed to get through in time for
the evening boat. | am glad to see
/. you looking SO well. How are You
enjoying yourselves here?" be inquired,
as be held a hand Of each.
lit is delightful, now that mamma
has come" Alice answered. "And it
was so good of you to send her--in-
deed. the very kindest thing you could
have done for either OF u.s."
Though she spoke smilingiy, her soft
dark eyes were suffused with tears,
and Mr.. Trs.cey's heart was touched.
He felt that he had not done half
enough to deserve this grateful feel
ing.
He looked into the moistened eyes,
and wondered why they seemed to sink
before him, and why she drew away
her hand so sbyly.
Even when he had passed on, prom
Using to join them presently on the
beach, he found himself specializing on
this new expression on Alice's face.
II was sweet, fair face, which he
had liked and admired ever since he
had first known her as little school
girl.
He had been accustomed to treat
her almost rs cousin, lavishing upon
her books and flowers and birthday
and Christmas presents; but to-day.
after a long absence. he had discovered
something new and strange about her,
and now 1t dawned upon him that she
was no longer a mere schoolgirl, but
q woman eTown-almost 20 years OF
age, In fact. Ii was something OF a
surprise to Mr.. Tracey.
''She Is not looking well, he thought,
mot as bright and rosy as she used to
be. fear she is too much overtasked.
/ wish could persuade her to make
her home with her mother in my
house, but she prefers to be independ-
ent. as she calls it. l suppose she viii
marry soon. II had ever thought Of
her as woman and had not met Ju.
Hette-nst
And his thoughts went back to his
golden-haired lore.
He was the last Of the newly arrived
TO enter the clerks Office. and here was
met with the information that there
was not vacant room TO be had in the
hotel. or indeed in the whole place.
Il was an unpleasant situation, an,
at first seemed hopeless. but at length
one Of the female employees came to
the rescue.
In the east wing which was ex.
clusively devoted to the accomm,da-
ton of '.Iadics unaccompanied by gen.
tleman,n was short passage.way
opening upon rear piazza. This pas
sage. being Of little use. had been shut
in by q door and converted into linen
closet.
II the gentleman would be satisfied
for one night with cot in this limited
apartment he should be properly at
tended TO on the morrow. when some
OF the guests would be leaving.
Mr.. Tracs,y was only too glad to Sc
cure sleeping place OF any Kind, SO