The Indianapolis journal., 1890-06-08
MISS FRALEY'S GRANDFATHER.

had been to the theater Returning to the
hotel where they were living, they had
come at once to their rooms, where Mrs.
Colt was already preparing for bed and
Miss Fraley was sitting wide-eyed and
flushed on the sofa.
80 you enjoyed it, Ettai" said Mrs. Colt.
unbuttoning her boots with vigorous little
jerks.
Indeed did, said Miss Fraley, II en-
joyed every moment of it except the last,
when IL was all over. But shall go again.
l want TO see everything and everybody
this winter. Who did you say those people
IN the stage-box were-Chittendenss"
NO. Crittendens" replied Mrs Colt.
oh. Crittepdens. Well. / came pretty
near IT, Who are they, Maryp
Very nice people,
Society peoplei'
.'Oh. yes. Upper crust, my dear"
II thought so. They look aristocratic.
Not that the girls were so very pretty.
either. but unmstakably well bred And
who were the gentlemenf"
"One was brother; the other | didn't
recognizen
The tall dark one.'
"Yes, | know. The one with the grave
face and quiet manner"
1T seems to me you saw a great deal,
Etta.n remarked Mrs. Colt, who was now
comfortably settled in her warm wrapper,
and bad yielded to the seductions of arock-
Fl generally do see great DEAL" said
''well. hadn't you better take off your
wraps now and nndressip
Miss Fraley arose and threw off the cloak.
She was tall and graceful; slender, yet
rounded. Her eyes were dark gray, her
hair golden brown, her complexion the
perfection of youthful freshness and deli
cacy. She was bright, beautiful and just
the first time. her home being in distant
and obscure country town. Miss Fralev,
however. had not been bereft of advant-
ages for her father was the principal of the
South BrookIeld Academy for boys. an in
stitution of some local fame, and her moth
er-whose mother before her had been q
milhDer, with deft fingers and pretty
face-was woman of intelligence and
natural refinement. though restricted by
slender purse and horizon bounded by the
hills of her native place. They were emf
nently respectable and respected, and had
done their best for their only daughter,
Henrietta, who was IN some ways remark
able girl. A recent legacy had made 1t pos
slble for Mr.. Fraley to crafty lis daugh-
ter's wish to pass a winter in the city.
where she had now been for some weeks
under the guardianship of her mothers
cousin. Mrs. Colt. music-teacher and alto
4. u,
have seen. the young lady from South
Brooktield had already begun to look about
her with considerable discrimination. AS
she moved about the room in the process of
undressing, she asked:
do you know these Crittendens, Maryin
Only by sight. replied Mrs. Colt.
DON'T You visit thenf
"No; OF, perhaps | should say they don't
Don't they like your
1..o~ -. n~sk
little yawn. for she was growing sleepy,
and Henrietta's questions were exhaustive,
my dear child. they are not aware that 1
exist"
affectionately. II suppose YOU mean they
"Oh. no; not exactly airy. They are
only very exclusive and very proud of
their family, which dates back nearly to
Noah, believe, on both sides. Mrs. Crit
tenden was Miss Trevor. i suppose that's
9 great thing. though Pve no idea who the
Trevors were.o
"Well,n said Miss Fraley. II think
should like to know them. How shall
'You couldn't possibly manage it. They
wouldn't know anybody who had to man
age.D
.'Oh. fiddlestickE" exclaimed Miss Fraley,
who was engaged in brushing her hair.
why shouldn't they like to know mef /
am rather nice.' she continued. as she rap
IDLY braided her shining tresses ..I am
certainly as good looking as they are, and
I dress better. Their bonnets were simply
hideous. did you noticef see no reason
why they should turn up their noses at
me. I'm determined to know them; you
must help me. Mary"
Ppm sorry, dear. but really that is ont Of
my power. / am not in a position to do it.
lam not in society. you know, and, what's
more, / couldn't get in if | tried.n II
.-"Whyi Because of your giving music
lessonsf"
Partly; but still. not altogether; be-
exclusive set, i don't suppose i should
be dropped on account of my pow
erty. 1 can't explain it, Eta. Society
is rather peculiar here. You'll have no
friends, but you can't get into that set-of
that you may rest assured"
If only you would give me one good rea :
son why can't" said Miss Fraley.
well. then, you have no grandfather %
said Mrs. Colt, with the air of one who de-
livers a settler.
mo grandfatherlr echoed Miss Fraloy.
"Why, what do you call Granpa Pricefn
Il call him very good old man in the re-
tail hardware business in South Brookfield.
He wouldn't pass muster as grandfather
in the Crittenden SET"
He passes very we'll in South Brook
field" said Miss Fraley. flushing as she
spoke: :.
Practically. you have no grandfather
NOW, that sort of thing makes me as mad
as March hare.D said Henrietta; and. so
saying, she went to her own room in the
doorway of which she presently reap
peared. clad in her nightgown and adorned
with humility.
''Im sorry can't know the Crittendens
Mary she said, "but no doubt you are
right. Are they richf'
We'll of believe"
Not particularly. that know Of"
Artistic, perhapsi"
al imagine not.D
"Aren't they anything but aristocraticf
Oh perhaps they are religiousf"
"les, believe they are. They attend st.
Johns regularly. That is where 1 have
seen the,n,' said Mrs. Cot.
Then / suppose they are interested in
church sewing societies and such thlngan
Very likely | know they. are promi-
nent members of the congregation"
Miss Fraley sighed. Its too bad that l
can't know them." said she.
And then che went to bed. =
II.
Mamma, DEAR" said Irene Crittenden.
leaning upon the back of her mothers chair,
"here's the dinner list for Thursday"
Don't hang over me in that manner, my
Gear" said Mrs. Crittenden. 1T annoys me.
Give me the list;" and she held out thin,
white hand, unadorned, save by amarriage
ring and small diamond set in silver.
Taking the paper. she bent toward the
shaded lamp and studied it attentively, the
aoft III pht falling upou her pale aud delicate