Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-25

were fast friends, and Mayor Blythe per-
mitted her to go anywhere under protec-
ton of cousin Tom, in whom he placed
unbounded confidence. During the burn
ing days of that August many charm
ing picnic had we in the grand old woods
about Piketon; in the mellow evenings of
autumn many never to be forgotten
sail on the little mirror Of lake. And
what teas were those on the old veran-
da, with the soft breeze signing through
the vines in sympathy with the beatings
of my heart, and the light just undecided
enough for me to imagine any express
sion in her face that best suited my ar
dent longings! Later, when the early
SHOWS began to fall, how merry were
those sleigh rides in the mayors sober
family sleigh, drawn by the sober family
horse, Tom always acting Jehu! And
when the icier breath of winter blew
over the little lake, sheeting it with a
surface CLASSY smooth, had tenderly
strapped the tiny skate thong round that
ravishingly turned ankle-had held the
taper fingers in mine as we glided in
swift circles over it's cold bosom. AS /
have said, Tom was always with us on
these jaunts; but we were partie car
rec and mindful of the philosophy as to
what constitutes company" and what
"crowd."
Anna Bolton was ever Toms compan-
ion. A quiet, fair haired, sensitive
mouse of blonde, she was the direct
antipode in all things of her sworn ally,
Bette, under whose fostering protection
she would nestle confdingly as though
no harm could reach her there.
She was sole heiress and sole compan-
ion at her splendid residence, "Shady-
nook" of a very deaf but Argus eyed
grandaunt minated herself for the
full allotment of the human span, the
senior Miss Bolton had small confidence
in the taste or honor of the sterner sex.
She jealously watched the every move
ment of her niece, religiously believing
that each man who set his eye upon her
fragile form used it but us medium
through which to cast unholy glances at
the estate-some ten miles back Of Pike
ton-whose exponent she was But the
home Of the spinster had no great charms
for her heiress unless frightened by the
presence of her stronger friend and ally;
so, when Bette could not be spared
from her household gods, it was great
comfort to quiet little Anna to sit under
these also, and to stay there meekly so
long as Bette could alternately cajole or
coerce the deaf spinster into permitting.
But that ancient and unwinking Cerbe-
rus had carefully accommodated the sur
roundings of the mayoralty. She had
long since concluded that l was the
property of the lady of the house, and
Tom, being only piece of live furni-
ture, like the cat, was not to. be counted.
So little Annals last visit had been al
lowed to run into months. She could
skate WELL for all her fragility, and her
taste and touch in music were both deli
cate but decided. So, after all, we made
her useful, though l felt compunctious
twinges when reflected how heavy on
hand she must be to poor Tom; for, be-
sides all other reasons, it was an under
stood thing among US that Miss Bolton
was engaged. If not formally contract
ed to him she was SO far committed to
certain Mr.. Goodwin as to make that
consummatiCn mere matter of time
Not a very enticing person was Mr.
Goldwin, 60 in years and money grub
in nature, but-as the senior Miss Bel
ton was won't to say grimly-if not a
brilliant man, he was at least safe one.
Twenty thousand year was his allot-
ment of this worlds goods, and the very
soul of the spinster swelled within her
when she reflected what that would do
for "Shadynook."
Yielding in all things, the white
mouse appeared to accept her fate in this
with perfect composure, but she shrunk
with peculiar sensitiveness from any al
lusion to it by one of us. So, of course,
none was ever made; but land l was
sure Tom as well-looked upon her as
one of the least interesting of the vic
tins to the Moloch of convenance.
Hence fully appreciated the unselfish
friendship that caused him to become a
martyr to her stupidity, that L might be
left tete-a-tete with his glorious cousin.
One night when our bachelor pipes-or
punch-had been stronger than usual
said words to that effect Toms rejoin-
der was characteristic. He thrust his
tongue into his cheek, shut one eye very
slowly, and nicking my glass with his
said, Here's good luck, and bad cess
to old Goldwinr'
Verify, we need never leave our own
circle for evidences of the mysteries Of
Natures complex mechanism, and what
very odd errors we make in our estimate
of them sometimes!
At sength its heiress had been impera-
lively called back to ''Shadynook" The
minated Argus would have her return
for its Xmas dismalness, and when that
spinster foot was once put down there
it stayed. Exacting the promise of
speedy visit from Bette, before Xmas if
possible, and indulging in many mys-
terious whispers and a perfect fusilladc
of kisses that set me on pins and needles
of envy, the white-mousey one wept her
self into her sleigh and faded out into
the snowy avenue
Tom and |, as members of Bettie's
personal staff, had, of course, been in
cluded in the invitation to "Shady
nook" but no time was decided in our
council, and weeks rolled by with no
definite plans about it, Happy weeks
they were to me-full of sunshine, with
only such fecks of shadow as made me
enjoy the more. basked in the smiles
of the only woman I had ever really
cared for, and, whether they We're all