The Indianapolis journal., 1890-06-08
should rake up your rrelatives-what then"
They won't rake" said Henrietta, con-

Because have done all the raking.
begun by giving every one To understand
that was extremely proud of my, family;
said that the Prices were what they had
always been. and how few could say that
in this country! Y0u know that's So Mary;
grandpa bas kept shop on that corner since
before he and grandma were married.
said that maybe it was foolish to have my
self called Price-Fraley, but there had
been some Fraleys belonging to quite an
other branch of the family, aud my mother
was Price; and SO she was. dear little
named Henrietta for my great-grand-
mother Price and that's true. asy on know:
That's all the managing did. If you call
1T managing"
81 certainly do call it managing" said
Mrs. Colt, with an amused laugh.
We'll, perhaps it is" said Henrietta;
"but SO long as my aristocratic friends are
blind to that, what does it matterf
haven't uttered word of untruth. am
everything have represented myself to
But suppose they find outi"
'What is there to find outp
"Wellv said Mrs. Colt. abandoning argu-
ment Il must say you are very clever: l
would not have believed you could do it."
"Oh. yes. Pm clever" admitted Henri
eta. That's one of my ancestral traits.
That is the only thing haven't mentioned.
believe, and may be they will find that out
some day." And Miss Price-Fraley nodded
her pretty head portentously.
When have had my winters amuse-
ment." she continued, II shall invite them
all to South Brookfeld.. and get
them to buy some of grandpa's
care. Pm not ashamed of grandpa Price
now. and sha'n't be then; and / haven't
seen any one here any better than my own
dear father and mother"
true that Trevor Crittendsn is devoted to
you?"
well. yes. 1 suppose you would call him
devoted" said Henrietta, while her color
"oh. Eta Fraley! Is he seriousin
'Why, of course. He's very sober young
man."
"Oh. come now, Eta. you know what
mean. Tell me-is he seriousf"
Then he is! Oh, my dear child, you will
get yourself into trouble with your nom
sense"
Miss Price-Fraley became on a sudden
very grave
But of one thing you may be snre, shall
not get him into trouble. 1 like Trevor
Crittenden too well to deceive him. shall
tell him about my cleverness before he finds
it out for himself"
Then you think
II think it possible he may ask me to
marry him, and don't intend he shall. At
least, not blindly."
But if be should ask you with his eyes
openr asked Mrs. Colt, anxiousiy. She
could not help wishing Henrietta might
make this brilliant marriage, which three
months ago she would have pronounced the
widest impOssibility.
Miss Price Fraley laughed.
No doubt. in that case" said she. II
should manage to answer him in some way"
And she changed the subject.
III.
A few evenings later Miss Price-Fraley.
IN the rarest toilet of white and silver, was
the acknowledged belle of Mrs. Oldtower's
ball, and an hour after midnight was seated
in retired corner of the dimly lighted
conservatory, where the soft air was fra
grant with the breath of exotics and where
plump marble Cupid held aloft crysta!
watering-can. and dispensed shower of
drops which trinkled mnsically as they
dripped into the basin below. The strains
of the band in the distant ballroom came
family through the intervening curtains of
heavy plush; the lights shone through
globes of ruby glass; the green traceries
and delicate blossoms made the place poetic
and enhancing. Miss Fraley was thinking
this as she sat toying with her bouquet of
white orchids and chatting lightly. Her
companion, W hose dark eyes were aglow
thrill of genuine passion. was Trevor Crit
tenden. His manner had all its wonted
languor randinditference,b but on this occasion
both were assumed.
80 you're really going home, Miss
Fraley," he was saying. what a bore!"
81 don't think so," said Henrietta
"Oh, of course not. be replied. IF you
did. you wouldn't co."
For once you are mistaken, MI. Critten-
den. / should 60. because my mother has
sent for me."
"Has shef By jove, Pm tempted to write
to Mrs. Price-Fraley, and ask her to let you
remain. May II"
Certainly. if you like" said Henrietta,
carelessly. Then. after a scarcely percepti.
BILE pause, she added: "But don't address
your letter to her as Mrs. Price-Fraley. Put
simply, Mrs. Jeremiah Fraley. South Brook
'.whyi Doesn't your mother use the
Price in her namef"
well. no; she never has done so," said
Henrietta, smiling little.
You are justly proud of your name. Miss
Henrietta" said Trevor, with q certain in
Election in his smooth tones that arrested
Henrietta's attention. She flushed, and
said quickly:
s'Yes, am, Mr.. Crittenden. 1t has been
though. to be frank, they do not belong to
the aristorracy."
"Do explain YOURSELF said Trevor. "I
hope there's nothing wrong about your an
cestorsf You know we are rather particu-
lar about that sort of thing. Now, sd-
mIre you immensely, you know-I do.
really-but, of course, with the under
standing that you belong to the Price-F'ra-
leys really couldn't admire q member of
the other branch"
Miss Fraley bit her lip angrily. She
more than expected a vein of irony in Tre-
vors remarks. and her indignation lent
itself to her voice as she replied:
Fortunately, the family can exist, even
though deprived of your admiration, Mr..
Crittenden."
Il never doubted that" said Trevor,
courteously. But why do you say your
relatives are not aristocrats?o
Il will tell you. / have felt for some
time that you were misunderstanding my
real position. Mr.. Crittendon. my grandpa
Price is in the retail hardware business.
He sells coal-scuttles and tin pans. and
wooden pals, and nails, and hammers, and
such things. you know" said Henrietta,
rather breathless from her desire to be ex-
plicit.
Does ne have anything to do with wash
tubsfn asked Trevor. Because / think l
should have to draw the line at wash
tubs"
He has stacks of them,r said Henrietta.
desperately; painted and plain. big and
little. And grandma Price was q milliner.
Fraley was somewhat pale when she ended
aud the airy orchids in her hand trembled
visibly.
"Weil,D said Trevor. ''this is q good deal
of a shock, though do remember to have
heard my sisters say you wore the prettiest
bonnets in town. Upon my word, Miss
Fraley no one would have imagined any,
| thing SO painful. from your manners and
peneral FORM and so forth Won know