The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1891-10-08

"What riddlc?"
Don't you remember" said he, "tho
mysterious manuscript"
Fanny jumped up and clapped her
hands.
"What" cried she, "the stray lcaves
about Sir Alexis and the beautiful Ger
aldine Aubrey that we found scattered
about in the orchard that day after the
galc?"
Exactly" said the member Of con-
grcss. "And tbs handwriting is cracuy
the same"
"Oh, papa" cried Gladys, "may I
congratulate her on being able to
imagine so beautiful Il story-to turn it
into such exquisite lunguagc?"
NO." said Col. Ayrault. "Say moth
ing ut all. Don't you see how it might
embarrass hcr?"
"l'ut she really must be genius.
papa" was the opinion of Gladys, prone
to hero o-and-hcroinc worship.
AHA" laughed Fan. "IIow about
my rGrd dris now? Isn't she really and
truly u white swan? Whittier than any
lily?"
After this, Alice Savillc was the
chosen companion and favoritc of the
member of congress- two daughters,
rather to the surprise and critical re-
marks of the other boardcrs.
II amt bit surprised" said Uncle
Brom. "Shc was brung up to be IL lady,
and n lady she'll be to the end of the
| chapter, no matter if she was scrubbin'
| floors Or scourin' tins"
But one day Gladys forgot her fa-
| ther's words OF caution and unguarded-
ly revealed to Alice Savillc how she
and Fan had found the missing pages
all blown about the orchard. TO her
surprise Alice burst into tears, and
Gladys, in her panic and uncertainty,
ran into the other room where Col.
Ayrault was writing, as usual.
Papa" She cried, papa, do come in
here and see il you can comfort Alice. "
| The girls tears were dried In an r,
stant. But Col. Ayrault rallied her n
little after playful fashion and
showed her the very rain-stained sheets
that he had found.
| on nave no cause to blush for
them, Miss Savillc," said he 1.-The
1ancles are exquisite and clothed in
most appropriate words. Had Twrit.
ten this sketch should be proud of it. {"
And then, cheercd by his words of
encouragement, she told him nil her
hopes and fears, the dreaming aspira-
tions and the blighting fulfillmcnt.
week aftcrwari GLADYS Ayroult
came to her father with flushed cheeks
and tear-sparlsling eyes.
''ls it true, papa9" said she. "Are we
to have a-step-mothcr?
The member Of congress looked calm
| m Of =,
records.
"Ah" said he. "Who has been talk
ing to You on this subjcct""
"Ercrybody is tallling," said GLADYS.
"Evcn Alice Savillc knows about it.,
and she is sorry for mo, l know she is,
for She began to cry and hurried away
when | told her about my troubles.
Oh, papa, papa. Fan says, and think
so, too, if you wanted to marry a1lY-
6ody, why couldn't you have married
| Alicc?"
There was q mischievous twinkle un-
der the grave cyelashcs of the member
| OF congress as he answered.:
Give nc Il little more time, and I'll
sec if can't obligc YOU"
"Papn," Gnsped Gladys, sis it real
ly--"
1T is really Alice" said Col. Ayrault.
"Whcrc is the child? Go and capture
her and bring her here to hear her
sentence Of. stepmotherdom pro,
nOunccd"
Gladys clappcd her hands. Fanny,
who was solcmnly listening close by,
frightened into radiant happiness; and
in another moment Alice Savillc was
brought into the presence of the ma
tonal lawgivcr and forced to plead
guilty to the soft impeachment
| After that the secret was n secret no
longer. Everybody in Jacksonville
knew that the wealthy widowcr, Col.
Ayrault, was about to contract a sec
ond marriage, and that his young
daughters were delighted at the idea
Alice was very, very happy. The mem
Der of congress, in his grave, quiet way
was not less satisfied; and Mrs. Savillc
said, contentcdly:
| "Its just Us it orter be. I've ALWAYS
brung my dartcr up to be lady, and n
lady she's goin' to bc."-Amy Ran
dolph. in n. Y. Ledger.
|