Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-06-25

which Bess, with wistful look In her
brown eyes. ran out 70 prepare her
fathers chocolate.
Bright and early the following morn
ing the pony carriage was out, and Bea-
trice and Cassandria set off on shopping
expedition.
"You must do up the lace handker-
chiefs, Bess,' said the latter, turning
back in the doorway, "and try aud find
time to iron my best petticoat; no one
irons so nicely as you do; and, Bess. 40
have the drawing room in order, and
fresh flowers in the vases, in case Mrs.
Thornley, should bring Lord Thrapstone
TO call.
Bcss nodded, and went on with her
work. All through the long, long sum
mer day she kept herself busy, waiting
on her bed-ridden father, baking, clean
ing, crimping ruffles, and ironing frilled
petticoats. The afternoon found her
cheeks flushed. and her brown eyes
heavy. She was so tired poor over
worked little Bess. But the girls would
soon be coming, and they would want
their tea. She hung the kettle over the
blaze, and while il simmered, ran down
to the garden to clip fresh flowers for the
vases.
The Locust Hill garden was rich in
flowers, and Bess selected the brightest,
till her basket ran over, and her holland
apron, and brown, bare arms were hung
with trailing vines, and great white and
red roses, and dainty heliotrope and
mignonette. The sun hung like golden
ball above the dark ridge of pines, and
the bees hummed drowsily from tho long
line of hives.
Bess ached with WEAKNESS; and
longing for moments rest, she sank
down on grassy knoll at the foot of the
magnolia tree. The subtle odors fioated
round her like clouds of incense; the
bees droned and hummed, the yellow,
summer sunlight streamed down. Bcss
let her tired head sink lower and lower !;
at last it rested on the grass, the flower
basket tipped over, covering her with
its gaudy contents, and Bess was fast
asleep.
Mrs. Thornley,, wife of an American
millionaire, was very proud of her British
relative, Lord Thrapstone, and paraded
him around on every possible occasion.
On the afternoon in question. her elegant
carriage drove up to the stone-pillared
gate at Locust Hill. The driver got
down and raped, but no one responded,
and being an old friend, Mrs. Thornley,
got out, and babe his lordship follow
her example.
They sauntered up the locust-shaded
avenue, but no one could be seen.
"Do you take turn in the garden,
Thrapstonc," said Mrs. Thornley,, while
l reconnoiter."
Lord Thrapstone obeyed, strolling
down the dim garden path, past the
droning bee-hives, into the sweet, cool
shade of the magnolia trees. Presently
he paused. with an exclamation. AL
most at his feet, her brown curls in a
tumble, her arms and rosy checks half
concealed by flowers, lay Bess, in her
sweet, unconscious sleep.
The peer looked down upon her with
softening eyes The sight of her stirred
his heart, as the wiles of titled ladies
had never done. She reminded him of
his own little innocen. sister, at Thrap-
stone Priory, amid the Devonshire hills.
He stopped. and taking sprig OF
heliotrope that lay across her brown arm,
set it in his button hole. The action. or
some mesmeric influence, reused Bess
from her sweet repose. She started up,
scattering her blossoms in shower, heI
brown eyes wide with amazemcnt.
81 beg your pardon, SIR" she STAN
mered. II believe | must have fallen
asleep"
His lordship smiled pleasantly.
at is / who must beg pardon" he
said, "for having disturbed you. ! am
Lord Thrapstone. and my cousin, Mrs.
Thornley,, has come TO call on the Misses
Brompton."
Bessie comprehended, and for an in
slant her cheeks glowed, then twinkle
lit her brown eyes. as the thought Of
what her sisters would say struck her.
az was so tired" she said, naively
''and the bees and the birds must have
sung me to sleep. This way, please
Lord Thrapstone. "
The peer followed into the rambling
old house, where they found Mrs. Thorn
lev. She gave Bess a hearty kiss. anc
learning that her sisters were absent
begged to SEQ her father. So Bess con
Quoted them into the sitting-room, tha
she kept so clean and sweet, and the ole
man told the peer stories and legends Of
his boyhood, and Bess gave them cream
and berries under the. rose-arbor; and
they spent an hour quite pleasantly:
THAT little damsel, in the holland
apron. has done what all the London
beauties have failed to do, Thrapstone,
remarked Mrs. Thornley,, as they drove
back to 1.-The Ferns"
whats that9" questioned the peer.
"She's won your heart-you'rc in love
with her."
"rm not sure but you're right" re
piled his logdship, quietly.