The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-13
GRACE SOMERS.

BRIGHT handsome face 10 the speaker.
81 should be most happy to oblige you,
auntie, but you forget l nave never seen the
young LADY,
That matters very little" replied Mrs.
Grandon; you could not miss her in such
small station as 1aurton. She is dark,
believe, but l have not seen her since she
was four years old; she promised to grow
up very plain looking. You must 20, BERTHE.
Nora and Amy are down at the Nicarage,
and have no one else to send"
an that case l suppose there's no help
for it. At what hour is this plain young
woman expected to arrive"
"At3:2O. 1t is time for you to start
BERTHE; it is quite mile to the station"
"All right, I'm of" said BERTHE, throw
ing down his book, but even If l should
happen to upset the vehicle and break tie
young lady's neck, it wont matter much, !
suppose as ugly women have no business
in the world at all, according to Lord some
body or another. What a contrast she viii
be IL Nora, aud Amy, and yourself, auutle J!
be added, roGuShly.
Don't he nousensical. you silly boy, "
said Mrs. Graudon. "she may have grown
up handsome for anything we know"
''Ah! well, We'll hope for the best while
we prepare ourselves for the worst" said
MI GraDdon was thriving merchant in
the town Of ". When young lie had
married pretty Mary Poole, a country doc
tors daughter AT this time she was
handsome woman IF 40 odd years. They
had only two children, Nora and Amy.
BERTHE was Nj. GraudOn's brothers son;
his father and mother had both died when
he was a child and he had lived with his
uucle's family ever sir ce he could Temem-
Der. He had been left well provided Tor,
and was ROW at the age of tive-Rmd-tWenty,
junior partner IN his unce'5 business.
Now q word or TWO about the young lady
they are expecting.
She is Mrs. GTandQn'S sisters child; also
an orphan, and iEdepend ant, if one calls
WOrkug for ones living independence.
Grace was a EOyerneSs IN a Young ladies'
school. Being her own sisters child, Mrs.
Grandon had felt obliged, though Ieluct-
Hntly, 10 take some notice Of her; cOnSe-
Quently. twice before she had sent her
formal and rather cold invitation to spend
few weeks with them at Laurel Hall-an
Invitation which had twice been politely
declined; the third time 1t was accepted, TO
IL surprise, but by no means qualification,
of Mrs. GranaOn and her two daughters;
and now Begt!e is driving to the station to
meet her, and arrives as the train is COM
ing in.
Giving the rcins to a boy standing near he
went 10 to the platform just as The people
were getting out OF the tram. An old woman
with q basket. an old man with a stick,
three school girls home for the holidays, ana
hall dozen other persons, but no signs Of
anyone anything like Miss Some-s.
BERTHE walked past the carriages, looking
into each, and al length had the satisfaction
of seeing youngl ady step out Of the very
last one. he went up to her and raised his
hat.
Have l the happiness If addressing Miss
SOmerS?" said Berthe, politely.
The yOuuE lady bowed.
Have You come 10 meet me?" she asked.
Ny box IS IN the van shall tell the porter
10 send it ou?'
ION, no." said Bertie, 81 will see about
that; it can 20 in the trap. VIII you come
this Vay, plea5r2'
Grace foIloNed; the box was soon put in;
then Berie handed the young lady in and
Jumped n beside her.
''She IS even palmer than l expected" he
said to himself as they jalted over the stones
She has certainly fulfilled the promise of
her childhood and grown up plEin-plain,
decidedly plain. Al the same time she is a
woman and Il stranger, and must make her
feel welcome, poor thing" and Berthe eY-
eTted himself TO be as agreeable as possible.
Size Gel talnlY was not pretty, and it almost
seemed as if she had purposeiy dressed her
sell TO the greatest disadvantage.
ale dark girl, not tall and not par
ticulaily slender; dark hair, drawn away
from ler face and fastened IN a tight knot
IL u & HaIh hl lfl IthAs L DIDHQ IelL nat,
OF share that did not suit her rather
square face; brown ulster coat of most
ugly make; brown fur, and brown
wooden gloves. completed the unattractiye
picture.
The young lady did not seem at all dis
posed to make herself agreeable either, bat !
gave the shortest replies ciYilty permitted
= Berries remarks; and when not spoken |
to was as mute as a mouse. It was not |
,hyness, either; Ter features were per
tecty composed, her ID Vements as free
and unTe,trained as If she were alone: her !
voice, wien she spoke, was as cod and |
AIN as possible. She regarded handsome !
Berthe with the most uusmilIng ind ference. |
The young man was rather surprised, not |
to say annoyed, at this unhattering treat |
ment; his attentions to young ladies' gen |
orally met with such warm reception that |
this was something altogether new. He |
hogan u tblnk his companion was a very |
disagreeable as well As plain girl The |
drive was, fortunately, short one, and he |
to K the young lady at once to his aunt, |
wOndrtjng what she would think Of her.
Grace evidently troubled herself very lit |
tie about tile matter, and when Mrs. Gran |
don came forward, gave her a formal kiss |
and babe her welcome, and Nora and Amy |
Joined in hoping she would enjoy her visit |
she merely said, still unsmiliDg THANK |
you; have no doubt | SHALL" and then re-
quested to be shown to her room.
Nora vent with her, thinking to herself, |
What fright she is! and how Horribly she |
has done her hair upP'
Grace appeared at dinner that first day of |
her arrival in an ugly slate-cOUred serge |
dress, trimmed with silk of the same color, |
and ak velvet bow at her throat. Her |
hair she had not altered In the least. She |
formed most decided contrast to Nora and |
Amy In their pretty dinner-dresses. She sat |
exactly opposite to BERTHE, and, somehow. |
be could not take his eyes from her face. |
She was perfectly weli-brrd, spoke very |
seldom, and never smiled Her grave brown |
eyes looked calmly out Of the window, at |
her uncle, Eer aunt Nora, Amy, the clergy |
man, MS wife, and then rested on her hand |
some vis-a-vis.
BERTHE trlt the calm, clear eyes fixed upon |
his lacei his own fell beneath their quiet |
gaze; and that night, as he lay restlessly |
tossing about on his pillow, he thought and |
wondered great deal more about Grace |
SOmers than he had ever expected to.
The next morning she came down to |
breakfast In dress OF gray meTnO, relieved |
by bows OF cardinal ribbon, Her hair was |
twisted up loosely and fastened with a bow |
OF the same color; frills of lace at her neck |
and wrists The gay color frightened ND |
her pale lace wonderfully. Her dress was |
perfectly well-fttng and elegant; she really |
looked we'll.
Mrs. Grand0n WAS surprised, and COM |
bllmented her on her appearance; and Ber- |
tle, looking at the calm, self-reliant face, |
elf-possessi0n, felt strong desire to find |
out what sort Of being she was-what lay
under this cold, quiet exterior, those calm,
uDsmiling, inscrutsble eyes.
AT 0reakfasttime his eyes wandered |
agalE and again to her face, aud each time
another link was added TO the chain that
was binding him to her.
This odd girl possessed kind OF mystic
rious fsscnatlon-a power of interesting
people in spite of themselves. Her yery |
plalnness added TO the interest, so that one |
began wondering where the charm lay.
Grace knew well that she possessed this |
gilt, and she was using 1t with an end and |
purpose as we shall see by-and-6y.
She is a most peculiar GIRL" said her
aunt, one day, when Grace had been there |
about month; 'most peculiar. l don't |
understand her 10 the least"
Her husband looked up from his paper.
"She's an uncommonly handsome one"
he observed.
"Handsomel Oil papa. what are you
thinking OF? Why. the first day she came | !
thought had never seen a plainer-looking |
girl in my lifel" said pretty Amy.
swell. don't know" said Mr.. GrandOn, |
with puzzled look; she gives one that I'M |
.hut