The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-09-29
A GIRLS MISTAKE.

searched her lovers face wistfully.
Rollin Dracut frowned slightly.
"Where Is the use of my saying any
thing! You've made up your own
mind"
II don't know why should always
stay Just here" pouted the girl, "but of
course shall stay if you wish it,
Would you really?' the young man
and drawing her to him. 81 believe You
would, and l won't veX you by saying
word against your going. You mustn't
forget me. though"
Indeed l shan't; you know, Rolhn, 1
couldn't if tried"
Il hope SO but l don't know it, Rol-
lin said, with an involuntary sigh. "The
first city beau You have you'll BIO ashaIn-
ed of me-"
Annot colored. She was pretty, and
in spite of her love for Rollin she could
not help throb of pleasure in the
thought of being admired by city eyes.
The next week she went to the city
with her Aunt Bella Prescott-to stay
month or two. But the month OF two"
swelled to six, and there seemed nc more
In
than during the first week after her or
rival there.
The truth was that, aside from the
fact that Mrs Bella PRESCOTT gay and
somewhat attractive widow, and young
still-had taken decided fancy for her
lovely little niece, she found that she
added so much to the charm of her ele-
gantly appointed drawing room thas she
did not know how to spare her from it.
One morning as Annot finished read-
ing letter from Rollin, Aunt Bella said
to her with laugh:
"Rollin won't be coming here 10 see
ycsl, hope"
Annct blushed without replying. In.
deed, in this very letter Rollin had nn-
nounced that he was coming, and An
not did not know for the life Of her
whether she was glad or sorry.
Mrs. Prescott looked seriously annoyed
when she understood the state Of the
case. Annot saw her displeasure, and
her own uneasiness WAS increased.
Both might, however, have spared any
anxiety concerning Rollin Dracut-
He had brown hands and bronzed
face. but he was a large. splendidly
made ma2 and carrie4 himself easily.
Neither Mrs. Prescott nor Annot, am
sorry to say, met him with quite the
cordially they ought. He had antici-
pated something Of the sort from the
tone of Annot's letters, and he had come
to the city to see for himself just what
the mischief amounted 20 and whether
anything could be done.
IF hn could bnra ro,ooin b;c <>/ol
self, content to rest the matter patiently
on his own merits, Annot might have
seen in time how infinitely superior he
was to most of those who surrounded
her and returned voluntarily TO that al
legiauce which was really considerably
shaken by the flatteries that had Of late
turned her pretty silly head completely
But he loved her too we'll. He was
too impulsive and impatient TO be able
to stand calmly by and behold his pure
little blossom tossed upon the bosom of
| such stream as this which bore her
now.
| Annot, too, in her foolish vanity,
could not forbear showing off, for his
benefit some of the new and fashionable
airs she had acquired. She laughed and
chatted with her various admirers and
threw arch. smiling. enticing chances
this way and that. just as she had seen
the city bellies do. In short, Rollin ORA.
cuts love, his emblem of daintiness and
pure simplicity, hirted just as any beau
tiful coquettish worldling might have
done i'll her third season.
He was terribly shocked and very
angry. He demonstrated quietly. But
Annot had been petted too long 10 take
rebuke quietly, above all from one
whom she had expected such unhesitat-
ing alteration and Indulgence as from
him. He went homo without seeing he,
again, and never SO much as wrote tc
her afterward. He considered her com.
pletely lost to him. and Annot, though
scared at first, felt rather relieved tc
have everything gos along with sc
easily.
About this time appeared upon the
scene the "conquering hero" i'll the per.
son Of one Raymond st. Ives, hand.
some young Englishman Of superior in
tellect and fascinating address. Ammo,
had been fattered and admired to the
extent Of her desires, but, strangely
enough, she had not once imagined her
self in love with any of those gentlemen
who adored her so gracefully and dressed
SO unexceptionaIly.
1t was quite different thing whe1
this young Engiishman came. He con
trived to impress her with vngue idea
that no was some great parsonage OF
other In disguise, and he certainly as
sumed naughty enough Mrs for = great
lord at the very least.