The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-12-30

ter quietly watched her father as he read
his letters, trying to read their contents
by the reflection from his face.
"No bad or unpleasant news anyhow"
was her mental comment after studying
the signs.
Annie Taylor was sas beautiful as she
was wild, willful and untutored in the
conventionalities of the world. Her mother
died when Annie was five years old, and
after that sad day she never knew wom-
ans watchful care, and her maiden heart
grew wild, like the flowers of the field.
After the death of his wife Colonel Taylor
would have none but servants about his
house, and Annie was growing to woman
hood with no gentle hand to restrain the
inIpulsive nature inherited from her father.
She had been away at boarding school, it
Is true, but there she found restraint only
hv rule. and her waywardness was hedged
In; not cured. She was at nome spending
the winter holidays with her father, as had
been her yearly custom.
Having finished his last letter Colonel
Taylor lowered his chin. rolled up his eyes,
peered at his child over his spectacles as If
he were q cDnnoisseur studying an article
of vrtu, and merely snorted, "Humphl"
GOOD news, papaf" asked Annie, re-
turning his stare over her coffee cup.
Eyes" snapped the colonel sententiously.
Then he made charge at the broiled
chicken on his plate.
"Whatfn
"You're not going back to school,"
"Nop' 1t was an exclamation with a
rising infection, full Of heavenly ecstacy
and accompanied by clasped hands, a joyful
smile and suppressed shrek of delight
"You're going to get married"
mop This time the exclamation had
the falling infection. The clasped hands
dropped into her lap with dull, sickering
thud, as they suy in the accident column
of the newspapers, and che suppressed
shrek of delight gave waS to suppressed
mixture of moan and sob.
Tba colonel merely grunted, scowled and
drank deep of the contents of his cup.
"I-get married9 Why, papa! Tve never
been in love- even once"
"Great Scotti And what of it2 There's
plenty of time for love-after you are mar
ried. Why, you're only seventeen"
"But-bpt-no young man has ever had
a chance TO show me any attention and
make love to me''- she was saying earn
estly when her father interrupted with a
bang ON the table with his fist.
"Well, should say not. Young men
hereabout know your father too well to
fool with their lives in that way"
ooh, papa, surely you do not intend TO
deprive me Of having some fun, us every
girl has before she marries, by flirting with
the boys"
"Funl You call that funp" roared the
colonel. II call it idiocy. A sensible girl
gets married when the right man turns
up, and"---
'But no man at all has turned up for me
that know"
"He hasn't, heyP Well, he will! I'll
produce the right man. Don't trouble
your little head about small thing like
that"
"Oh, certainly not, il you are assuming
all the responsibilities. But might l be
allowed to know who he isP Perhaps I've
never seen him."
"Well-no, you have not"
"That's one comfort. An entire stranger
no doubtf"
mot at all. It's your cousin"
"My cousnf"
"Your cousin-Wiliam Burnett, who
has been in Germany at school the last tel
years"
"The original of the picture hanging
above your desk in the library~
1.-The same"
IL don't like him."
'sYou don't know II you do or not; yor
never saw him."
"Why, his portrait"-
"You are not marrying the portrait
That was done three years ago. No doub
he has greatly improved since then. Tha
Is small part of the affair, however. 4
girl can learn to respect any man who
suited to her and-has money"
"Then he is richw