Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-10-08

maps, weary OF her childish frivolity
and gayety, the very things that then
attracted me-"
short, dark young woman was
daintily making tea and her companion
.as lying back in an easy chair admir-
ing the proceedings.
Lucy, l believe good housewife Is
lost In you; the very way in which you
serve tea shows you to be eminently
fitted for such position. And your
rooms are so cozy, / don't see how you
make them so. Mine are bare and un-
inviting with almost the same furni-
ture.p
You see, Ruth, l am afraid love
luxury, soft pillow here and there,
Hover or two, my little tea table and
the etchings on the wall give me more
comfort, / fear, than the whole row Of
Greek and Latin textbooks on my
shelves, even If / do occupy the chair
OF ancient languages in this imposing
college Of young women" Lucy Grant
laughed merrily as she filled the frail
china cup with the fragrant beverage
and passed it to her fellow-teacher,
Ruth Morley.
Why don't you marry. Lucy? You
would grace home. It's too bad for
you to stay on here year after year.
Now with me it's different; | hate do
mesticity, would perish in the narrow
confines of a home; l want to study,
write and teach. 1t is my life, but it
isn't yours. Lucy, though you are so
successful as a teacher"
why, my dear girl, who wants to
marry an od-maid school teacher? I
never had but one proposal and that
was years ago. How thankful l am
that | was endowed with sense enough
not to accept him. He was dear boy
then, but we would not have been hap
py together His college career was
cut short by his fathers death and he
went to South America l have never
seen him since, but Of course his in
tellectual development must have been
retarded, living among those half-civ-
ilized foreigners.
Mrs. Thornton and Gerald were
among the favored ones who were at
tending private view" of some val
liable paintings. To Gerald, so lately
returned from South America, the sight
of his well-dressed countrymen and
women was really more interesting
than the pictures. AS he and his moth
err moved around among the crowd he
found himself rejoicing in the fact that
he could once more call the United
States his home.
Mother, look at that lovely woman
who has just come in; she is standing
there by the door, in a dark green
gown. Her face is so familiar; is she
any one you know" asked Gerald, but
just then a group of people who were
leaving hid the young woman and her
companion from view and when the
doorway was cleared they had disap-
peared. Gerald felt unaccountably dis
appointed; just the glimpse of that
face had somehow made him feel boy
again. He was growing weary of pic
lures and people and was about to
suggest leaving when his mother ex
claimed:
"Oh. there is Lucy Grant and her
friend, Miss Morley! l had forgotten
it was their vacation"
Gerald followed her eyes and saw the
lovely woman" and her companion
coming toward his mother and himself.
4 hn nh
of her took him back to his youth.
"Ah, Lucy dear, so glad to see you
and Miss Morley. Lucy you remem-
Der Gerald, of course. Miss Morley,
my SON."
Gerald acknowledged the introduce
ton and then, taking Lucy's hand, he
looked down into the same brown eyes
of ten years ago and said: please say
you remember me, Miss Grant; the
very sight of you makes me feel young
again"
Il should have known you anywhere,
Mr.. Thornton, though you are
changed"
Eyes, | am changed, l suppose" an
swered Gerald, who was now alone with
Lucy. the other ladies having turned to
admire a picture, "but in one thing
am the same"
Lucy looked at him for a moment.
Could he mean what his voice told her
or was she imaginative? How tall he
was and what strength and refinement
there were in his face.
Where are Lucy and Gerald?" asked
Mrs. Thornton few minutes after the
meeting.
II see them at the other side Of the
room under the picture the Return
Shall we join them?" answered Ruth
Morley.
Not now" replied Gerald's mother
as she watched for moment the dis
tinguiehed-looking man talking ear
nestly with the beautiful woman. Not
now. | wish to see that water-color
of which you spoke"
"He has found that other people de-
velop," continued the lady TO herself,
and her companion, as If in answer,
was thinking Lucy sees now that
man may progress even among half
civilized foreigners