Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-11-05

"Oh, Mr.. stanton! You quite start
led me! How delighted to meet your'
She was a dainty little person, With
1 genuine complexion, big blue eyes
and the most puzxling and bewttching
hair, which seemed to run the whole
gamut of tints from brown TO gold as
sunbeams played on 1t. She looked up
into une old gentleman's face with the
most confidlng expression.
Isn't 1t provoking? There Is abso-
lutely no news"
Really, I'm delighted-I mean" he
corrected himself hurrledly, lit Is most
extraordinary
"Isn't it? came down here a week
ago to meet my aunt and uncle, as we
had arranged before they went abroad,
and, to my amazement, found no one
here"
Eyes, yes" he put In soothlngly. 1T
was very trying. Poor little girl. Poor
childw
81 should have gone straight back
to London If it hadn't been for you, Mr..
Stanton. You have been more than
kind to me-"
mot at all, my dear young lady. I
was touched at the loneliness of your
position, anxious to be of service to-
to so charming waif."
She shot him a grateful glance.
But l think really must go home
now. / went to Carlinford, as you
! suggested, thinking that some letter
might be awaiting me at the postoffice,
but as l tell you, there was nothing. l
cannot think what has happened to my
friends. feel must go back to Lon
don tomorrow"
Tomorrow Mr.. Stanton stopped
aghast and looked down Mt her. you
mean to leave Startmouth-"
YES"
"I-at least you will allow me TO
| see you safe to London-to your
friends. Oh! 1 forgot, my poor child
you are an orphan. But at any rate,
you will let me take you back to the
people with whom you We're staying!'
"Oh, nor she said hurriedly. Il
| Couiu iiOt tulHh VI SiNihS you ~ AhuSh
| trouble"
Trouble! If 1t were not that 1t
means losing you at the end, l should
call 1t pleasure. There! it is settled,
isn't it? And what time shall we go|
Indeed, Mr.. Stanton, / cannot ac-
cept your escort. It-I-they-Oh!
can't you understand"
Her face was turned away from him;
they had wandered away from the pa
rade on to the beach and she was draw
ing cabalistic figures on the shifty
sand with her parasol He looked at
her for a second. and then he felt the
blood rushing to his head.
MY dear Miss Alban, do you mean
that any one-that some one"
She nodded, not desis-ing from her
diagrams.
THAT some one has dared to hint
that-that--you know what
mean"
Apparently she did, for she answered
in low voice:
~rhat is it. overheard something
in the drawing room this morning; and
what would they say If you came to
London with me?"
There was a moments pause, and
with sudden gulp, Luke Stanton
plunged manfully into the deep waters
of a declaration. They would say in
truth-that he could not bear to lose
her. that he loved her, that he wanted
nothing better than TO hear her say
she would be his wife. Would she say
| IL here-now? He was an old man,
| triple her age, no dOubt-but-Dut-.
He stopped out of breath and red OF
| face, and Miss Alban covered her face
with her hands and made no answer
even when, having recovered himself,
Mr.. Stanton pressed her still further.
II don't know" she murmured; Il
must have time to think. lam so sW'-
prised."
! OF course she should have time to
think-until tomorrow. Would she
| tell him tomorrow?
| An inarticulate sound no doubt
meant yes. and then came more CO.
herent, "You will go now, won't you?
| want to be alone
And with many a backward glance
Luke Stanton went. He chuckled to
himself again as in his own room his
eyes fell on the bowl of water, cold
now, over which he had opened
Adrian's letter. He would be finely
caught; and it was not n case oc cut
ting off his nose to spite his face, for
Kittie Alban was as pretty girl as
any one could wish, and perfect lit
| tie lady.
He took unusual pains over his dress
ing, crumpled innumerble ties, and
at last was ready. To his dismay.
however. when all the guests had filed
in to table d'hote he had to realize that
Miss Alban, whose ts needless
to say, was next to,his own, was alb
sent. n~ -
On questioning the waiter. he found
that Miss Adams, dinner /, had been
sent to her rooms Luke was disap-
pointed, and little alarmed; He fid-
geted about aftefrthe meal in IAN aim
less sort of fashion, and finally sent
message to inquire after the absen-
tee. The answer came back thatasliss
Alban had headache.
When a man of sixty screws himself
up to pitch Of taking unto himself
wife the presence Of the dear one
elect IL necessary to prevent his re-
fiecting too deeply on all that the step