Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-03-23

Can you spare me five minutes, Mrs.
SEYMOUR" asked she beamingly.
ooh, certainly! Do sit down." said
Mrs. Seymour, while Nell drew for
ward a chair.
I've come to ask you if you would
care to help u.s." continued Mrs. Wild
over, as she proceeded to unfold the
scheme of the fair.
Mrs Seymour and her daughter had
been at the Hotel de Flandres for over
Il week, but somehow they seemed to
have assimilated with none of the sets.
Perhaps their deep mourning isolated
them, as it prevented their joining the
ccrcle des strangers, but Mrs. Wild
over felt that it would be sweet and
cOndescending of her to take them un-
der her protection and to patronize
them.
And now, what will you both do?"
concluded the good lady, beaming on
them good-naturedly. "Will you take
stall, Miss Seymour, or will you sing
in the concert, or play, or whatT
Miss Seymour hesitated and glanced
at her mother. I'm afraid my sing
ms anu l'ldS IliS Nlpll "
she began, "but-"
But she dances nicely, Mrs. Wild
over, If that is of any use to you
Mrs. Wildover gave little gasp, and
then suddenly recollected that skirt.
dancing was one of the recognized ac.
complishments
THAT will be charming!" she eX-
claimed. "And you don't think you will
be nervous?"
Nell shook her head decidedly.
"Thcn that's all right And won't
you help us at all, Mrs. SEYMOUR
"Oh, I'll sell programs take tickets,
anything you like" replied the lady,
laughing; make myself generally use.
ful, in fact"
"Well, anyway. that's something to
dol" exclaimed the girl when their Wis.
itor had departed
"EXactlyw
'But whether the game is worth the
candle; whether it's worth while vege.
tating here for fortnight for the
pleasure of showing ones ankles at
fancy fair, I'm sure | don't know"
''Ncther do as yet, my dear. Wait
till the time comes. Well soon see.
But you are certainly right in one
thing, Nell; black does not show you
off"
The girl gave something between
grunt and a laugh and glanced ut
herself in the long mirror, the invaria.
bic adjunct to an apartment in a for.
eign hotel.
She was tall and very slight, with a
| clear, colorlcss complexion and crisp
red hair; her eyes were heavily lidded,
and when she took the trouble to raise
them they were Of a curious changeful
tone. In her black gown no one would
have called her pretty; yet to an OBJ,
server there We're great possibilities
! about her. She recognized the fact bet.
ter than most people, and therefore
there was some excuse for her petulant
turn from the glass.
! Mrs. Seymour, on the other hand,
was short and plump and comfortable
| looking, neither plain nor pretty, and
| gifted with little appealing, helpless
ways which usually stood her in very
good stead, indeed.
II wish you would not sit smiling
there like that" calculated Nell, i'm.
patiently. Il can't see what you want.
cd to come to Spa for
81 am consumed with Il desire to
make Mrs. Wildover's acquaintance
quietly replied her companion.
"Thcn why on earth"
"Hush" said Mrs. Seymour 'I.et
us go down to the salon and talk about
the fancy fair"
For week little else was spoken of
among the English colony at Spa. In
| all likelihood Mrs. Wildover had never
| been so happy in her life. She spent
| her whole time in bustling and fussing
| among her helpers, and the name Of
| Lady LOthar was scarcely ever off her
| lips. Her constant companion and
right hand was little Mrs. Seymour.
Il really don't know what l could
do without YOU" she said on the even,
ing preceding the eventful day. "You
seem to think of everything. dear Mrs
| Seymour"
oh | am so pleased to be of use to
you in anywayw exclaimed her com.
panion, eagerly, "and so is Nellie
'IIas her dress arrivedY asked Mrs
Wildover.
yes l fancy she is trying it on now.
| Would you care to see it?"
With goOd-humored condescenson
Mrs. Wildover agreed, but she started
back with a cry of genuine amazement
when Mrs. Seymour threw open her
| stting-rOom and she realized that IL
was indeed that insignificant girl in
black" who stood before her.
She saw n vision of diaphanous dra.
| peries, a maze of flimsy silk and lace
and face pale as lilly but radiant
under n glory of bright hair.
"Why-why, my dear girl, 1 never
realized how lovely you We're beforer'
exclaimed the good lady as she sank
| into a seat
Nell made some demure reply, and eX.
ccuted a few graceful steps.