The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-03-08
THE RIVAL PARTIES,
How a Soft Touch of Nature Merged Ther
Into one.

have been so bad but. you see. the child
never had ~ party before In her life, and
Is not likely TO have another soon. SO [
thought she might as well have the pleas,
ure OF anticipation.
she has been as happy a. bird getting
ready for II, aeiptng TO ouko cakes and
writing ana delivering invitations; and sho
has planned IL all over and oNdr again, how
many would I've here, how the tables would
bc arranged and what games thoy should
play
why. | have almost felt young again.
myself. listening to tho chlld talk, and this
morning when she started on TO school. sha
| actually threw hor arms around my neck
and kissed me as II 1 had been her bwn
mother. and now
1T almost makes mo sick l don't know
whether I've trimmed "a hat or II bonnet
straight today. | knew something was
wrong the minute ] saw her f,lce nj noon.
She tried to speak as usual hut she
couldn't, and when asked what tho mat
ter was. she dropped into a chair and be
gan to cry ms II her heart would break.
at was tho longest time before could
find out anything about II. OH how could
sheP M one party--Rnd my birthday, too
she would say between sobs. Not nm angry
word, Just heartbrokcn; but limits her
way. No better girl ever lived than Audrey
| Ames. and ought 10 know.
FINALLY, | learned that Maud Bacon had
told her on the way to the school that all
the girls had received printed invitations
to n party at Glenson'a tonight. Audrey
couldn't believe it untn she rot TO school
and found that no one seemed TO notice
her at all Gladys Gleason WIS the center
OF attraction today, telling In quite audible
confidence group after group OF girls the
number of cnkes ordered, tho gallons of
Ice cream making and the grand prepnrn-
lions In progress, but not "a word did she
say TO poor Audrey about II.
GLADYS has forgotten tho rainy nights
that It used to be convenient TO stay with
Cousin Audrey before her father was
elected and they moved to town; and tho
many favors that Audrey has done her,
never mnding hor Sights and nor over
bearing ways | would not have believed
her capable OF such an insult
And children are much lilSo their elders,
Not half dozcu VIII he at Audrcy's party
tonight, nor will half dozen mothers tell
their glris to accept the first invitation, be
causo--well. because Gladys Is n Gleason,
and Audrey IL q poor orphan girl living
with ola Maid BogBs. the millner.
ITS shame; it's burning shame, so
IT la And the sympathetic old maids
face was buried In her hands while tcara
triclsled through her fingers on to the work
below.
II do wonder If Gleason upholds any
such dongs.' said Miss Boggs listener.
glad Of chance to talk at Last
more than likely he knows nothing
about II. They say he humors those chill
dren to death sirloe their mother died lie
always was a ood-hearted man-usod to
he able to see Common folks, too hut his
pyo-sight seems TO be falling since elec-
lion. Maybe that's what nils Gladys. She
can't see well on Audrey's level"
Lucy Sykes chuokled over her own wit.
ana Miss Bogga dried her eyes 10 continue
. - (.luHya mud thu
rival parties. But when aha came to
Audrey, bravely trying to bear her bitter
disappointment, tears made way for sobs.
and Lucy Sykes cried softly In sympathy.
In n private room not many blocks away
sat George GLEASON, surrounded by books,
papers, letters ard packages, in dire con-
fusion. lie was giving his personal effects
q general overhauling before assuming his
now duties in tho responsible position for
which the people OF his county had chosen
him.
Some documents would be needed. others
were valuable, and these he had sorted and
arranged 10 his satisfaction, but there was
so much other matter, trash, he called II,
that must be disposed Of and this nc was
finding no easy task. Absorbed In bust
noss though he was. Mr. Gleason had
heart, and mcmentoes of the past, nm
carthcd for many years. stared him IN the
IdN" anu bhTtfu LOT tH' 'linN ul'iN pih'~
teal objects.
From an old envelope he took n box. and
from tho box ring, twirlng " In his
nrgcrs while "A mental vision reproduced II
winsomo face, not OF n girl,sh sweetheart.
hut Of his sister Anna faithful ana true.
How many times she had helped him out
of ecrnpcs and shielded him from his
fathers wrath, How she had begged him
10 give mp his wild companions lac
refused--.until that night.
And then he could see through the dark
ness II little figure running across the
fields 10 the old cooper shop, "A favorite
rendezvous of the toughs that infested the
ucighborhood. And another figure, his
stern father. In close pursuit. But Anna
had reached him first. had saved him from
his fathcr-perhaps from worse, for that
very NIGHTS lark" ended I'm fray that
put two OF the gang behind prison bars.
Aud here, In George Glenson's hand. six |
teen years later. lay the ring that he had
bought for Anna on his first trip to the
city with his father. But she never wore
IT, having taken advantage OF their abb
scnce to marry man whom both on |
posed And 1t was a terrible mistake. fol- |
lowed by n life OF poverty ana wretched- |
ness Ignored by home friends. even by |
the brother who should have been as much |
10 her as she once was to him. poor Annie |
lived and died Her children were scat |
tered and
'oadys Gladys" called Mr.. Gleason, |
reused oy n step In the hall.
Gladys had been very willirE 10 leave her |
father IN peace since obtaining his con- |
sent TO ner giving tho party planned en- |
tirely by herself and the honfekeeper; yet |
she answered his call promptly.
when your cousin comes tonight. |
Giadys-"
Audrey. papn2" interrupted Gladys.
'Yes: when Audrey comes tonight bring /
her 10 me. / want to give her this ring"
Gladys surprise riyeled her confusion. A
prstticr ring than she had ever owned to |
be given 10 Audreyi
but. papa, she-she isn't coming"
Isn't coming" said Gleason sterElS.
"And why notY'
'.Becausc-I-didnt ask her" stammered
Gladys. '"I thought we never--you never.
papa
~ see." said Gleason. ut has all been
wrong. This Is very wrong. Bet It right