The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-06-26

N# ways told you I in
kK . tended to we'd n man
o'0 ~ with blue eyes and
golden hair, and yours are dark. Be-
sides you are twenty-seven and med
ical student, two things never could
tolerate in the man l honor with my
heart and hand" And lovely little
Lottie Rexdal laughed very wicked
little laugh rs she pushed the end of
her red silk parasol into the soft soil
under an old apple tree, at the same
time glancing saucily up ut her COM
panion, scholarly young man.
"Why do you ask me?" sho ro-
sumed.
because wanted to DO madc fun
Of, to be ridiculed by the little girl l
love-" replied Vane Winton, smiling
sadly at the pert young lady perchcd
on the back of rustic garden seat,
her brown frizzos falling roguishly in
to her dancing brown eyes.
"Now, that doesn't sound a bit like
our own grave Vnne, who studies mel-
icine and cultivates an ice cream com
plexion."
"An ice cream conplexlon?" asked
Vane Winton, little mystitied.
Eyes; that's Lottie Rexdaps term
for students compilations. You book
worms study away until your faces
take on the hue of that sweet COM
pound" answered the roguish girl.
elf you would only be grave for
q while I might talk to YOU" said
Vane.
Eyes; you know I'm such rogue
that should put you to the blush q
thousand times day." chimel in
Lottie.
"I am willing to run the risk"
"Ah! but l shall not agree to any
such sacrifice. Marry come steady,
sensible girl. Alice May will be here
in one hour. Be polite, and captivate
her. Miss May is SO highly cultured
and grave that she will surely not be
less than sublime in your eyes. I'll
tell you"
But Vane did not stay to hear moro.
He walked of, leaving gay Lottie Rex
dol laughing merrily.
Lottie was the ward Of Vnne Win
toms kind father. She had been or
phaned at very early nge. A maiden
aunt had then adopted her. When
Lottie was but ten, and her education
not half completed, her kind relative
died. But before that she had sent
for Mr.. Winton, her girlhood's lover,
md made him promise to receive the
little orphan girl. The kind man con-
sented; and so Lottie became an in.
mate Of Vare Winton's home.
Vane was the only Child OF wealthy
parents, and Mt the time when Lottic
came to his fathers house he was away
on the Continent.
When he returned three years after
wards he found his "ward sister," as
be had called her in his letters, away
at some school for girls. So it hap.
pened that Nanc and Lottle had never
met until six months before. Vune
was fine scholar, but he had never
studied any profession. Now, ut the
age of twenty-seven, realizing perhaps
that "it Is never too late to mend" he
was fitting himself for the medical fro.
fesSion.
Vane was trying to study at his
home that summer. Sometimes he
found it impossible to do so amid the
tempest aroused by mischievous Lot
tie Rexdal. She threw open the un-
used piano, and made the house ring
with her clear. bell-like notes. She
filled the library with flowers. tossed
up Vane's books, and even scribbled
on them. She rode every horse on the
place, romped with Prince, the great
shaggy dog, tore her dresses, went
bare headed, and turned the wide hall
into skating rink.
She was utterly spoiled by both Mr..
and Mrs. Winton. At first Vaue had
been shocked. But the moro he
studied her original character, the
more he become reconciled to it. Tol.
erance gave place to admiration, and
that, in due time, to love. He hal
always felt vague longing to discover
a woman in whose character he hoped
to find originality and freedom from
a3ectation. If he could only teach
Lottic to love him. what splendid
woman she might become!
He would wait patiently and hope
fully, ho reasoned, rs he walked
away. Taking a volume from his
pocket, he sat down on n bench under
an elm, and began to pcruse it. Soon
n merry laugh caused him to look up.
and ho saw Lottlc riding down the
lane on her milk-whltc Floss. Very
bright and piquant she looked in her
riding habit rs she drew rein beside
him.
'Sir Owl, I'm on my way to NEE,
Miss Alice now; and while I'm gone
shall expect you TO comb your hair,
part it in the middle, put on a clean
collar, pin n flower in your buttonhole,
end act very aesthetic and duke-like. >
And with merry laugh she rode
away.
For weeks after Alice Mays arrival
the house was filled with company.
Nane devoted himself almost entirely