The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-14
HER CASTLE.


0NNNON0V 10NNUNN~N~
"Come IN the house this instant and
scrub the floor! + nsvor saw such lazy.
shiftless girl. Do you hear me?"
Eyes, aunt"
"Thsrs you gcI It's Yes. .aunt, from
morn till night. What on. airth air you
s-lookin at?"
II was watching the clouds, Aunt Hes
ter Do come and sec this one In the
form Of a castle
"A castle Good Lord just as II
them dumpy lookin clouds had any more
,hape 90 'em than feather bed. Land
sakes, how some folks imagination runs
away with 'em"
MAY l trouble you for glass OF
water, interrupted voice at this
uoment
Auut Hester started. In the kitchen
door stood young man clad in bunting
costume. with his gun slung oarelsssly over
mis- shoulder. :,
I've had but poor luck, he said smil-
Ing pleasantly at Alice, land am quite
thirsty"
Then, turning to Aunt Hester, he
added:
You have a fine old place here. May I
ask II you know any one in the vicinity
who would be willing to take a boArder
for q few weeksr'
~ duane" reIl!el Aunt Hoster slowly.
"I've got spare room that sin't In use.
Perhaps l might. IL 1T your"
Yes. l have come up among the hills
hsre,for a months holiday. i Will pay
you we'll. like the place.
And Aunt Hester, always eager to
make morey, led the way to "a large pleas
ant square room. whose Windows looked
out upon the hills and surrounding
country.
Ths stranger was 40 pleased with the
view that he engaged the room then and
there
"I'll go back TO the hotel at the entrance
of the valley, ana have my traps sent up
mt once, he said, II shall have time 10
get hack before sunset
Ezra bernard was In waiting In the
front room when he returned.
Hello, Alp he said, greeting her. Il
came over to ask you to dig tney re-
a-goin To have down 10 the Corners to.
morrow night. How d'ye do, ''9cknOwledg
awkwardly.
~ cannot 60, she said, coldly.
"Ob, pshaw, Al! You're always O sAyin
that You can go. Your aunt said you
could. they're a-goin to have tarnation
sight OF fun"
Il CuHuOt kbs IsNiu.
"For !the land sskes, Alice, 1 shc'd
think you'd 10 ashamed of yourself,
broke in Aunt Hester Indignantly, "arter
all the pains Ezra's took To come way
over here a-purpose tn ask you. Shu'dn't
YOU think she orter be ashamed, Mr..
Ellis?"
Perhaps Miss Bond docs not care for
parties said the yonnR man pleasantly.
'.But this ere one is Roin TO be an extra
affair-two fiddles and a bass viol. tell
you it'll be n regular old hoe down. say,
Ap'-
But the girl had quietly slipped from
II swan" exclaimed Ezra, risiag. his
forid face becoming several tinges red
der, ''if tnat hain't n purity trick Ia ssrye
teller There's more gais tnan obs in
,She world, howsomeyer. as lil jest show
her I'll ask Alminy Rindwort TO 81.
Shell jump at the chancs.
LA, now, don't he hasty, Ezra, said
Aunt Hest.r sootbingly. Alice will 20.
III. bring her round tomorrow. SGes
unl, little odd and oiiish. Mhen you re
married it'll be- all right.
II don't know az care for n balky gal
for wife!" exclaimed Ezra coarsely.
"i'ernaps | won't have her arter all. "
And snatching his hat he sullenly left the
hoGss.
from ! er drudgery sne spent In reauioR.
B,ADre the books which Mr.. Ellis had nrst
lent her were finished he had sent To the
city for more. Nearly every evening
when Aunt Hester was comfortably doz-
ing ia her arm chair, Mr. Ellis would
sele5t book. and going out into the
porch would read aloud in bis clear, musi-
al voice To lice.
Mr.. Ellis h"d fallen into the habit of
callng nor 'Allie, anu somehow she
liked IL, foI Il. W his month ha lengthen-
ed into three, and IL seemed tu A lice as If
ls.A hQn enn har al
"Allie. he said, TOMORROW will be
the lst OF November. and l am going
awag." They were standing in the twi-
llgnt. The last rays OF thj setting sun
re gliding the girls chestnut hair
until IL shone like FURNISHED gold.
a he fringed curtaiDs dropped quickly
over the Drown Eyes, and sudden pallor
oyerspread the sweet gir ish fece.
This has been pleas mt summer end
autumn, Allie, be said.' 'Hasn't { itY'
eyes " she answered with "a voice that
fdltcrod In spite OF all her efforts.
''Shali you miss me. Alher'
TIE intonstion was so low IL was
hardly more Insn whisper.
with great effort the girl steadied her
voioe and answered calmly:
Certainly, Mr.. Ellis. It-that IL. we
shall all miss you.
~ am going lone Alice" he said,
Watching her keonly, Ito prepare castle
Tor my lady love- as true Knight should.
Shall 4 tell you about her-wbere j Irst
met her ana how care To love tery"
''If YOU please, cane ever so family.
There Was a terrible sickening at her
heart
"It wns one day was returning from
hunt. / was very tired and thirsty, and
from the brow Of n hill i espied in the val
ley below house. L determined 60 go
down 10 IL and ask for glass Of water.
As drew near ! saw young girl stand
ing in It's yard watching the great fleecy
white clouds that were toatly idly about
In the sky