Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-07-01

IT must have glance Il that beau
tiful babyl" she said, placing her bas-
ket OF eggs on the ground. "What .
lovely child how old is she?"
Sixteen months" said the nurse,
with broad smile, that someway look
ed familiar to Mrs. Maberly.
ST don't know as / ever saw quite
as lovely baby, /" said Mrs. Maberly,
smiling down upon the child, whose
great blue eyes were fixed upon her
face. "How I wish dared to kiss
her! But babies are SO capricious.
"She'll let you," said the girl.
'sMabel, kiss the lady"
The cherubic little lips came toget
her at once in charming pout tina
made them look more than ever like
two ripe cherries.
"You perfect darling!' exclaimed
Mrs. Maberly, as she received and re-
turned the coveted kiss. Sim dead
in love with you. Whose child is it?"
she asked, as she resumed her basket
and prepared to move away.
"Why, ma'am, is it possible that
you don't remember me?" was the
astounding form of the girls answer.
Remember you" exclaimed Mrs.
Maberly with unfeigned establishment,
and then it slowly dawned upon her
that the face she was looking at was
not unfamiliar.
Eyes, I'm changed, of course, cause
it's years ago since you used to come
to Miss Mabels for to stop in your
vacations. Don't you remember the
old plantation down in Georgy and the
old hands? I'm old Marthy's daugh-
ter Marthy, that used to be laun-
dress, and I'm growed up, you see."
" Old Martha Mabel the old
plantation down in Georgia." Mrs.
Maberly felt dizzy as she heard the
well-remembered names.
"You see Miss Mabel married a
Northern gentleman, after all, and
came here to settle.
"And she-she is our next-door
neighbour" said Mrs. Maberly in a
faint voice. She felt dazed. Il think
understand how one might be
knocked down with a feather" she
said, in speaking of the matter to her
husband afterwards.
''Mabel-Georgia, she kept repeat
ing to herself, land she is my next
neighbor! If had known it would
never have taken the house"
The brightness had all died out of
her face. She wanted to ask some
| questions, but would not allow herself
to do SO. The nurses chocolate-col-
ored face was on broad grin. How
much did she know of the state OF af-
fairs between these two women who
had once been the closest friends?
''No, / would never have taken that
housew she said over and over, as she
moved on, still in a dazed, startled
mood, that even the sight of her beau
tiful boy, waiting outside the gate for
mamma, failed to change. A cloud
seemed to have been suddenly thrown
over the gray stone cottage. Vines
and flowers and all the belongings
were as if they had never been. Mrs.
Maberly turned her face resolutely
away and went into her own house.
go, dear-I have found out at last
who our next-door neighbor isl" she
exclaimed, as her husband entered the
hall, where she was awaiting him that
evening.
"You don't seem to be very much
delighted over the discovery, was his
reply. II met the gentleman to-day
in business affair He is very genial.
1t seems his wife is something of an
invalid, and seldom goes out"
"Fm so glad % exclaimed Mrs.
Maberly, with heartfelt emphasis.
"That don't speak much for youl
Christian charity" said Mr.. Maberly,
smiling.
81 don't mean that I'm glad she is
sick, but that she seldom goes out, >
said his wife.
"That will make it encumbent on
you to call on her, won't it,"
"I'll never call on her." was the re-
ply, delivered with almost spiteful
energy.
why, what on earth has hap
pened?" her husband asked, now really
puzzled Heretofore you have
seemed to wish for her acquaintance
I'm sure 1 have heard you wonder why
she did not call. -
Very true, but then did not know
who she was-now L do" and she mar.
rated her interview with the nurse
that morning.
$50 You see 1 know her; she used
to be one of my dearest friends.
think at one time / almost worshippet
her."
"And you have spent days at hel
house ?"
"Indeed / have /; one of the lowell
est plantations in the State of Georgia
In my vacations, when mamma ant
papa were abroad, 1 always went home
with her. But now / dislike her quit,
as much as loved her then. Wher
we last parted I told her nothing
would induce me ever to speak to hel
again or to treat her with respect. o
we said very bitter things, both of us
but it was she who was the first of
fender. And now / am sorry yor
bought the house"
Don't you know you are nursing
the spirit of revenge ?" her husband
asked gravely.
II know that never could respec
myself, after what she said to me, if
as much as noticed her, and yer,
likely she feels the same towards me
What pity that we are neighbors ?"
ST am sorry to hear all this, as