Smyrna times., 1897-09-29
Mr.. ALIENS VISIT.
BY HELEN WHITNEY CLARK,

~ A3 40 uO bOOh Ills seat at the
breakfast table. ''How provoking that
L should be called away just as Allen
is coming! I promised to help him
get a school, too. No help for it,
though-sO I leave you girls to make
my apologies, and do the honors of the
house for my old friend. Many a
scrape he's helped me out of at college,
and l want him to enjoy his visit.
Aliens a good fellow" he continued,
breaking open cottony puff-ball of a
biscuit and taking a sip of coffee from
his blue-fowered china cup. "But
don't fall in love with him, Val, for he's
as poor as-as 'pusley," he added.
"Humph! Much danger of me falling
in love with a poverty-stricken
schOOlmaster!" replied Valeria, with
scOrnful shrug of her shoulders.
Valeria was the beauty of the family,
and put on airs accordingly.
'Why, Eric, L never heerd of folks
bein' poor as pusiey," put in old-fash-
ioned Cousin Abigail, who kept house
for the Cymons. GIVE heerd of 'em
bein as mean as pusley, though, afore
nOw."
Eric smiled good-naturedly.
"Say poor as black-eyed peas, then,
he suggested. They are poor enough,
in all conscience. But Allen hasn't a
mean streak about him, he added
unless it's mean to be poor"
"Oh, Eric" cried Hilda, the young
est, ''is he-is he good looking?"
Good looking? OF course. Hand
some as Apollo, or any other of those
old Grecian gods. But I must be off
only half an hour to catch the train
he here goes. Be good, girls, now,
and treat Allen well when he comes. :"
And catching up his valise, Eric
hastily kissed his sisters good-by,
shook hands with Cousin Abigail, and
strobe off.
Hilda, standing at the window a few
days later gazing at the varied wood
lands, with their foliage of crimson
and gold, and dun, now rapidly chang
ing to brown, beheld tall figure COM
ing toward the hOuse-the figure of a
man carelessly dressed, but handsome
and grave looking, and carrying a well
worn valise.
She hurriedly smoothed her nut
brown hair, Strengthened her ruffled
apron, and went to open the door.
"Does Eric Cymon live here?" in
quired the stranger, while pair Of
deep-tinted blue eyes scanned him
eagerly.
"He is handsomer" thought Hilda
"Why Apollo couldn't hold a candle tC
him I'm sure!"
But aloud she answered, eyes sir!'
primly enough.
81 am a friend of his, the visitor
hastened to explain. My name il
Allen"
81 know" interrupted Hilda. Fri,
was expecting you; but he is away
from home now. He was obliged tt
leave ON business; but he said yol
were to stay, just the same, and h,
thinks he can get you a school when h,
comes back.
And she led the way to the sittin:
room, drew forth a high-back, split
bottom rocker for the visitors comfor
and tripped off again in search of Cou
sin Abby.
An amused smile appeared in tn
young mans handsome brown eyes a
Hilda disappeared.
''That cannot be the beauty Fri
used to tell about, he declared to him
self. Though she is pretty enough
too, with eyes like wild bluets shinin
in the sunshine"
He was introduced to Valeria, at th
dinner table, but her haught
bow and arrogant manners counter
acted the effect of her carmine chez
/; and violet tinted eyes, and he turne
$ from the faultless features and super
colOring to gaze with more real admin
? ation upon Hilda's FURNISHED braid
i and soft blue eyes, which so reminde
: him of the woodland bluets he ha
;; known and loved in the days of h.
e boyhood.