Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-08-25

| tGt GOWN ner own CNpcnGlturC To sup
ply the deficiencies that were always
making themselves manifest in the ac-
counts. 1t was considered only natur-
III that. ut Judith's age. she should ito
without the fresh ribbons lace. flow
erS and dainty gloves and gowns that
We're considered Indispensable to the
GetEp of her more youthful sisters.
With some curiosity Elsie waited to
STE "Judith'S lover" who made his APP
pearance one afternoon on his Way
home from Il meet of hounds. He had
tied his horse to the gate and was
walking. in 4 perfcctly-familiar fash
ion. to ask Miss Hatfield tor Il cup Of
tea. 1t was dusk: but Elsie. who was
sitting within range Of the 1irr-glow
which fell upon Mr.. Townshcnd'S fine
figure in the becoming hunting dress.
thought he was more youthful than
she had imagined he could he: also.
| hctter-looling, and could not under
stand why he should be in love with
With quiet Judy.
Elsie watched the pair curiouSly ald
wondcringly. as she sat apart. tc"cHp
in hand. Judy. although in Il plain
gown. vet looked quite pretty in the
fire" glow. as she laughed and talked to
| her admirer. who leaned forward in
! his chair looking chiefly ut her. though
| he included the quiet girl in the corner
and Mrs. Ha1tield-who Was lying on
| the sofa near the tire-in the cOnverSa-
| ton. AS ii he thought that Judith
must be interested. he fully described
the incidents of the ruiz and the caSu-
altieS attendant thereon; and certain
ly he seemed justified in the thought
for Elsie did not remember to have
seen Judy so happy-looking or so ami
mated for a long time.
1T is strange" thought Elsie. for
hardly any of the men in ClaXton
affect Judy: they steer a; clear OF her
as If she We're a blue king. and far
palmer girls than she got more atten-
ton. l suppose Mr.. TownSucnd pities
her: perhaps he Will never really love
again, and so thinks he may as well
do generous thing in marrying Judy.
He can't really admire her. for dark
men very seldom admire dark women.
l wonder what he will think of me-
1rritated. perhaps. by Mr.. Towns
henu'S almost exclusive attention to
her elder daughter. Mrs. Hatfield
rather sharply desired Judith to light
the gas. Naturally. Mr.. TownShend
taper down he saw Il girl with Il deli
catcfeatured face that was fresh and
pink-tinted. with eyes like t,rQuoises
in their soft. blue loneliness. hright-au-
burn hair that gliStened like gold in
the gaSlight. and Il perfect figure.
charms that We're added to by a Styl-
i>hly-cur gown of some pearl-tinted
material that was fastened at the
round. white throat with becoming
pink ribbon.
Elsie was aware that he regarded
her intcntly for some seconds but she
appeared unconscious of it. and so
again. later. when she stood by Judy's
side. and he was bidding them Good
bye His dark eyes Travelled from the
younger girls fair. untroubletl. smiling
face to the other with the dark skin,
the somber eyes. and the little crease
between the eyebrows. returning to
the falrer face to linger there
Mr.. TOwnShcnd called on the follow
ing day. when he talked to Judith as
before. but looked at Elsie. The next
time he drew the younger girl more
into the conversation, until. gradually.
Judith was, metaphorically. left out in
the cold. After that, although the
girls never spoke Of him except in the
most casual manner. both knew that,
if he had ever been Judith'S lover, he
was no longer.
One evening. at musical party. Civ
en- by the Wears wife. Mr. TOwnshend
stood by ElSic's side. complimcnting
her on the sweetness of her voice: ana
Mrs. Gardiner. watching them with
something like a frown. turned to Ju-
dith and said:
Judy. am afraid it is case: and
it is Il mistake-a terrible mistake
"Why: asked Judith. quite compos-
edly, though her heart seemed to sink
within her.
Because he will make her wretched
by his jealousy. She has not the pow
err to control his outbursts as-as a
lncre sensible girl would have been
| able to do. Judy. must confess she
whispered, that / am angry with
Elsie, and Claude. too, because l am
disappointed. Manlike, he has al
lowed himself to become so enthrallcd
| with her beauty that he has not asked
himself if she would make him a suit
able wife. If he married you. he
would no doubt be happy: but mar
| riage with a girl like Elsie would be
his ruin. He is fond of admiration,
and fecl convinced that they would
never live in peace
! 'There is a fate in these things,
dear remarked Judith. calmly; land
Elsie is very affectonate. so that if she
loves Mr.. Townshend she will sacrifice
her little vanities for his sake"
'IOvc.' echoed Mrs. Gardiner. at
| is not in her nature to love much!
Elsie admircS the man who pays her
tie greatest compliments. She may
n!arry Mr.. Townshend, but to love him
is another matter altogether. Then, as
to YOURSELF ! shall never forgive her;
She knows the cruel circumstances of
your position have prevented your en-
joying yourself as other girls do, and
| yet she has stolen your lover"
| "iou must not say that"-.Judith's
voice tremble1 Il little-'he was never
that, for, if he had been, Elsie could
not have taken him from me-"
"Wcll-l know what | know" re-
tortrd the Wears wife. "Mr. Town
Shrnd himself told me that you were
the first girl he had really taken to
since MS broken engagement. and |
think he has behaved very badly to be
| led away by frivolous Elsie. II lie is
punished by her conduct later. it will