The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1898-07-01

civIl to her; what was she. poor, little,
plain-faced school teacher, that she
should dare to cast her aspiring eyes
toward him.
Thus Gliding herself, she summoned
q sort Of spasmodic smile to her lips.
but you don't like children. dear;
and Miss Purdy says he has family"
TN send them to your school, said
Florence, saucily. "and get rid Of 'em
In that way. He's rich, Lottie, and he's
handsome; and the long and short Of II
is that mean to be Mrs. Col. Med
way"
But Florence. darling" pleaded
Lottie. 'do you-do you love himY'
Lover" echoed Florence, with n gay
toss of her fiax-gold hair; 'thnt isn't
part Of the bargain nowadays, by any
means"
And off she trippcd, singing blithc
strain ns she went, while Lottie sat
down to commune with herself and
question her shrinking heart
IL must not go so often TO Miss
Purdy's," she told herself. -Its very
kind Of her to send for me, but I must
fashion some excuse. dare say Col
oncl Midway Will not miss me If Flor
ence is there"
And she cried little. quietly to her
self.
EYES," said Florence Champney, "pve
come to stay, dear Miss Purdy; that Is,
If you'll have me-"
And She lifted her dove-like blue eyes
to the winkled countenance of the old
lady with the pretticst air Of appeal In
the world.
ITO stayv' echoed Miss Purdy. BLESS
me, child, what's the mattcrT
ITS scarlet fever" said Florence.
plaIntively. "'rhose three horrid little
snub-noscd Elton boysl And Lottie is
40 obstinate-she won't pack 'em of
home TO Canada, but has sent home the
other boys and means TO stay and
nurse 'em through herself"
How very absurdw said Colonel
Midway, who, with startled mir. had
arisen to his feet at her words
Eyes, isn't III" chimed in Florence.
"She says she loves 'em because they
are 80 little and SO helpless-the idea.
you knowl-and she says they are
mothcrlcss, and intrustcd to her care.
and all that sort of thing. OF course,
told her shouldn't stay In the infcc-
ton and make n fool of myself because
she did What are the Elton boys to
usY'
Nothing at all to you" said Colonel
Midway, quietly, but n good deal to
me. They are my sons"
Colonel Medwayw
my sons-although, on account of
the conditions OF n family Inheritance,
they bear their mothers maiden name.
And | can but honor the noble spirit of
self-sacriflce and tenderness which your
sister, Miss Champney, has shown to-
wards them. / should have been with
them before, but only arrived from
Canada this morning, and this is the
first tidings have received as to their
Illness"
Florence Champney looked after him
in bewilderment ms he left the room.
what does this mean, Miss PurdyY'
she cried out. did you know thisY'
"Of course l knew It," said Miss
Purdy, wiping her glasses. But the
Colonel didn't want you two young
ladies TO know that he was any rela-
tive, nor did he want the little lads to
be aware he was so near, lest 1t should
turn their heads from their studies
And lattcrly, since he has begun tc
fancy you two young ladies little he
was stin more unwilling that you
should know. Becausc-I rather think
my dear-he wanted to know what
sort of n stepmother you would make
Florence began to cry.
20, dear, o, dearr she sobbed, fl
her pretty, helpless way. IT'S always
my luck. If had only known. AND
do think, Miss Purdy, you might hav,
been good-natured enough to give me
hint Of the true state Of affairs"
The three little Eltons tided quit,
comfortably through the fever ICON
sidering," as the nurses say-and wheI
! they were well enough to make tn,
house noisy again there was n wedding
= and patient, sweet-yoiccd Lottie, whom
they had learned to love so dearly, be
) came their mother.
! "But l always thought, Hugh" sal,
5 Mrs. Midway, that you liked Florence
. the best, until"
And she smiled and colorcd an,
+ blushed, and looked infinitely lovely.
: IL might have married her" said tn
r Colonel, medltatively, III II hadn'
I been for the scarlet fever"-New Yorl
/, News.
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