Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-06-24
INTO HI LIGHT.

Mt Til g 3 GH
\ Gladys Wallingf ord threw herself down
on her cou0h, burying her head deep In
the cushions redolents Of pine. ri.
She had never been happy for more than
8 moment since her father died. 81 She had
been strangely like him, almost lanky,
with wbisc Skin and big, heavy lidded
black eyes and marvellous blue black hair.
and he, BIZ. !sionzed major of the FIJI
teenth lancers, full of wonderful tales Of
India and Africa, had fairly idolized her,
sbowering upon her susceptible, passion
ate little heart fond, foolish admiration
and joyous price. He died when she was
9, and, although she had changed but
little in 10 years, now she was told she
was swarthy, a bean pole, not fit to be
seen in d drawing room. For it must be
understood Major Wallingford~ had left a
window and two otker daughters, older
than Gladys, all three beauties after one
style-petite, E:oi,d, pertly attractive. The
income was limited, and to the youngest
daughter had been allotted, by common
consent, all the small, disagreeable duties
of the household, along with the odds and
robes. .-> -. ~. -,
7. She got up and lighted lamp. II
must be very self possessed and deter
Mined" she went on as she bathed her
hot face "They mustn't catch me at a dis.
advantage" So she dressed herself care
fully, putting on her one decent frock, and
when she lifted the portieres and entered
the drawing room few moments before
the dinner hour even her mother started q
bit at the picture che made The creamy
white gown with it's gold belt and collar,
her white face with large, lustrous eyes,
the masses Of hair. coiled on her daintily
poised head-it came to Mrs. Wallingford
with shock of surprise that her youngest
daughter was beautiful.
"Gladys, had letter from Mrs. Brins-
ley-McKay today" Gladys looked UP.
She was surprised at her own audacity.
"And what has that to do with lnep"
she asked.
"A great deal," answered her mother.
"She is your godmother, very rich and
q very eccentric old lady, who sends al
most in the form of q command an invi-
tation to you to visit her. She suffers
from govt and has taken a bouse at Bath
for the season. suppose she wants you
as sort of companion. You might come
in for a very nice little legacy if you play
your cards WE'LL
Gladys almost shivered at the words.
Gladys Wallingford on the Monday fol-
lowing the receipt of the invitation left
her mothers house to pay her visit to a
total stranger, and in due course they re-
ceived a telegram to the effect that she
had arrived safely at her destination.
Before the end of the week there came a
letter from Mrs. Brinsley Mckay.
"With your permission, it said, II will
keep Gladys awhile longer. She suits me
exactly-her fathers perfect image in
voice, in carriage, in thought. I leave for
London again before long, and as Gladys
has never seen season there it will be a
treat to her. AS you have SO many girls,
you will be able to spare one of them to an
old woman like me, won't your"
And one morning Gertrude and Juliet
awoke to find their sister the most oele-
brated beauty of the year. She was pre-
sented at court; she went to the best
houses, for her hostess knew every one
that was worth knowing in all sets; her
name was continually linked with royal
beauties.
So It was not until nearly year had
gone by that Mrs. Wallingfor one morn
ing received a telegram saying that Gladys
would be home at O'Clock. The two
girls didn't want to 20 to the station to
meet her, but curiosity at last mastered
them, and at o'clock the three stood,
each one in her best gown, waiting for the
express train from London. They oouldn t
help the rapid beating of their hearts as
the train pulled up. There they saw the
tall and radiant sister step out of first
class carriage and come toward them, two
we'll gloved hands extended, smile on
her face. All envy died out of their
breasts She seemed beyond even that,
too big, too gloriously beautiful. Her gen.
erosity, her seemingly complete forgive
ness of their former self1shness and cruelty,
set them an example of the magnanimity
such as their petty souls had never before
conceived.
= They were all chatter, all questions.
They demanded detailed accounts of hel
doiDgs Of the last year. ~>.
"Tell us from the very beginning, " they
said, and SO she told Of her arrival at
Bath, of her ''precious godmother, Of bel
London season, but SO modestly of he1
success that they would never have guessed
her triumph from her accent. They talked
until late into the night, getting nearer to
one another than they had ever been.
"I'm so tired, "she said at last, "Won't
you come to my room and let me get my
clothes Off We can talk 60 much more
comfortably in wrappers. @@>$:.
Her maid had already unpaoked hez
boxes, and the room was filed with photo.
graphs and signed sketches and exquisite
bits of glass and embroidered silks, olev.
or mems offerings to beautiful and gra.
oious woman. Gertrude wasslooking at
the silver which fairly loaded the dress
ing table, "And who is 'thisp'' abe asked,
turning toward her sister and holding UP
large enameled franc with the picture
Of marvelously handsome man looking
from Il. q! ! & zS@t ~ &...$y y, =:
Gladys dropped her eyes just a moment,
and then, raising them, she walked
straight and buoyantly to her mother, took
her in her arms and Kissed her closely sew.
eral times. Her voice was low and allur.
ingly sweet when she spoke again.
"He is Lord Stansbury, she said, land
II mother will give her consent will
marry him in the fall. 70 Chicago News.