Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-09-09
|S[R BRIAN'S FANCY

r T was boy who awoke her. He
rushed into the room and shouted
4 at her In the abrupt manner COM
mon to small brothers:
MOLLY, what do you think? Sir Bria
Rosymore is coming to dinner on Sat
uday."
you're joking"
"No--hOnor bright"
Wen go and look at him through the
window, Bobby"
Il shall, but you're to have new.
frock, made long, and 60 down to din
ner, because the Baronet saw you In
church last Sunday and told father you
were very pretty. What are you getting
80 red for?'' ..,
"Dad he really say he thought I was
prettyE' said the girl in tone of
oreathiess delight. 20, Bobby"
For several months past Molly had
been agitating to have her dresses
heightened. but as there were six girls.
and she was only the fourth her moth
er had firmly refused to allow her to be-
come grown up till some OF her sisters
were disposed of by marriage.
Nature had not intended Mrs. Thorne
for worldly woman, but necessity
was fast making her one AS the moth
er Of nine children and the wife of a
struggling doctor she often found it
difficult to make both ends meet.
Molly donned her gown on the i'm
portant Saturday. and was escorted to
the door by her faithful ally, Bob. She
stopped short on. the mat.
He has come she whispered. AZ
shall never be able to go in"
NONSENSE said the boy, yaliaptly.
But Molly refused to make an entry,
till her brother. whose patience was
soon exhausted, softly turned the han
die and gave her a gentle push which
had the effect Of lurching her into the
middle of the room in a most undigni-
fed way.
Her face famed scarlet, she could
feel all eyes fixed upon her in the great
est astonishment. then her mother
voice, family reproachful, said:
"Sir Brian, this is my daughter. Mar.
garrett"
Perhaps the Baronet saw th"t the
girl was unaccustomed to society and
pitied her He rarely spoke to her dur.
Ing the evening. although his eyes rest.
ed on her face with evident admiration
But when they met by chance the
next morning in the village street he
turned and walked beside her
She was not so shy now thar nc
watchful eyes We're there to note her
solecisms, and it was astonishing how
easy she found it to talk to this good
looking young fellow with the kindly
eyes.
The ThorneS saw great deal of Sii
Brian after that. Almost every day HI
found some excuse to CALL and the Cir
grew to look forward to his coming
and to feel absurdly disappointed if he
failed to put in an appearance.
HE must care for the child, else why
Is he here so oftenT Mrs Thorne sale
IN confidence TO her husband.
my dear" he answered, Il shouldn't
build too much on 1t if | were you. IT.
too good to be true"
But Molly was allowed to go to tn,
dance given by Lady Conyers.
Brian met them at the head Of tht
stairs on the eventful evening, and in
troduced them to his aunt.
The night passed all too quickly, anC
1t was already late when, feeling rattle
tired, she seated herself beside he
mother.
Ready to go home, DEAR" Mrs
Thorne inquired.
After this next dance. mother" sh
said, looking at the Baronet's illegibl
scrawl on her program.
Suddenly Lady Conyers' voice in con
versation with some one became aud
bic from the other side of clump o
palms.
"Preposterous. my dear Mrs. Craig.
she said. Brian is engaged-at leaS
he will be when we return to tow
shortly-to Lucie Maddox. He's simpl
amusing himself, as usual. He is sue
dreadful flirt.''
Mrs. Thorne turned to the girl. Sh
had whitened to the lips; her brow wa
burning. her hands were icy cold.
20, motherr she murmured, TAX
me home"
Molly, what have doneT
"Hush!' she cried. You have u
right to call me thatn'
Then give me the right; there
nothing desire more"
How dare you tell me so when 20
are engaged to another woman! 1t
me pass. sir, at oncer'
mot till you have explained yo'
words. Another woman? What Q
earth do you mean"
You pretend you don't know 81
cried. her childish voice trembling WI
Indignation, land / heard your aui