Middletown transcript., 1898-01-22
9Bab, I should think you might let


to have regained her youth. She's
almost coltish. y
'tBut. would you9-do you mean it?"
'If had chance"
''In the beginning made a resolu-
tion that nobody, save myself, should
ever drive Flora"
"Break it,"
81 never break VOW. There is
one other way out of the difficulty.
I'll take it to prove I'm not as selfish
as you think"
Kathryn smiled graciously and re-
sumed her embroidery, but that after
noon she was invited to drive.
"Leaving mother at homer" J
"Taking mother with us!'
~ don't understand"
"Look out of the window"
There stood Flora appearing very
gay and youthful in new russell har-
moss, before two seated blackboard.
"My sake! the whole turnout is
symphony in browns! How sHelll
And-whose?o
"Mine. Will you go?"
won't IP'
barbara, my daughterl Have you
mortgaged all your small fortune to
this horsef" demanded Mrs. Belts, as
Flora gayIy SKINNED over the ground
with three admiring women behind
her.
"Aunt Mary's little legacy has goue
into this rigl'
"Oh, then. you'll have nothing left to
sacrifce.''
"Only myself"
"YouIl be sold next.'' Or Flora, to
pay for herself"
''If she is I will be. Whoever takes
one must the other"
"It is clear infatuation and-ruin."
SIT is pure Affection
"Stuff.n
4 w uOu lu0 NllEO wac ONCA 0AAoo OeA
bara had visitor. This was unusual.
| The more so, that the visitor was
gentleman. The maid ran out to the
stable where Bah was putting Flora to
bed, and announced, There's a man
wants to see you, miss"
All the male acquaiDtances she had
formed since coming to Belleville
were connected with Flora's-or the
family's requirements. This was pro-
baby the "feed man," with another
bill. The young woman's lips took on
their most soft expression.
"Well, Pm completely bankrupt.
But Flora shall not starve, if l do.
Her appetite, though, is something
frightful. However, send the fellow
out here"
Flora was never allowed to retire
except in the trimmest order, with
name in ''crimps" and every hair ex-
act. Miss Barbara did uot relax, in
her attentions for SO slight thing as
a call and probable dun. Her face was
grim and eyes aYerted till mascu-
line football and "Aheml" compelled
consideration.
Then she did look up, indeed, and
screamed, "Oh, my-youI"
"Great Caesar, Barbaral You? Are
you the woman who bought my sisters
horse?"
"This is my horse. do not know
your sister," coldly.
She had instantly rallied from her
agitation. -
"But, beg pardon, you do. She
was this animals owner, obliged to
part with it after her husbands
failure. 1 just got back from the
mines South Amsrica-and heard it.
am trying to recover her scattered
! household goods. This beast. sup
pose, was one of them. came to buy
it, but how should dream that Miss
Belts was my Miss Betts-my Barbara
i After ten years of waiting. darlingl l
:. take all the blame. / was hot-tem-
pered and unjust. I should have re-
membered how firm you always were. -
''No; I'm an old maid now, and they
call me 'sot.'
Flora's would-be purchaser walked
in and closed the stable door behind
him.
swell. of all thingsp' exclaimed
Mrs. Belts, from her point of view. "If
Barbara Were younger
SITS all right, mother. The maid
, says that the gentleman is the brother
{ Of Flora's first MISTRESS -
, After some time Bah came in, the
! stranger with her.
3 "Mother. do you remember Mr..
/ CraydoBP I used to know him at the
! university.n
The lady's memory failed, but she
accepted the statement without COM
/ ment. Not SO quietly, however, that
which followed: "And I've sold
: Flora"
"sold-Floral ImpossibleI How
Q could youP''
. "Because-because 1 go with the
horse. - Frank Leslie's Popular
9 Monthly.
Intense Female-"Oh! but don Z you seem
+, to pine for the days of old, when there was
8 some excitement-and fighting2'i
The Major General-"Well, not SO much
now Pm married"