The Portland daily press., 1899-07-28

who informed me that tneir rreno, MISS
Stuart, had gone home.
But the last few days Of my holiday
brought Lefty nearer and dear girl, :
/ began to long 10 see her again. And when
at last / took the trim to Aberdeen.
saw that the other had only been a pass
ing fancy and that had been led on by
a bold, designing girl and that, after all,
cared for Lefty only.
had written her only the day before.
so l knew she would be expecting me,
and after getting some OF the journeys
dust rubbed of, l set out for the little
house at Queens Cross.
was getting impatient. / quickened
lay pace. l almost ran.
When l was shown into the pretty
drawing room, Lefty was there alone.
She wore n white dress that l had always
admired, but she did not run to meet me
with n little, glad cry, as had expected.
She only stood up and held out her hand
colby. | kissed her, but she did not re-
turn the caress.
Lefty. dear, aren't you glad to see me
again2 You have dressed for me alone,
know. though you do not well
Il thought you admired pale blue, Joe.
That was why | dressed in white"
That made me think of that horrid red
haired girl. ! really began to dislike her.
"Why do you say that. dear? You know
I always like you in white. And why are
you so od-and-different? Have
changed? | do not think so. and you are
just the same. except for your coldness."
| glanced at her fair hair. The sun,
shining in from side window, put a
touch Of gold in it. l raised my hand and
gently pushed back a stray curl that hid
her eyes from me. She shrank from my
| touch.
Don't" she said, emphatically. "Red
| is your fayorite color, you know. l won
der you can bear to look at my ugly, fair
| tresses."
felt almost giddy with establishment.
How hated that red haired grill
Il hate red" l cried vchemently, II
detest itg'
Men are all alike. They have no con-
stancy whatever. Their fancy + taken
by every fresh face they see. I have no
belief in them--none."
With which words, spoken quickly and
nngrily, Lefty rushed out of the room,
and the door shut behind her with lit
tie bang. M
was dazed and perplexed. l had
heard almost the same words before, and
now l felt as if could have murdered
that red haired girl
Dropping into low chair, buried my
face in my hands. Slowly il came to me
that it was all over between Lefty and
myself. When at last the idea got clear
ly fixed in my mind. began wondering
why was staying in that drawing room.
had no right there now.
! got up slowly and looked once again
round the dear room. How familiar
everything seemed, and perhaps | might
never see 1t againl Then / went to the
door and on opening it came face to face
with-the red haired girl!
/ staggered backs Was | mad? Was
this all a horrible dream? clutched the
back of chair for support. Coolly the
girl held out her right hand. She wore
the same half evening dress of pale blue
muslin and fastened by gold pin. Near
her throat was yellow. withered rose.
How do you do. Mr.. Keith? p
/ could stand this 10 longer. tool, a
quick step past her and reached the stair.
..Joe, Joel Don't gol Don't got, Don't
you know me?''
looked round just as | reached the
foot. The red haired girl had taken off
her hair, and underneath were Letty's
own fair tresses. She was laughing and
crying by turns, and of course rushed
back and took the dear girl in my arms.
Didn't ! make up my checks and eye
brows beautifully, Joe she asked after
a time. as we sat in the drawing room to-
gether. And don't you think act well ?
The Smith girls were school friends of
mine, and we made it up together"
Then. again she said:
II do not know il can trust you now,
dear. A little more and you would have
proposed to me as the red haired girl.
and then you would have been engaged
to two-no-yes, to two girls"
~ do not see how, il you and the red
haired girl are one, you can't be two, and
SO / would have only been engaged to one
girl-a thing every man has a right TO be.
And think you can safely trust me. for
not many girls throw themselves at gem
tlemen's heads in the shameless way that
red haired
a little hand covers my mouth.
If you dare to say another word, /
shall never forgive you"
But afterward l often said to Lefty
what believe to be true and what l said
to the red haired girl-that her blue mus
lin gown is the prettiest in all the world
when certain person wears it.--An-
swers.