The Florence daily tribune., 1899-04-10
TAKEN FOR GRANTED.

daughter
Lizzie was his youngest, and though
she had attained the Hge of g she wa.
still childish in her ways.
The nudge placed his hand tendcrly
on the iiltlc, curly head.
"Where has my little daughter been 2
"Oh, | have been up to the ball talk
ing with the houseAeeper and wander
ing through the great rooms, and, oh,
pnpa, she really took me into the beau.
tiful conservatory, and | saw such love
ly flaming passion flowers and the
great creamy magnolia blossoms ana
dear mo. ] cant tell you OF all the
lovely things.
Then ! walked down the road to
meet you, and l WAS so tired that sat
down ON the fence to rest
''Oh. papa don't You wish we lived
in such a nice place as the hail 1t liz
such grand old mansion.
She was suddenly stopped by seeing
gentleman approaching from the OPP
posite side of the road,
Mr.. Ray, ! believe.
The Judge bowed.
agent for the st. Leon place -
YES sir. -
81 came to see you in regard 10 it,
and -
And you are Mr. st. Icons con
iidontiHl clerk. Mr. Hartley | believe
l received letter from him today in
forming me that you would arrive this
week Yes yes; come right up to the
house, and we viii talk over the repairs
Shnll we begin them Immediately
What Ny letter but just arrived
singularr'
Papa, You don't mean to say you
have brought him home--a confidential
clerk2 You know there are the best
rooms to be papered and cleaned and
our pink dresses to be made against
Herbert st. Leon $ arrival
But. my dear, began the old gen
tlemun Just like your papa to never
think of this at all "
well. | shall rec that he is put in
the little room over the kitchen. He
win never know the difference. and
Blanche sank hacl, in a.studied attitude
On the sofa, wondering if handsome
Bert st Leon would fancy her lovely
pink morning dress that she bad made
for his special benefit. for of course
he would stop at their house during the
time in which the repairs were being
made ut the hall
The door of the dining room was
aiar, and AIr Hartley, standing before
the fire in the little parlor, heard it all
This, then, was the welcome home
that the wanderor received after roam
ing five years in distant cline. The
tears glistened in his lashes and bright
drop fell To his hand
MIR Co antial Clerk, you are cry
ing and Lizzie pushed the white kit
ten from her lap and came over to his
side laying her dimpled hand on his
arm. Il ain sorry YOU heard them. but
never mind II be your friend /.
Your friendship is very dear TO me.
my little girl
"Tm not little girl was is last
week e
Pardon me, Young lady, but can
you tell me something of the hall
what sort of place is it?'
"Oh. it is grand old place, with
great stone porticoes, and marble man
tels carved To represent gods and god
desses, and the ceiling all frescoed in
blue and gold sunsets, and big con,
servatory, with blue passion flowers.
flaming cactuses and orange trees with
real oranges ON them Oh. it's SO nice.
so nice
Lizzie, Lizzie. you are talking far
more than is necessary Go to your
French Immediately
And as the abashed danlsel obeyed
he heard Blanche say
Dignity on the family Nothing
hut confidential clerk. -
And Lizzie exclaimed
Il don't care like him -
A month had passed by Mr. Hartley
had exchanged his close apartments
over the kitchen for more commodious
ones at the village inn. Thence he calm
ly superintendent the projected improve
ments at the hall, and all the gossip
exchanged between himself and Lizzie
was in the course of her rambles through
the st, Leon woods, and if the family
had only known how often these ram
bles We're taken their aristocratic tend
sncies would have been tearfuIly
shocked
And now Mr.. Hartley sat in the same
little parlor where Lizzie had first
vowed TO be his friend and awaited the
appearance of the Judge
He came at Inst
You wish to see me, Mr. Hartley 7"
"Yes. sir. came to ask you for ths