The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-02-16
A CASTLE IN SPAIN.

Mrs. GrandcOurt BevingtOn had
planned it all out in her mind from the
irst meeting, when they would instant
ly fall in love with each other, to the
wedding bells and flowers and music
There was only one drawback to this
delightful "chateau en- spagne," and
that tremendous obstacle was Miss
Beatrice Grandcourt Bevington, the
alternate joy and despair of her grand
mothers heart
| 1T is no use arguing or commanding
or persuading," said Mrs. Bevington to
herself, with a sigh "If she won't, she
won't, so it is just so much breath
wasted to try either way"
Now, the plain facts of the case are
these: Mrs. Bevington had that morn.
ing received letter from an old friend
"a friend whom she had not seen in
years. in fact since she was 30 and he
90 Can you guess why? A misunder-
standing, girls hasty action, man s
wounded pride and a parting Forty
five years had elapsed, and now he had
written to say that his grandson was
visiting in the peighborhood and would
be honored by permission to call His
grandson She could hardly realize that
now he was old, nearly 20 in fact To
her he had always appeared as in days
Of yore
You, OF course, can fathom Mrs
Bevington's s plans that these two young
persons should marry After all, what
could be nicer! she thought And. per
haps that would in measure make up
hQr hor
these memories were nearly half a cen.
tury old, Mrs. Bevington thought still
with sigh and a misty fear of what
might have BEEN.
And Beatrice, her darling, dearer
even than her own children had been,
with her naughty, impulsive, loving
spirit, whose life was like all April
day, smiles and tears-would her life
also be spoiled by hasty action, which
tendency she inherited from her grand
mother and father?
! After great deal Of thought Mrs
Bevington came to the wise conclusion
that "least said soonest mended, and
therefore determined to say nothing
whatever to Beatrice about the expected
guest, his grandfather. or her own
wishes, hopes and fears. ,#s
The long expected day came at last
and the guest was to. arrive in time for
dinner Beatrice looked in amazement
at her grandmother as she anxiousIy
asked her what she intended to wear
that evening, what flowers she preferred
and wouldn't she do her hair up in her
favorite way!
lis any one coming, grandma!' asked
Beatrice, little thinking of the plan
that was being Matched by the stately.
dignified lady.
"Mrs. Whitby and the doctor, - re.
piled Mrs. Bevington, feeling guilty
Qualm as she hid the fact that she also
expected another guest "Bnt you
know, dear, it seems to me that lately
you have not been SO particular about
coming in early to dress for dinner and
have therefore had to hurry
E Beatrice blushed. and looked rather
frightened
The afternoon dragged wearily away
The beat was so intense az to make
driving or walking an impossibility,
and Mrs. Beyingten had not the liking
for the woods possessed by Beatrice,
who had disappeared after lunch and
would not be seen until after dinner
time
As it grew cooler Mrs. Bevington
walked slowly down the forest road,
thinking to meet Beatrice On her way
home, put her courage soon gave out,
and she sat down to rest on the pretty
little seat that had been put up for
Beatrice and which she called her
bower.
As she sat there, resting and dream
ing, the clear. dulcet tones of Beatrice's
voice struck her ear, with the accom-
paniment OF Il mans voice which seemed
altogether strange to her
"One of the child S friends. " thought
the grandmother. with an indulgent
smile
Beatrice was great favorite with
the SUPERIOR sex