Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-03-02
TAKEN FOR GRANTED.

Lizzie, cIllu, COIn6 uOWu tniS III
stant What do you mean by being so
unladyhke2 Sitting on the topmost rail
of that fencel"
The damsel addressed came down
from her high perch, and, throwing
one arm over the neck of the little
brown pony, walked demurely by his
side, while the old judge sat in grim
state on his back.
They were very like. this father and
daughter.
Lizzie was his youngest, and though
she had attained the age of IS she was
still childish in her ways.
The judge placed his hand tenderly
on the little, curly head.
"Where has my little daughter been p
"Oh. have been up to the hall talk
ing with the housekeeper and wander
ing through the great rooms, and, oh,
papa, she really took me into the beau
tiful conservatory. and saw such love
Iy flaming passion flowers and the
great creamy magnolia blossoms, and.
dear me, can't tell you of all the
lovely things
o'Then / walked down the road to
meet you, and was SO tired that sat
down on the fence to rest.
"Oh, papa, don't you wish we lived
in such nice place as the hall? 1t is
such grand old mansion. "
She was suddenly stopped by seeing
a gentleman approaching from the OPP
posite side of the road.
''Mr Ray, I believe. y
The judge bowed.
agent for the ST. Leon placer
yes, sir.
81 came to see you in regard TO it,
and
"And you are Mr.. St Leon's con-
fdential clerk, Mr.. Hartleyl believe
I received letter from him today in
forming me that you would arrive this
week. Yes, yes; come right up to the
house. and we will talk over the repairs
Shall we begin them immediately
"Whati Ny letter but just arrived
singularf'
Papa. you don't mean TO say you
have brought him home confidential
clerk7 You know there are the best
rooms to be papered and cleaned and
our pink dresses to be made against
Herbert ST. Leon s arrival .
But, my dear" began the old gem
tleman. ''just like your papa to never
think of this at all .
"Well, shall see that he is put in
%Io 1;x4Io r-ol,,,, ov,or 4I,o lv;fol,a,, II.
will never know the difference, and
Blanche sank back in studied attitude
on the sofa, wondering if handsome
Bert st. Leon would fancy her lovely
pink morning dress that she had made
for his special benefit. for of course
he would stop at their house during the
time in which the repairs were being
made at the hall
The door of the dining room was
ajar, and Mr.. Hartley standing before
the fire in the little parlor, heard it all
This, then, was the welcome home
that the wanderer received after roam
ing five years in a distant cline The
tears glistened in his lashes and bright
drop fell to his hand
"Mr Confidential Clerk, you are cry
ing, and Lizzie pushed the white kit
ten from her lap and came over to his
side, laying her dinpled hand on his
arm. 81 am sorry you heard them, but
never mind; III be your friend
Your friendship is very dear to me,
my little girl.
"I'm not a little girl was 1s last
week "
Pardon me young lady, but can
you tell me something of the hall
what sort of place is it7''
"Oh, it is grand old place, with
great stone pors sieoes, and marble man
tells 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 nicel''
Lizzie, Lizzie you are talking far
more than is necessary. Go to your
French Immediately
And as the abashed damsel obeyed
he heard Blanche say:
Dignity on the familyi Nothing
but confidential clerk "
And Lizzie exclaimed
II don care | like him.
A month had passed by. Mr. Hartley
had exchanged his close apartments
over the kit aen for more commodious
ones at thet iliage inn. Thence he calm
ly superintended the projected improve
ments at tha 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 were taken their aristocratic tend
encies would have been tearfully
shocked
And now Mr. Hartley sat in the same
little parlor where Lizzie had first
vowed TO be his friend and awaited the
appearance the judge.
He came at last.
You wish to see me, Mr.. Hartley ~
''Yes. sir came to ask you for the