The Chilhowee echo. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1899-19??, 1900-03-24
I'm Spite OF Fate.
BY DIR. H. A. MOODY.
CHAPTER V.-Centinued.

CHAPTER V.-Centinued.
N( HE was very small, very slight
6(V very delicate, with sunny hal
NN whose abundance and rebel
lious nature caused it to es
cape from confinement of comb an(
band and wander in golden ringlet
around her face and neck. Her eyes
were large and of pure, deep viole
blue, whose intensity was increased by
the continually changing pupil thai
varied with every emotion. Her com
plexion was as pale and clear as purest
alabaster, utterly devoid of color, ex
cept slight ivory tinge, but her lips
were pink with health, and her small
mouth, as she spoke, disclosed regular
pearly teeth and a faultless expression.
Her hand was rather long, very thin
and delicate, but not bony; and was SC
gracefully carried that it was in itself a
charm. She was clad in some light,
SduLy lDdUClldl UlldU Will
an appearance so ethereal that Roscoe
felt as though the steps she measured
in approaching him were entirely UNI
necessary, when she could so easily
have foated through the air. She did
not look day over twenty, and he could
hardly credit his senses when his stall
wart young friend introduced him to
her with the phrase: "This is Mr..
Owen, mother" Such contrast be-
tween mother and son he had never
before seen. One tall, dark, athletic,
clad in back; the other petite, sunny,
spiritual, pure white. After they were
seated and had talked upon general SUBJ
jects long enough to feel acquainted,
Roscoe turned to Charley Moore and
said:
Pardon such personal question, but
by what right do you call this young
lady 'mother%"
" Curious, isn't it?' said Charley
Qore, laughingly. 81 sometimes insist
yisitilfmistake about it, or that was
nurse, or something or 9TH
- says it's ~ right 50 ! sun.
posss
'They call you by a beautiful pet
name at Mr.. Hardison' !" said Roscoe,
"but I can't comprehend why they
should say Fairy Grandma"
"I'll tell you," said Charley Moore,
evidently delighted with an opportun-
ity to make her his subject, 'she's the
greatest lover of babies you ever saw,
and is godmother to ever so many of
them, and grandma is easier to say than
the other, so she is known all over north
Mississippi as Fairy Grandma"
"And SO you have concluded to cast
your lot among us, Mr.. Owen?" she
said. "You will be sure to like us, for
either by your merits or good fortune
you have made favorable impression
on the people with whom you have be-
come acquainted, and consequently you
see nothing of that reserve that makes
us so hateful to those we do not like; so
as we are determined to like you, you
can not help liking u.s."
"Your conclusion is unavoidable" he
answered. 81 have already conceived
greater liking for my new friends than
ever expected to feel for any one."
She looked at him a moment, the
pupils of her eyes contracted and mus
ing expression on her face.
"YOur parents are not living" she
asserted rather than inquired.
''No, madam; they died when | was
too young to retain any distinct remem-
brance of them," he answered.
"Yes," she said, 81 thought so. You
have no brothers or sisters? Excuse
the inquisitiveness of an old woman
who wants to be well acquainted with
you."
"No. am alone, excepting an uncle
and a cousin"
~ see. You will be certain to re-
main with u.s." Then, after pause:
'How do you like the Hardisons?"
II like them so much that have no
words to express the liking"
"That's right" said she; "they de-
serve it, Miss Clara is very pleasant,
ia she not?" and she scanned his face
narrowly.
~ find her so," he said, "and she
seems to have very affectionate ma
ture. Her love for her father is very
evident and very beautiful"
The little lady sat musing moment
ere she spoke again; then she asked:
"How do you like Miss Constance Har-
dison?"
Roscoe had been prepared for such
question by those that had preceded it,
but he felt that his pulse beat little
quicker as he answered simply: "She
is very beautiful"
EYES," said the lady, after looking at
him moment, "she is very beautiful >
"Now, mother" said her son, "you
know that she is something better than