La Junta tribune., 1900-12-08


I like"
Reggie took his hand on the ropes
with a muttered exclamation that
sounded not unlike little beast" and
asked Mollie to come down to look at
the tennis court. and as Henri seemed
determined TO go also. Joyce disre-
garded her brothers appealing eye.
and watched them of. for she had no.
ticed the sudden flush on MoIlie's face.
She knew how tenderly the girl re-
garded everything her mother had
done. and in some wrath determined
to have a word with tn. vain glorious
owner OF Chalfont. whom, indeed, she
would dearly have enjoyed shaking.
Kate was looking after the retreat
ing trio with rather disconnected ex-
preston. for her sharp ears had caught
Reggie's remark. and she liked Reg
gle: her boasting had been principally
to impress him With her importance.
Every one seams to like Mollie."
she said Grossly. Il suppose IL Ia be-
cause she is a L'Estrange: Jane and
Harriet say so. Though l think It is
horribly mean of the Reyerton people
not to call on US. and make such a fuss
over her. for. as Jane often says. | am
the heiress and mistress OF Chalfont.
and much richer than Mollie.''
Il will tell you why every one likes
Mollie." replied Joyce, regarding the
stylishly arrayed little imp severely.
1T is not alone because she is very
pretty. but because she is always pleas
ant and sunny. Who ever heard Mol
lie say biting and unkind things on
purpose to hurt people. or boasting
about her possessions2"
Il suppose you mean that do" And
Kate sat still on the swing. and flung
her curls back with an angry gesture.
Yet Mollie has got some money, you
know, or Aunt Glare would not make
such fuss OF her. Harriet says that
she is sure she means to marry her TO
Henri: | heard her But Jane says
that with my persition / ought to
marry a title; and l intend to-"
And having delivered herself of
these sentiments in her high childish
voice she pushed the swing on with
| one thin, black-silk-stockinged leg.
who are Jane and Harriet?" asked
Joyce shortly
My servants"
"Oh, And when you marry this
nobleman. suppose yea have two dear
little girls. you will naturally leave
this property to the younger"
Certainly not: that would not be
fair. ! should leave the most to the
elder. or divide it." Kate had begun
with lofty eloquence, then she caught
Joyce's eye, and. being very quick
child. saw the pit into which she had
fallen. and stopped abruptly. You
think Moliie has not been properly
treated The people In Reverton think
So she ended. below her breath
THAT has nothing to do with us.
Kate" Joyce said gravely. But II
you can see this. perhaps-though you
are SO young-you can also see how
well Mollie behaves. She does not
grudge you anything. though Ghal-
font was her home before you were
born. She never says bitter things to
you, yet who has the most reas IN?
wonder you don't love herr"
Joyce never forgot the strange old
| look on the little thin face as the
/ child glanced at her after dead pause.
| There was something both sad and
weird about 1t; she might have been
1 hundred. with all the cares OF life on
/ her small shoulders, and looking at
her Joyce remembered with a wave of
| compassion that she was but 10. and
| IL repor, said true. her life had never
been as other children's. She had been
a tool in her fathers hands from birth:
| she was one in her aunt's now. Spoiled
| from policy. neglected from want of
| affection. left to the care OF ignoran.
servants, who fiattered her for their
own ends and filled her head with
nonsense. what chance had the un-
fortunate little hciress had?
"Come along" she said. holding out
her hand to the silent child. II see
my mother beckoning to us from the
drawing room window; let US run and
| call the others in for some tea"
CHAPTER v.
The White House was one of the
most comfortable Of homes: no dis
sension was ever heard there The
very servants. who had been in Mrs.
Anstruther's service for years, seemed
to share the prevailing harmony of
contentment, and took pride in serv-
ing the family faithfully.
And Mollie could not but notice the
difference as. after somewhat quiet
walk home along the country road that
separated the two houses by about a
mile. the gates of Chnlfont had changed
to behind them. and morose-looking
maid opened the hall door.
No household could have been happy