The St. Johns herald., 1900-07-21

fitted did not gain ground: her ex planation was accepted as true-as fa' as it went. More .1an one face be came blank when Miss Leti;ia said:
 Jennie, be sure to come around to morrow and help me pack those pres ents; some are so-valuable l will uoS be satisfied until they are returned; fortunately all are labeled"
 Il will come: with pleasure. Letitia, ' replied Mrs. Alden. while Mrs: Ponson- by whispered dolefully: 'lf she would | ask me-"
 Early next morning Mrs. Jennie nc cordingly put in her appearance. find i ing her friend in exceedingly good : spirits.
 While tying up gaudy plated cake stand. gift from Mrs. Ponsonby, Mrs. Alden said:
 "Letitia. why return the presents: Were you in earnest when you said there was not much likelihood of there being marriagc?"
 Miss Leti,ia was bending over th. he'd. replacing a handsome silver ladie ia its ve.vet box.
 The constrained position may have been the cause of her heightened color Her face. as she turned toward Mrs Alden. wore conflicting expressions: triumph, shame. and over all a half sad. half defiant look. Her first words were apparently irrelevant:
 ''l're learned much. Jennie" she said. as she folded dozen fine thread. cambric hGnGkerchiefs and placed them with lingering regret in the costly box they came in; "how exquisite these are. and ike>thgGonor! Oh. yes. wa, saying how Heh had learned since I had sent out those tickets. I've al ways had a too-eonfiding disposition and, while I'm, not now a cynic. I've had eye-opencrs, plenty of them.
 Going about to different stores. rid ing windy days. yelled, on the cars. have given me an insight into peoples character that has been both painful and profitable; i. needn't tell you whom l mean. for see you know. I'm not sentimental fool; the only regret is self, contempt that I've been taken in them so long. but I've never outgrown girlish pleasure in being liked.
 You had your husband and chii. dren. and never begrudged wives and mothers their happiness. for my life had been healthy. happy one. and so completely am a spinster that l be- lieve was born one; I've never seen the man l have ever imagined l could fancy, but tbere was one thing ] did want" eG' 's7
 Mrs Alden had listened sympathet. icaliy; as Miss Letitia paused for breath she ve1tured to speak. "Wha, was that. Letitia?"
 You may laugh. Jennie. if you wish. but that was no more nor less than a trOusseaui"
 What? Do you mean that"
 "l mean. and know it will go no further. that I couldn't have trous- seau without a marriage. and that was why l sent out cards. Don't you un. derstand. Jennie? The marriage could not take place-because there was no bridegroom at all; now it's out.'
 For once Mrs. Alden was surprised beyond the power of expression. but when she did recover her merry laugh ter was delightful 10 hear and was joined by Letitia.
 What a good joke!" gasped Mrs. Jennie. "Wouldn't it make the Rich mond danes open their eyes? It shall go no further. though would like Allyn to know. if you have no objection. What would Mrs. Ponsonby sayY'
 "Embellish it until we wouldn't know if; but there's one thing she won't enjoy any more; expectations of sharing my fortune. l shall leave my money as fund for old maids' trous- Globe,