The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1900-06-07


the possible, that I
~ should go on con-
STRUNG irregular Latin verbs to the
strokes of that monster? I feel in
clined to adopt the modern pronuncia-
ton of the immortal orators name
and say, Kik-er-ol o, beg your par
don, Naomi; was that your foot?
Well, I'm going out. [ promised to
run up and see Marie Leigham to-
night. Perhaps when I come back
my tormentor will have grown weary
or run down. Let him run down,
Naomi! You don't mind being left
for little while alone dear?"
"Not at all, DEAR" answered Naomi
Romer, cheerfully.
Naomi is always cheerful-too cheer
full, golden haired little Lilliard says
sometimes, petulantly. But then
Naomi is thirty, and it is years that
''bring the philosophic mind"
Eighteen years ago, when Naomi
was twelve, she had received baby
Lilliard, her newly born stepsister, as
the legacy from the hands Of q dying
mother mild" who
Said with accents indebted,
Child. be mother to this child"
And Naomi has fulfilled that trust
we'll When, ten years later, their
father, gay, debonair Ernest Romer,
LATEST and most charming of men and
artists, had followed his wife, leaving
her two children utterly unprovided
for, Naomi had quietly and naturally
everything Naomi does is quiet and
natural-slipped into the position of
bread winner and house provider.
Then had come lover, too poor to
provide for both Naomi and Liiiiard;
then he had gone away, to make for
tune in distant lands, and for eight
years Naomi had never heard OF him.
Now Lilliard is able to help Naomi
in her little school, and the two sis
tiers are happy enough, only-Lilliard
is young and beautiful, and some
times she frets.
There comes ring at the door bell,
and little Alice Sparrow, Naomi's maid
of all work, puts in her head to say,
S'A gentleman for yoa, please, miss. :"
Naomi rises in surprise as tall,
we'll built man, with Il sunburnt COM
plexion and a head of tawny hair, en-
tiers, and, striding to her side, takes
her hand.
Naomi, have you forgotten me,
Martin Colquhoun?'
For a moment the room swims
round Naomi, but the next she has
recovered herself, and is saying quite
calmly-how it astonishes her to hear
her own voice:
'How do you DO? I did not know
sou were in Washington.
ST only came yesterday" he says,
eagerly, $50 you see have not lost
much time. found out your address
in the directory-what a grand in
stitution it is! Naomi, you
are not changed. Am To-
She smiles little. II would know
you but you are changed"
81 shall tell you all by and by, he
says, and at that moment Lilliard
rushes in.
''A1arie is out; is it not a sAame?"
Than she pauses, blushing, and
Naomi introduces The two.
$50 you are Lhliard?" says Martin
Colquhoun, smiling. 81 remember
you as a tiny girl in short dresses,
who always searched in my pockets
for chocolates. Are you as fond of
them yet?"
81 believe I am" says Lilliard,
laughing. Then she sits down, and
so does Martin Colquhoun, aud they
sperd pleasant, even gay, evening
together, Martin telling them all of
the dangers he has passed in the
search for forture-which it seems
he has found-and partaking OF the
homely little supper Naomi orders
with great zest.
Martin Colquhoun calls again and
again. He comes in the evenings,
when Naomi plays, and he and Lilliard
sit in the window together. He calls
in the afternoon and takes them driy-
ing in the park and TO Mount Vernon,
and he and Lilliard generally sit to-
gether and do most OF the talking;
and occasionally he takes them to a
concert. And every day Naomi feels
that the trial Of her life is drawing
near.
But why should she grudge it?
She loves Lilliard. She loves-alasl
Martin. She desires the happiness
of both. As for her, it only means
that her sky will grow little grayer,
her life little emptier: but at thirty,