The Lamar register., 1900-12-05

ly twisting his silky little black nous
tachc, while his sharp black eyes roved
from one 10 the other, and his remarks
grew fewer and fewer.
Il shall have swing put up in my
grounds" announced Kate condescend-
ingly, as they came to a full stop.
Mother had one made near the ten
nis-lawn." said Mollie, pushing back
her rebellious curls, and fastening her
hat
"Oh. that is not good enough" re-
torted the child, her deep-set gray
eyes fixed on her sister with cool in
science. "Chalfont is my property.
and l shall have everything done that
1 like"
Reggie took his hand off the ropes
with 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 off, for she had no.
ticed the sudden flush on Mollies face.
She knew how tenderly the girl re-
garded everything her mother had
done, and in some wrath determined
to have word with the vain-glorious
owner of Chalfont, whom. indeed, she
would dearly have enjoyed shaking.
Kate was looking after the retreat
ing trio with rather a 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 seems to like Mollie!"
she said Grossly. Il suppose it is be-
cause she is a L'Estrange: Jane and
Harriet say so. Though | think it is
horribly mean OF the Reverton people
not to call on us, and make such fuss
over her. for, as Jane often says, am
the heiress and mistress of Chalfont,
and much richer than Mollie."
II 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 possessions"
81 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 Clare would not make
such fuss of her. Harriet says that
she is sure she means, to marry her to
Henri; l heard her. But Jane says
that with my persition l 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 off with
one thin, black-silk- k-stocklnged leg.
who are Jane and Harriet?r asked
Joyce shortly euint q
MY servants"
"Oh. And when you marry this
nobleman, suppose you have two dear
little girls, you will naturally leave
this property to the youngsr2s
Certainly not: chat would not be
fair. l should leave the most to the
with lofty eloquence, then she caught
Joyce's eye, and, being a very quick
child, saw the pit into which she had
fallen, and stopped abruptly. You
think Mollie 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 if
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 .Chal-
font was her home before you were
born. She never says bitter things to
you, yet who has the most reason? l
wonder you don't love her!'
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 it; she might have been a
hundred with all the cares of life on
her small shoulders, and looking at
her Joyce remembered with wave of
compassion that she was but 10. and,
if report said true, her life had never
been as other chiIdren's. She had been