Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-12-27

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rolled away. he fecolIected that he had
! not listened to the address she had CIV
en- the driver, and he walked off in a
I towering rage at his own imbecility
Never was there so dreary a day, al
though the late August sunshine found
its way into his office; never had the
reading of the law seemed such dull
and tiresome drudgery; never before.
had the pages blurred into a mass of
meaningless black marks, but, then,E
never before had bawitching young
/ face come between him and his books,
n face with reddish gold ringlets clus-
tered around a white forehead and shy
eyes the color Of woodland yiolets.
He leaped from his seat as a bright
thought struck him. He could hunt up
the cabman That was the thing to
do! But, although he hung around the
depot for two whole hours and ques-
toned every jehu within reach, he
could not find the man he sought. It
was evidently that particular cabman's
busy day
Tired and disgusted, Ross Stafford
took a plunge at the athletic club, got
himself home, shrugged himself into
his evening clothes, for he was going
out after dinner, and went down to the
parlor to find himself face to face with
the divinity Of the red gold ringlets
and the violet eyes!
Ross, my dear" cooed Mrs. Stat
ford, ''let me introduce you to Miss
Chester, whom somehow you managed
to miss this morning. Why, you1
For they were smiliW at each other
-merrily, spontaneously.
Indeed, no, mother!'' Perhaps he
held the pretty hand she gave him
little longer than was necessary. 'I
met Miss Chester this morning. Did
she not tell you l put her in cab?"
Miss Chester laughed. Ross Stafford
laughed. And the bewilderment of the
head of the house of Stafford, of the
golfing son, and the studious son, as
they in turn were presented, set them
laughing again.
Lord bless mep' cried Stafford sen
ior, rufiing his hair, your father said
you were a little girlp
"Oh. shall never be grown up to
papai7 cried Miss Chester.
"He said" stammered the young
gentleman who was getting up an ar
ticle on the architecture of the tenth
century, 'that-that you We're a nice
child"
Don't you think" queried Adele
Chester mschieyously, "that I'm
nice?,
Whereat Ralph grew guiltily red.
Helen Stafford reached home before
dinner was over Her brothers rap
turous reception amazed her. Never
had she know how they missed heri
Nor could she dream that each of three
young hypocrites was saying to him.
self:
She won't 60 east in such a hurry il
she and Helen take to each other"
They did take TO each other. Ross
found it was not necessary to keep his
engagement that evening and permit
ted his friend to cool his heels alone at
their appointed rendezvous. Ralph
learned his tenor went wonderfully
well with the pure soprano of their
guest. And Dick was so anxious 10
initiate Miss Chester Into the Inystescffleas
! af flasaIinillf nictares that he saa g sin kim
self no end Of q bore. The c04ntr5
T cousin OF the Staffords did net 80 cas-
that week nor the next. When sht
: did go, all the mirth aud laughter oi
n 81
e her. One morning week after her de
5 parture Ralph and Dick said some bit
e ter things when they discovered thai
, Ross had found out he must attend tC
business in New York and had left fol
: the city on the midnight train And
: when Ross returned, silent, but smil
ing and exultant, they We're not at al
backward about telling him with true
fraternal frankness their opinion of his
t conduct.
You were awfully good to go to meet
| that little country lassie,' commented
Ralph witheringly. II believe you
knew all the time she was the prettiest
kind of a giriF'
: Kindness sheer kindness on my
, part, dear boy. But, as l have striyen
to impress on you, virtue is ever its
own reward"
"Oh, come off" entreated Dick. 'sYou
just got the inside track. and you kept
it,"
Ross pulled his mustache.
II assure you in taking my late hasty
trip had only the best interests of my
brothers at heart. Ny sole ambition
was to secure you the most charming
sister-in-law in the world"
Helen jumped up.
ooh, Rossl Did you-did She
He laughed quizzically. adele gave
me message for you, my dear She
said to tell you that you are to be-
"What, Ross?"
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