Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-10-25

owner of Chalfont, whom, indeed, she
would dearly have enjoyed shaking.

OWueT OI CudlIOut, WuOIl, luutSu, 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
gle; her boasting had been principally
to impress him with her importance.
Every one seems to like Mollie!"
she said GROSSLY. II suppose it is be-
cause she is LEstrange; Jane and
Harriet say so. Though l 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."
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 possessions?"
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 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 1 ought to
marry title; and intend to-"
And having delivered herself of
these sentiments in her high childish
voice she pushed the swing off 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 you have two dear
little girls, you will naturally leave
this property to the younger"
Certainly not: that would not be
fair. l should leave the most to the
elder, or divide it," Kate had begun
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
we'll 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 a 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 a wave of
compassion that she was but 10. and
if report 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 ignorant
servants, who fiattered her for their
own ends and filled her head with
nonsense, what chance had the I'M
fortunate little heiress had?
Come along" she said, holding out
her hand to the silent child. 81 see
my mother reckoning to us from the
drawing room window; let us run and
call the others in for some tea"