The Washington times., 1901-11-17
II OWENS LEGACY

the very top of its single chtmney-pot
1t was, perahps, somewhat more charm
ing to look at than to live in. for its
rooms were small and dark, and the
creepers outside induced the creepers of
another and lNs pleasing kind inside,
against which the occupants waged a " ar
of determination as ceaseless as it was
useless No matter how many earwigs,
spiders. and fiatbacks you killed before
breakfast, there were just as many be-
fore dinner waiting to be killed: you
turned down the bedclothes as a matter
of course and looked carefully nder the
clean white pillow before getting into
bed, and gently notified all intruders that
you preferred their room to the company
OF the most highly polished earwig or the
hairiest and most persevering of spid 'rs.
However, in spite of these little drew
backs, Dick Vale delighted in the old cot
tage where for three years he had spent
two heavenly months each summer. Per-
haps IL he had lived there all the year
round, winter as well as summer, lie
might not have enjoyed it quite so much.
As for Gwen Jones, she had lived there
with her grandmother all her life, and
had grown to some extent Injured TO the
discomforts of this natural oyercrowd-
ing.
three days ago-the visitor whose coming
is always a shock, even though his visit
was foreseen and expected; and Ovens
grandmother had put her hands into his
and gone quietly away. leaving the girl
all alone. except for Dick Vale. who hap
pened to be there on his usual summer
visit. They had buried her that day, and
these two sat now in the strange soli-
tude Of the parlor- kitchen, facing one an
other and Ovens future
Gwen wore the black garb of civilized
woe. rather skimply made and none too
well fitting, since Miss Williams, the
dressmalSer. was not quite sure at whose
expense the MORNINGS were made
whether at her own or Mr.. Wales; for
the gossips had long since exhausted
themselves as to how old Mrs. Jones had
managed to keep body and soul and Gwen
and tha cottage together. except when
hr. Taile was there in the summer. 1t
was hardly to be expected that they made
enough out of his two months visit TO
live on all the rest Of the year The little
dressmaker had not been able to bring
her mind-or perhaps one should say her
lips-to the point of asking at such a
time, who's going to pay?" Anyway, it
was as well to be as much on the safe
side as bare decency would permit; so she
cut Ovens MORNINGS according TO the
possibilities, and both were somewhat /
skimp. Dicks testimony was black tie. |
which he was quite aware did not tone at |
all well with his brown homespuns.
Gwen was a girl of fifteen, fat and |
shapeless in figure as yet. and somewhat |
awkward in her movements; but her /
dark oval face was pleasant to look upon.
and gave promise of beauty.
Richard Vaile, artist in posse, aged
twenty-one, found himself suddenly in the
position Of unofficial guardian to this
young lady through the death of her
grandmother. He had been very friendly
with them for two months in each of the
past three years, and they had few
friends outside. For one thing they spoke
no more Welsh than he did, and so there
was a barrier between them and their
neigbors, who could, indeed, mostly speak
English after a fashion of their own. but
who none the less regarded as foreigners
all who were unable to understand the
uncouth beauties of the language of the
principaIity Odder still. both Gwen and
her grandmother spoke French-not the
French OF Paris indeed. but still quite
French. and they spoke it.
not as an alien. but as a mother
tongue, at once thiEned and thickened-
like an Australian desert stream-by dis
taace from its original source, but till a
thing to cherish and take pride in.
OF the reasons for their being able to
converse in it at all never a word had
Dick learned. Not that they often con-
Versed in it; but just now and again
words slipped out in a way that showed
hem TO be familiar, and even when they ,
poke English the involuntary action of
land and brow and shoulder often re-
minded Vale of France. 1t was very
itrange; and to Dick, who had on two :
occasions passed part OF the year in Paris, ,
t only added a new charm to his annual
tay in the Welsh valley, for having once 4
ound quarters at Mrs. Jones cottage, he h
ever dreamed Of going anywhere else. a
Dicks brow was knitted in perplexlty. a
lie musiEgly charged a pipe with Y
houEhts and tobacco and lit it, the first
ipe he had smoked inside the horse for #
en- days. He eazed abstractedIy at the c
retty oval face. and the soft, dark eyes fl
ooked anxiously back at him with a 0
Isnce like that of dog whose master n
painfully meditating separation. 0
He got up at last and began TO march a
bout with h;s hands in his pockets. "
iwen had just been calmly suggesting IN
hat she would go and live with him, h
ince she had nowhere else to go. g.
1T wouldn't do. child he said. You | a
ee. I'm man, and you're a girl. ard {,
ou're going 10 be a very pretty girl in 2,
Inc. People don't live together like that | "
Mess they're brother and sister, or mar Il
led"
TN marry you. Dick" said Gwen o.
ronptly, since ii was obvious that It tn k
lg could make them brother and sister. e,
IF you were two or three years older N
d do it like a shot. old girl. 1t would be n
case of kicking along, though. for a W
me, till Ia made bit Of a name and IL
lHnd a regular market a
u could kick along, Dick-with you; al
ut ] can't make myself any older" ol
wen talk about that later on, Gear, ol
hen the time comes. The question is II
hat were to do with you now. You've II
o idea what youi grandmother Lad to
vS on di
The girl shook her head. "A little ii
loney used to come from somewhere. but a
was very little. 1 know she was always Il
cry glad when you came. So was l." pl
Same here" said Dick. Il wish the ! p
d lady had lasted Just two OF three n
ears longer. Then" And he nodded h
the girl W
II won; go to the worlshouse. Dick" p'
ie said, passionately. ''It would kill me W
wear tight straw bonnet ana brown g
oak down TO my knees. and" T.
You shan't 90 TO the worShouse, my II
,ar You're fifteen. aren't you, Gwen?'' oi
Sixteen next July This was the 4th e'
August
ylhgs1'e that heast rounfoa .o,,;r -, iil