Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-05-30

low tone, a burning flush suf-
using her checks. II was Tilted
for a ycunger-a prettier woman"
'Nell-my dearestl"
Miss Harmon rose, went TO her
desk, took from it a letter which
she brought to her friend. You
read this" she said.
A sharp exclamation of surprise
broke from Medora at sight of the
chirography. She read the letter
| through. II was a brief note-and
brutal one. The writer had been
mistaken. He had faneied his affec-
ton for Miss Harmon was one that
would prove deep and permanent
| Within the last few weeks he had
met at The Cascades a girl fairer-
| If possible-younger, if he might be
permitted to speak so frankly-and
wealthier-not that wealth countC I.
He herewith returned Miss Harmon's
letters, and hoped they might
| be friends in the future. 1.-THE Cas-
cades That date!" cried Medora.
at is from Thomas Elder--and he
he meant me! Oh, Nell-why didn't
you tell me before?"
ut might seem as though l were
reyengefull"
I'm revengeful now! Well, we
must think out a way TO make him
break his engagement with me! |
know | can't ust this letter as rea-
son. / would never drag you into
position of such humiliation. /
/ have 1t! Listen!"
II was after midnight when Miss
Harmon's hair had been properly
brushed-and Medora's, too. by the
way Keturah shook her head at the
cracking notes extended. You may
take the money" her mistress said.
You are doing me favor as well
as Miss Verne"
The next day Thomas Elder, sitting
down to his desk, trim. well-clad,
shrewd-faced, alert, pounced on one
particular envelope out of the pile
acknowledgements. Alarge square
envelope Of palest azure, with a sil-
YER seal, and the vagrant odor of
mignonette clinging to it.
From Medora!" murmured Mr.
Elder, placidly From my Medora!'
He was charmed at the contents.
To call at FIVE Ito meet her mother,
who had that day arrived from New
York! And was anxious to meet
him! Ah-certainly! 1t was Medora
herself-Medera exquisite in street
gown of crimson cloth and black
marten-who met him in the little
reception-room.
"No-I can't 90 with you'll You
must meet mamma alonel" He found
her bashfulness enhancing. ''She is
in the library. She is expecting you.
Go right int"
The sutton boldly did as hidden. In
the waning light of the winter day
the room was shadowy. A gaunt,
red-visaged creature in a gown of
parrot-green confronted him. A
mighty hand crushed his. A pair OF
sharp gray eyes pierced his soul.
"Glad to meet you, Thomas Elde-!
Hope you'll make a good son-in-lawl
suppose Medora has told you I'm
coming to live with you? That's
right You aren't afraid of panther
cats, are you? I've got a tame one
that will eat out of your hand. BE
sure you get a good southern room
in the house for my birds. Three
I've three of them. They never stop
singing if they get light enough. I've
been gadding around the world so
much I've gathered some live curl
osities bargains, | call them. IT was
such a comfort to me to know Me-
dora was going to get married, so
I'd have a place to keep my pets.
Not" critically, that | think she
did the best she could have done
with her looksl III give you a good
diet of vegetables-best kind OF diet
for you. I'm a vegetarian, you know.
No meat in my housed Medora says
she told you l lost my money in that
wheat failure. Didn't tell you all
the fortune she had was swallowed
up in that Bank of Gilead crash?
No-didn't tell you that? I'm sur
prised! Well, it don't make any diff
ference to you, son-in-law! Day not
named yet? Oh, wen have to hurry
things!"
Escape Thomas Elders finally ef-
fecteG. How he never knew. So ex-
cited was he that some sound in an
adjoining room seemed TO resolve if
self into an irrepressible ripple OF
laughter That night Keturah, in
parrot-green gown, laughed as hear
tily as her mistress, when between
gasps Of merriment, Medora read
aloud a letter from her admirer, in
which he deplored the fact that
suddenly-developed case of cardiac
collapse had convinced him that he
could not ask any woman 10 share
the life of a hopeless invalid.
What's the Joke, girls?" cried
Maurice Harmon. Struggling off his
overcoat as he came into the parlor;
fine, manly young fellow, with
steady eyes and a strong, beautiful
mouth. "Jove! Isn't Keturah in
stylei"