Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-03-29
|. |Mll N. A AD Z

Observation-Disclosures |.,A!!|I i: 5
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
80 ras cousin is coming from Europe
!, to fulfill the conditions of his fathers
will! Wen, I.don't think much of him,
| that's sure. Any man that will consent
to marry a, girl whom he has never seen
for the sd Ike of little money is a con-
temptible wretch" and here Miss Lilias
Seton stopped excitedly.
But. Lilias," argued her cousin Mar
ian, ''be reasonable. Herbert Marston
hasn't expressed the slightest intention
of complying, with his fathers wishes
has said nothing at all about matrimony
! and has no need Of the fortune left him
conditionally."
well, that only shows him to be miser-
~" was the willful retort. "And the
matter just settles itself down to this.
l thought over this matter all last night
| and have hit upon a splendid plan, if
you'll only consent to it. You know we
have received permission to keep house
down at the old homestead all by our
selves this summer. Well, no one there
knows US, and won't you be Lilias and
! let me be your maid? If he can't love
, me in one position as well as another, 1
don't want anything to do with him.
Both these young girls were beautiful,
wealthy and romantic. They were nat
urally taken with the plan, which, after
little coaxing, her cousin agreed to.
In few weeks they were located for
the summer in the Seton homestead.
Now" said Lilias one glorious sum-
| mer evening, II suppose we may be ex-
pecting Herbert Marston daily, as have
left note, to be delivered to him imme-
diately after his arrival, informing him
Of my whereabouts. But look, here
come two strangers. Maybe one Of them
is he. &c on your guard"
She had no time to say more, Tor both
had approached, and one spoke: els Miss
Seton residing here?'
Marian bowed composedly.
'"That's my name, sir"
!. Indeed" with extended hand "Allow
| me, then, to introduce myself as Herbert
Marston."
After the necessary greetings had been
interchanged, the newcomer glanced in
quiringiy at the little, white robed figure
standing n1odestly apart.
Marian bit her lip amusedly Lilias
didn't look at all like a mental; still her
character must be kept, and in reply to
his questioning gaze she said:
Maggie, you may go in and help Mrs.
Brown about tea. l presume your walk
from the depot has given you an appe.
tite." And Marian in her turn looked as
though desiring an introduction to Mr..
Aarston's companion.
"Perhaps," said that gentleman, with
an odd expression, ''before your maid at
tends to her part of the business she will
show my valet the rooms am to oc'
cupy."
The valet was handsome, dark mus.
| tached six footer, whose every expression
belied his position Of servility, but he had
shouldered the valise and stood waiting
for his guide to lead the way, so with a
look which signifed something more than
mere wonder Maggie obeyed the little
imperative nod of her mistress and pro.
ceeded up stairs.
"Phew!" said the valet after deposit.
ing his burden, looking up with a smile
| ''That's what call warm work. Well
Maggie, are you and I going to b.
| friends?'
He spoke rather condescendingly, and
the indignant blood rushed into his com
panion's cheeks as she replied coolly:
II am nothing of prophet and there
| fore find it impossible to answer you,
| question decidedly, but 1 am inclined tt
think not
"That's bad. But our opinions on thai
| subject differ. Why, if we don't enter
tain each other what the dickens shall We
| do with ourselves?"
II have never been at loss for amuse
ment," responded his companion demure
| ". "However. if you are dependent upor
! outside society there are plenty of serv
ant girls about, whom have no doub
you can readily become acquainted with.
| ~ don't fancy servant as a genera
I thing" he answered calmly. II have
rather high ideas for a valet and conse
quently have but little desire to become
| acquainted with your friends"
'"That man." she murmured softly, Il!
no more servant than I am. But b.
shan't know that I suspect the truth.
| And she chuckled amusedly at tn.
thought of her own secret, which he wa:
far from divining.
After tea, while the master and mis-
tress chatted pleasantly on the old fash
Toned porch the two servants by the gatt
were sparring away gayly.
''Why, Maggie" said the valet, VIII
answered to the name of John, ':you arr
twice as smart as half the young ladie!
Of the present day. What makes 70,
stay in so degrading position? Dom
you know enough to teach school?'
Eyes. 1 suppose so,'' replied Maggie
with mischievous smile he failed to de
tect. She had been purposely Showing
off," But I'm very much attached Il
Miss Llias, and as long as one is obliged
to work what does it matter what ont
does?''
"a good DEAL" he answered much more
excitedly than the circumstances woult
seem to indicate. Everything went OF
merrily until the night before their de
parture, when visible sadness overshad
owed the whole company.
/ John drew Maggie down by the gate
i They had become very good friends not
withstanding Maggie's ideas upon thei