Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-08-14
Rush Travers' Caprice.
BY BELL BLOSSOM.

the East of one whose future he in
tended to make his care.
The world saw little of Sim in these
days. 1t almost seemed to him like
coming home, now that he knew little
feet would run to welcome him, little
arms clasp themselves about his neck;
or later, a little curly head rest on
his shoulder, while the lids dropped
over the pansy eyes, in happy, care
less slumDer.
The old housekeeper alone shared
his secret. She had abused him round
ly at first, as was her privilege. Was
he not to her as her own boy? Pansy
had crept into the kind old heart; and
in the night she had risen from her
own bed, and stolen into the room ad.
joining hers, to see that the clothes
were carefully tucked about the littla
form.
1t was new thing to the child, this
watchful care. but she grew and ex-
panded under it like some beautiful
flower.
No one detected her in an untruth.
She avowed her faults boldly. She
laughed, she sang, she cried, as other
children; yet about her was a singular
charm, half-sadness, strangely un-
like the carelessness of childhood.
Thus two years rolled away, and
again Rush Travers determined to go
abroad. Pansy must be educated, too;
but he knew now what he meant to
do with her future. The child was
dear to him as his own, and his own
she should be. He would give her
such an education as his own daugh-
ter should have had, had he Possessed
one. He would make her a brilliant
woman. She should be worthy of some
man whom he would choose for her
husband. She would never know lone
liness more, and in the fullness of her
lifes promise he would forget the
emptiness of his own.
Uncle Rush." she called him. The
past was already to her like dream.
She parted from him in bitter tears
when he left her at her new home, the
school at which she was to be edu-
Gated.
Little did Nine Arnaud dream that
she was receiving among her select
and fashionable pupils a street flower
girl. Was this girl not the niece and
ward of tie aristocrat? She had
never welcomed a pupil with greater
pride, nor did the years, as they came
and went lead her for one moment to
suspect the truth.
Among all this fair bevy of girls
none so fair as she who owed the
smooth outer current of her life to
Rush Travers passing caprice. The
deep blue eyes had borrowed even more
of the pansy's purple tint; the bright
rose flush of health was on her cheeks;
the rich carmine natures brush alone
can paint was upon her lips. In the
sunny waves of the chestnut hair
played CLEANS Of ripping gold. Her
hands and feet were small and dainty
Her figure had developed into exquisite
grace
The eight years of study had marked
themselves upon the lovely face in
its bright expression and sparkling in
telligence. Rush Travers might well
be proud of her to whom he had given
his proud old name. In all this time
he had seen her but once-but once
he had returned to his native land.
In the twilight he stood awaiting
her in NINE. Arnaud's private room;
but, when the door opened he started
at the radiant vision which entered.
She threw herself upon his breast,
with a glad sob, then started back.
Uncle hush," she said questioning
ly, you are not glad to see me?"
He had recovered himself by then,
and welcomed her warmly; but some
thing had arisen between them her
womanly perception was first to recog-
nize. Already this meeting, to which
she had looked forward with such glad
ness, was marred.
From all sides, that night, Mr..
Travers was met with congratulations
on the beauty ayd brilliance of his
ward, who had received the first hon
ors of her class. Was the old cyni-
cism growing on him, that he turned
from it all as though weary?
For the first time, glancing casually
in a mirror, he discovered that the
thick, brown hair was streaked with
gray, and the sight hurt him. Why?
He neither asked the question nor
answered it.
There was no doubt now of Pansy's
future, he told himself, as, having
thrown open his hospitable doors, the
world fiocked there to welcome this
new aspirant to it's honors; but, al
most to his surprise, he found that
he could not remain quietly in the
background, a spectator. Women still
smiled upon him, still murmured sweet
nothings in his ear, or uttered gentle
reproaches at his obduracy.
Was he never to be lured from his
solitude? Some one soon would steal
from him the bright new star which
pn,, l;pbtod hin, hama Unuld ba ha