The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1902-05-30
\ Romance of the Epidemic
Of 1873.
By ALICE DowD GiLLEYLEN.
CHAPTER I.

} By ALICE DowD GILLEYLEN.
II CHAPTER I.
Pl "Father. DR.. Randall has jos
returned from C and b,
simply raves over my cousin Gerti'
Gray's beauty. He says she il
perfectly exquisite" Judge Gray
smiled for perfectly exquisite
was Gracie's own favorite expires
sion and was more in keeping with
} her girlish enthusiasm than with
DR.. Randall's sincere, but less ex-
travigant mode ofspeech.
"He says she has the loyeliest
violet eyes, the most perfect COM
plexion. hair as golden as the sun
shine. an expression that is angelic
and faultless figure. Now Father
we must have visit from this
marvellous beauty. l am perfectly
wild to see her. Why is it Father
that you never would let me see
my cousin Gertie? Please dear
father let me write for her to
come right away and make us a
visit"
Judge Gray looked thoughtful
while Oracle described with glow
ing face DR.. Randall's admiration
for her cousin Gertie. He was
silent a few moments. as if loath to
refuse his beloved daughters re-
quest, yet very reluctant to give
his consent. Oracle always thought
the victory half won when her in
dulgent father hesitated. So she
sat on his knee and caressingly
stroked his hair with her fair hands,
while she looked up into his eyes
with pleading almost irresistible.
Il do not think it would be best
| Oracle to invite your cousin here.
You do not understand the cir
cumstances darling"
please father. just this one
time she pleaded with her arms
around his neck"
"Well, well, have your own way
about it then grille. but | think
you will regret inviting her to
visit you. l warn you against it
and if you do not regard my warn
ing, why then you must bear the
consequences and blame no one
but yourself. Did Dr. Randall
meet your cousin Gertie?
mo he ony saw her in church,"
replied Oracle.
Judge Gray smiled and after
wards Oracle r. nembered that |
smile and understood only too well |
its meaning. Having granted the |
request and to settled the matter,
the busy lawyer dismissed the
subject from his mind and return
ed to the absorbing duties of his |
profession.
Oracle wrote Immediately in
viting Gertie and her mother to
come to Holly Springs and make
them a visit. Impatiently she |
awaited the answer which came in
day or two from Gertie's mother,
stating that they would be de-
lighted to visit their relatives and
would be in Holly Springs on
Tuesday.
Mother" said Oracle suppose
we issue invitations at once to a
reception on Wednesday in honor
of our guest? !
Il think it would be better to
wait until she arrives, Oracle.
Gertie is scarcely sixteen and l
suppose she has been in society
very little her mother replied.
go, but mother. the girls in our
set are only seventeen or eighteen.
Gertie is only to stay short while
and if we wait until she comes,
half the people will not hear that
she is with us, until her visit is
nearly over. The best way is to
entertain as soon as the guest ar
rives and then all of the young
people will meet her and call |
afterwards, so you see pleasant
visit is assured"
Accordingly the invitations were
issued and the preparations pro-
gressed for the entertainment.
On the eve of the reception, in
response to Gracie's request. DR..
Randall arrived short time be-
fore the other guests were ex-
pected. The handsome residence
of Judge Gray, always elegant.
was lovely to night in its festive
attire. Plaintive. melodious notes
of sweet music fell upon Howard
Randall's ear, as he entered softly
and stood looking upon the beauty
of his surroundings as one under
some spell of enchantment. Every
whare artistic heantv fascinated
the eye, delicious perfume of fra
grant flowers, laden with a subtle,
indefinable power of awakening
pleasant associations, intoxicated
the senses, while the low, enchant-
ing strains of soulful music capti-
waited the ear. It seemed as if fair
hand was playing upon his heart
strings, so completely did the emo
tions of his being respond to the