The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-17

forest and river, he beheId the loveliest
picture his eyes had ever rested on
me newcomer was tall, slender, grace
1ul; about her chung the wild, sweet
atmosphere Of the woodland
FROM beneath her sunbonnet she scan
ned the guests with her big, wondering
eyes, like a startled fawn.
Then, as she saw Blessing, bright
smile lighted up her face.
oh" she exclaimed. Here already?.
remember you sent a message over
sayin' you all was comm to dinner. III
hurry up and get it ready
This is Miss Gladys Middleton. Miss
jones' said Bob.
Hello! Pleased to meet you," was the
hostess CHEEKY greeting, as with out
stretched hands she advanced on Gladys.
But the city girl turned away with
| a curt nod.
Bob FASTENED to cover his embarrass-
Middleton"
'Busterr' corrected the lad Don't
go queering me with Miss Jones by call.
ms me my own ridiculous name. Miss
Jones, let me introduce myself. I'm
Buster Middleton, very much at your
service. l hope you won't look down on
me because I wear store clothes. I'm not
half a bad fellow. L was haIfback on
last years football team, and I took a.
course of boxing with Kid Mccoy besides.
Doesn't that make me more human and
interesting in your eyes?'s
The girl laughed in a puzzled way and
turned to the groom, Pickles. WHO still
stood at the door.
How do you do?'' - she began, when
Gladys cut in:
THAT is my groom
OH sighed Ora in admiration. SO
you're bride, are You? Bride and
groom! Why!-
Since we must stay here" interrupted
Gladys. II would like to lie down until
dinner is ready. The ride has tired me-"
Ora showed her to the guest room,
opening out of the larger apartment
where they had been talking
AS she returned an old woman, with
bent figure and shriveled, humorous face,
came in, carrying an armful of vegeta-
bles.
This is gramma," introduced Ora.
The old woman was at first inclined to
STIFFNESS toward the guests. But under
the influence of the young mems jolly
trlendllnesS she soon thaWed out
Ora and Buster went out at last to
gather kindling wood for the kitchen fire
and "gramma'' was left alone with Bob.
Blessing looked after the receding fig
ure of the country girl with an expression
that would have made Gladys still less
kindly disposed toward Ora could she
IL.
Say" remarked "gramma" as soon as
they were alone, you're from New York
and l want to ask you a question. Do
you know a Teller named Jones that
lives there?''
Jones? Several
The one I mean is Thomas Jones,
"Ora's father! Why l understand she
was an orphan"
She's worse than an orphan. No, her
fathers alive. The scoundrel!'
What do you mean?'
"Oh, it's no secret hereab bouts If
don't tell you. there's those that will 1t
was this way: My daughter went to a
hop at the hotel up yonder in the village,
once, about twenty-five years ago. There
she met this New York chap, Thomas
Jones. They fell in love and he married
her in secret so as not to offend his rich
father, he said. Then he deserted her
and she pinned away and died. Died when
my little grandchmd Ora, wasn't but a
week old. I've been tryin' to find that
Jones party ever since
Have you no clue?"
None. None, that is except this pic
ture of him here in Che family album
Bob Blessing glanced idly at the photo
graph as the old woman opened the al
bum. Then he looked again, and his rud-
dy face paled.
Great heaven!' he gasped.
(To be Continued.)