The Jennings daily record., 1902-07-21
v E s 4.
BY 7. u.
y ESTA VII.LIARS stood at the
window and gazed down at
moving mass of people below.


Vainly did her eyes wander
from face to face, from form to form.
with a childish. questioning eagerness,
seeking to find one friend amid the
great throng of people.
Poor child, she must yet learn that
one can walk through the busy streets
of Boston for weeks. months-aye.
even for years, without meeting one
old friend, and vet it was strange that
she had not great many old friends
here, for Boston was the city OF her
nativity.
But the reason is easily told. Mr..
Villiars, who was once wealthy mer-
chant, had left Boston ten years be.
fore penniless man. Little Vesta
alone was with him, his fair young
wife having died two years before his
failure.
Aud now Vesta has returned to Ros-
ton, and beautiful girl she !s-rather
small and slight. with rich golden
brown hair, which falls past her waist
in silken curis, large. aimOnd-shaped,
thoughtful eyes-eyes that looked sad
and tender, even while the well
formed lips We're locked in stern de-
termination and the fair cheeks dyed
with the flush of indignation.
And why has the fair young Vesta
returned alone and in this disturbance
ct mind?
We shall soon learn.
Mr.. Villiars had gone to Frederick
ton when he left Boston. and three
years after was again business.
About this time he married Mrs.
Huntington, Il widowed lady. who had
seen about thirty seven summers.
Mrs Huntington possessed Il fortune
ot few thousands and this, united
tn MIR Villiurs'S business talents and
present stock, set him firmly upon his
feet again.
Little VeStn was now eleven years
old and her stepmother did not wish
ia have her at home: therefore, she
was sent to a boarding school.
But the first year had hardly draw
to Il close when she was summoned
hume Her fathers second wife had
died suddenly.
Two weeks elapsed before The day
on which Vesta arrived at her home.
As size drew near the house she saw
Il little coffin carried OUT and placed in
Il coach then followed her father and
ial! strange youth.
Entering the house noiselessly and
unul,served by a side entrance she met
the old hOuse1eeper and asked brrnth-
]essly:
.iIer baby is dead, too, is ii not. .lu
iiet?"
Yes" replied the old woman, ',an'
it's safer with its mother than ere.
God help morherless little girls say"
aud she laid her hand fondly on Yes
tH'S head.
III was a little girl then was it.
Juliet"
Yes dear
But who is thai young lad with
papa?"
't!is wife's first child"
"What?" exclaimed Nesta.
( Yes, dear" returned the old woman
composediy, the mistress sent for her
sOu to come home from college few
weeks after you We're sent off to please
her ladyship."
Did father know she had son? l
never knew it,
1T seems to me master didn't know
il until he saw Il grown boy of nine
teen walk In and call his wife mother"
and he took on bit for not being
told beforehand. But he's fairly fool
ish about the boy now" said the house
keeper scornfully.
Perhaps he is good boy, Juliet"
20. l suppose he's good enough, but
his lip that dou't like--it don't speak
much good. anyhow"
Five years rolled on and Mr. Viiliars
steps0n had grown to manhood.
Apparently he was Il frank. true
hearted person. but away beneath the
smooth. bright surface there dwelt
hear, which was full of vice and de
ceit His lips could smile and his
eyes beam kindly on you even while
his brain was plotting some dark deed
to ruin you.
VeStn. who was now Il beautiful girl
ai seventeen. admired his bright. light
hearted ways. yet she saw "a some
thing" about him which prevented her
regarding him as Il sincere friend.
what the "Something" was she could
not telt--she liked 10 be with him. he
was so gay. bur she could never bring
herself to that sweet interchange of
thoughts which enrwines hearts so
dearly
Not so with her fathpr-he was per-
fectiy Wild abou, the handsome boy"
truthful as his "SOn Louis"
His every action. every thought, was
known by the artful Louis. and his
dearest wish was that yesta and Louis