Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-03-13
CHAPTER VIII.

hnd Place was one or those IOnlOn
Swellings whose name Is Legion. II was
TALL and narrow, it's ruddy complexion
darkeued to a sccdy brown by age and
smoke, aud its paint faded and crusty
from the wear and tear Of too many Lon
don seasons. 1t had five rows of narrow
windows, placed there, to all appearance,
simply AZ background for a limited va
tiety of potted shrubs
High up was the chamber Of the two
Misses Foster; for the dwelling was not
q mansion of unlimited space and thls
Arge upper chamber was very capable
OF containing two beds and two yodng
= ladies even with the almost constant al
ation of very diminutive French maid.
And though a tiny room adjoined IT,
which Miss Foster called her dressing
room, 1t incloscd her graceful form but
seldom; for the advantage OF younger
sisters unfaiing attention and acute sug-
gestiops overbalanced any of those obJec-
lions which Gencvieve Foster would 9th
erwise have urged against sharing any
ones apartment.
On this evening Lucette had been dis
missed unusually early, and Miss Foster
was herself putting the finishing touches
10 her toilet, while her sister stool
thoughtfuly weighing the relative merits
Of pink and blue. before selecting accou-
terments for her crisp white grenadine.
IL should not WONDER" she pondered
aloud, III mamma does not begin at once
90 make much of her, just as If she were
guest. Mamma is so uncertain that
can never feel sure of her"
But she listens to reason" observed
she elder sister, as she put in her emerald
warnings; land we have had sensible
talk together about Miss st. George. she
IL no relative Of ours, and no guest-not
even IN acquaintance. She is here for
special purpose, and she must be left
10 pursue that purpose cor scientiously.
1t is, indeed, for her sake hat | have
urged mamma to let her continue her
studies undisturbed."
For her sake, OF course; and, indeed,
for mammals, too" observed Victoria
Foster. Mamma would be the very last
In the world to wish for another grown
mp daughter"
"An awkward, uneducated daughter,
too" put in the elder sister, compacently,
"who will have no idea of the very com
monest usagcs of good society. Pooh!
Mamma has too much regard for her
swn reputation"
~ don't at all agree with Will about
Miss st. George beauty" said Victoria,
presently. Certainly saw her only for
q minute, but think her style will not
be taking in London"
"Taking!' echoed Miss Foster, with the
ealmest contempt. "Who is it to take?
The girl will be at her lessons. If her
beauty smites Miss Archer, all the bet
Aap. l,nt hC n,ly II
Twill. He is coming this evening, you
know; and he seemed so anxious about
seeing her that perhaps he will be com
Ing often"
will is wiser than you imagine" re-
Joined the elder sister. "Ie is not one
TO marry on an income of three hundred
pounds year. You are goose, Tory.
Fnsten this bracelet for me-"
Thus the two girls stood facing each
other before the toilet table when their
mother entered the room; and she smiled
as she saw the protiles reflected in the
glasS-both fair and correct with fea-
lures unmarried by any eccentricity of
character, and pale blue eyes, the fire OF
which could never hurt the large, white
bids. 1t was quite eXcusable in Mrs Eos.
der to be proud of her stylish daughters.
That her grandfather should have be-
pueathed Geneyieve a yearly income of
two hundred pounds for pocket money,
seemed to the mother most natural pro.
ceeding, considering how prettily Gene
We've always received the old man; but
Mrs. Foster was totally unconscious of
Genevieves having usurped the foremost
place in her kindly, tickle heart.
well, mother" Miss Foster said, II
suppose Nora st. George is still lying
down. You will leave her to do So of
course"
+ "Sbe did aot lie down at all, my dear"
returned Mrs Foster. 'She has been
nnpacking, and now she is with Miss Ar
cher in the school ROOM"
why did not Miss Archer go home
this afternoon, as usualV'
II thought it WISER" explained Mrs.
Foster, land, indeed, kinder"-with n
timid air of deprecation-"to keep her
this evening. Miss st. George would
have felt so very lonely, as Tory would
not consent to dine early and stay with
her. | wish, even now, that you would
stay with her, Tory"
Nonsense" exclaimed Victoria, with
quiet contempt. Am | to be made n
school girl just to please this utter stran-
ger, for whom we have done great deal
TOO much already ia allowing her to come
here at all?"
but you are a school girl, Tory" re-
marked her mother. IF you were not,
why should Miss Archer and your mas.
ters come every day to teach you? |
hope, my dear, that you will see the kind
ness of what propose, and go and take
tea with Miss Archer and your new COM
rade."
"No. indeed, mamma" said the young
lady, hotiy; Il will not be put down In
this way for an nterloper. told you
must dine with you to-day; indeed, |
shall do 1t every day now. What have |
In common with this Irish girl?"
"Then you refuse to do as ask you ~
inquired the mother, rising with a sigh.
certainly do. Even YOU" added Vic,
ioria. automatically, would be sorry
yourself afterward, and ashamed, too,
for behaving So to a daughter OF seven.
teen. Gena knows very well that l am
as grOwn-up looking as she Is, and that
ought to do exactly as she does"