The Newtown bee., 1902-02-28

Sands, friends of Anna and Agatha at
nome, had appeared and established
themselves at the same hotel, while
Willis Pierce wrote that he wished
himself with them and meant to come
over and join the party in the spring.
"Miss Morton is the jolliest kind of
a chaperon, Dick said one day, voic-
ing the general sentiment.
"And SO pretty and young looking,
in spite of her greyish hair" said An
ma.
ooh, but she must be IS at least"
remarked Agatha. "And IS seems old
to young 1872
Snow 1 devoutly hope these young
people will be considerable enough to
postpone getting engaged to one
another until they are out of my
hands and safely in their own homes
again." thought Gwendolen Morton,
when she saw how things were tend
ing. But in spite Of her dread of pos
sible engagements, She put no damper
on the young peoples pleasures. She
walked and rode and drove with them.
She planned delightful little trips and
excursions, and they studied art and
music, and took lessons in Italian, and
spent their leisure strumming on
mandolin and guitar.
Miss Morton and her merry little
party of young Americans afforded
much amusement to the other guests
of the hotel, though they also COM
manded their admiration and respect.
And an Englishman named Garth,
who had stopped over to spend a
month or two in Rome on his way
home from India after an absence OF
many years, had Immediately singled
out Miss Morton's party as people
whom he would care to know, and
soon had procured an introduction to
them. Thereupon Dorothy appropria-
ted him and was frankly delighted at
having so agreeable cavalier.
When Garth first asked to laccom
pany them on one of their expeditions
Miss Morton had said laughing. zone
more young person for me to look aft.
er!'
"But aren't we all young persons to-
gether?" he asked with amusement.
"My gray hairs say otherwise!' she
responded with a SMILE
| "Then what about mine?" and he
stroked an iron gray mustache.
"a man is as old as he feels''-
quoted.
''Then am not more than TO-" h
said gayly. "And if a women is bu
as old as she looks you are not over II
Gwendolen smiled. "But inconsid
crate youth has way of making M
feel very old-at times" she said.
And when the young people pairet
off and Dorothy took the lead will
Garth Miss Norton also felt TIN
shadow of new responsibility which
soon perplexed her.
"He's awfully jolly" Dorothy con
fided to her aunt, afterward. eli
name is Cecil, and he admits belong
ing to the same family as that Arthu
Cecil Garth of whom everybody ha
heard so much"
AS Gwendolen had friends in tina
part Of England which Garth Gale,
''home," she felt impelled to writ
and ask something about this Ceci
Garth, who had now annexed himsel
to their party.
"a fine fellow" came the response
land a great wanderer. 1t is hig
time for him to come home and settl
down! But it is his cousin, Arthu
Cecil, who has done things Hi
name will live. And he also is return
ing to England shortly-I wish tina
you could meet him."
That ought to have satisfied Over
dolen, and she was surprised that sh
could not conquer her feeling of ur
easiness whenever Garth and Doroth
were together. He was certainly
delightful companion, and Doroth
was frankly, perhaps inconsiderately
encouraging him. What would tn
outcome be?
In spite Of Gwendolen's secret pei
plexities and forebodings, the white
passed rapidly away. And one fin
morning a letter from Willis Pierc
announced that he was already on hi
| wav IN iOin thom