The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-24
THE BEAUTY OF ASHCROFT
By MARTHA Neutrality-suspicious.

: sfis5r
ever Of her youth and charm. It was
wholly new experience. Men had been
prostrating themselves to worship her
ever since she was in short frocks. The
| men had been very plenty. Her father,
bluff and hearty Squire Elton, was the soul
OF hospitality no less than the great man
| OF Ashcroft. His big house, although it
stood well outside the village, was the
| social center. Whoever had his good word
and countenance was welcome anywheEe
roundabout.
Naturally Bernice, sole daughter and
he1ress to the Elton thousands. who had
grown up motherless. was a trif1e spoiled
notwithstanding a fine young creature,
honester with herself than is the wont Of
wOmankind. Therefore, even before Ems
ley went away she had begun to ask her.
self II 1t was wholly pleasant to have him
sensible rather than foolishly adoring. He
had not been gone two days before she
had answered her own question with q
decided mo and, further, had made up
her mind that when he came again she
would not fout his lovemaking, no mat
ter how earnest 1t might be. She could
not, Of course, admit even to her image
in the mirror how impossible she found
| it to get him out of her mind. nor how
long and dull the short winter days were
now that he no longer claimed much more
| than half of them.
Somehow she had a fancy that he would
| surely come back for Christmas. Her
| father, she knew, had pressed him. and
she herself had smiled invitation, though
she had said nothing outright But it
took her all aback to have Peggy Glenn
run in and say: ''Only think, Berry! All
/ OF us wasted our sweetness on an en-
gagged man! Frank Ensley is a wretch
of the first water! Brother Jack had
| letter from him saying, Il expect to be
married early in the new year, so will
gladly: let Ashcroft delights beguile my
impatience for the happy day Now,
what do you think of that?'' +.
80, that it Observation-Disclosures Bernice
said, the least possible break in her voice.
Peggy stared hard. Jack must be all
right after ALL" she said. II was dead
sure Ensley was counting you hard, but
that brother Of mine said all along you
were only chums.'
ing" Bernice said. smiling, although she
saw things through a mist and felt her
pulses beat all over. Somehow she held
herself steady until Peggy went off to
spread the news. How she fought through
the next hour only the soul of infinite
compassion will ever know.
The news came in rnid-Decenber. Ems
LEY was to follow it. The day before
Christmas Bernioe had herself well in
i hand. She loved him. faced the know1-
edge of it as became a thoroughbred and
was resolved to break her heart. IL it
:. I1leeQS must DIedk, Will GduSHiilS lips. CIo
, would wish him joy, clear-eyed, clear
voiced. She would even affect to have
discerned his estate Of bondage and claim
to have saved him from farce comedy
perfidy. Notwithstanding, twilight of the
> winter solstice found her very low and
miserable. The day had been lowering
and sodden, full Of gusty rains and shrek
: ing elfn blasts. BY way of offsetting the
gloom, Squire Elton had heaped logs on
the big andirons and lighted all the can
dies in the big silver sconces while it was
still but murk outside.
: Then he had hustled off to see after
. some Of his poor neighbors. Bernice was
alone except for the servants, who had
been there ever since she was born. She
s sat- wan and dropping, staring into the
heart of the fire as Ensley came noise
< lessly through the door.
< II will not offer penny for your
: Thoughts. I know exactly what they are,
y he said, stepping to her side, but not of
8 |fering his hand. ''You are coming the
. irrettv speech you mean to make me. That
r is wrong. You should not felicitate me
4 until you hear whom I am going to
marry -s. -.--,.s.-,-.
e as there more against her than hav-
). ing accepted you?" Bernice asked, with
e a. flash of her old spirit. He stopped and
Y half lifted her to her feet before answer
y Ling. ''She is that impossible she. the
|, sum of all perfection in a woman.
e Indeed, How did you prevail? Was
e it the attraction Of opposites?" Bernice
asked, trying to speak saucily, though her
e heart beat like a triphammer. And. FUR
r Their, what ner haille' ano "ioi e
T homer"
: Her home is-here," Ensley said. draw
f ing her close to his breast. AS for her
: name, it is the very sweetest in the world,
: but I believe she likes best to be called
/. the beauty of Ashcroft"