Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1903-07-17


" lay upon her desk sealed and
stamped. but not addressed
bhe had dipped her pen into the ink TO
address one OF them, which was placed
squarely upon the top OF the other.
This is somewhat unusual method OF
procedure, but 1t was habit of the
girls. She sometimes wrote half doz-
IN letters and made pile OF them, put
ting on the addresses after they were
all done, at some Inconvenience TO her
self and with a risk OF misdirecting the
missiveS. Yet she had never suffered
that misfortune.
There was n knock, and Miss Win
throp went 10 the door 10 find that the
visitor was Gladys Darrell The two
girls were from the same small town,
had attended the same schools and had
been sojourners in the city about an
equal time. They preserved an init
macy which was not especially agree
able to either Of them. but their early
association and the fact that they were
studying music under the same masters
and had nearly the same circle OF ac-
hNlh lO6tluCl. MISS
Winthrop did not find Miss Darrell con
genial; she did not quite approve OF
her conduct In certain matters, and
Miss Darrell perceived II, resented IL
and concealed within her heart smol-
lering animOsity, which was made
rSe by somewhat absurd jealousy.
there had never been anything like
,udrrel between them.
When Grace Winthrop opened the
1oor for Gladys a round faced boy who
was the landlady's son was passing
through the hall. Grace had a message
for this youth. and so she excused her
self TO Gladys. who passed into the lit
tie parlor alone.
Gladys crossed to the desk beside the
window and saw the two letters lying
there. She was a girl whose great nat
ural curiosity was insufIiciently re-
strained by delicacy-the sort OF girl
who couldn't help wondering for whom
those letters were intended. Beside
them was a memorandum book about
the size of half playing card. 1t was
open, and a ruler lay across it in such
way as TO cover most OF the left
hand page and leave the other exposed.
The visible page bore two addresses
Mr.. Henry Lamar, Aldine building.
and Mr.. Willis Barnes, q Broad street.
They seemed TO have been very recent
ly set down In the book, and the
thought flashed through Gladys brain,
"She's been writing to those two fell
lows"
She glanced quickly toward the door.
II was nearly closed. and Grace was
still In the hall. Gladys took up the
two letters, saw that neither was ad-
dressed and put them down again
transposed. There was not q visible
sign that anything had happened. but
the letter which had lain atop before
was now below. Gladys went TO the
other side OF the room and sat down In
chair. Her heart was beating un-
comfortably hard, and she felt a pain
full, nervous desire to laugh.
She suspected that both the young
men whose names she had read in the
little book were deeply interested in
Grace Winthrop. AS to that, she was
willing that Grace should have the
preference and the attentions OF one OF
these young men, but she had not yet
decided which one. Mr.. Lamar had a
great deal Of money, and Mr.. Barnes
was very good looking and lively, en-
gaging companion. 1t was a difficult
choice. As a matter OF fact, Gladys
had no right to consider any such
choice at all for reasons that VIII pres
emily appear
Miss Winthrop came back into the
room and sat down by the desk.
I'm just address these letters If you
don't mind" she said. with smile