The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-08-14


Alma has been here three months
Mrs. Brown was right She has
chased the somber sha Sows out Of
these big. quiet rooms and the sound
OF her light footsteps. Oh her sweet
voice calling me 10 70 riding or boat
: ing with her. the exhilaraiion of her
bright. lovely presence. has brought
another life into Branleigh Hall
Alma saw very little Of her father.
she tells me. lie wandered around the
continent and at watering places land
Monte Carlol. while she was al school
in convent in Paris.
Her mother died Ten years aro
had not thought il 50 long How time
flies.
| am glad Alma was not with him.
What a fascinating. honest child she
t. His would have made nernicious
Influence Nor car Alma srieye for one
sac hardly knew
Are You happy. child" I asked her
few evenings ago. when we came
back from a brisk canter and was
lifting her down from her saddle
Happy? ! never was so happy in
all my life. Cousin Hugh" she said.
resting her little eloyed hands on my
shoulders
was passing by the wing part OF
the house the other day and heard
Alma's joyous, mellow laugh | stopped
and looked in Mrs Browns room.
Alma sat or the floor. her sleeves
rolled up. stemming raxberries for
Mrs Brown. who was connecting
something at table and the theme
OF conversation / gathered was our
family ghosts
Alma's arms and hands are exquisite
Like Parian marble. ray Of sunlight
vas falling over her splendid bronze
hair, and noticed her eyes were
not purple blue. like her mothers. but
dark gray. honest. frank and true
No. she had not inherited any Of
Arthur's traits.
OF course the neighbors have flocked
| TO Branleigh Hall as soon as | issued
few informal invitations
Alma is clearly the sensation OF the
day and hour in our exclusive society
| But ! wont have Catherine Weihtley
| and her fast set spoil my little girl and
brush the bloom Of her exquisite fresh
ness away. by their reckless cynical so
ciety talk
Sue Darlington laughed at me last
night My dear Hugh" she said. you
are too absurd with that child You are
hen with a duclslinc. positively No
body's going TO steal your jewel al
least not tonight A little later. But
you are worrying needlessly Alma
is very clever, assure you. and her
her from forming her opinion about
| men and wonderland very accurate
one il is. Nobody can spoil her
was glad such was Mrs CARING
TONS opinion. sue lives and breathes
| for her world social and Paquin is the
| idol she worships- But underneath her
laces and friyolsies. she has warm
heart. and considerable brains in her
clever little worldly head
Having assumed the responsibility
Of Alma's life. | must. OF course. carry
II through. The child must have her
Paris gowns. and fiiriations with brain
less youth.
have not legally adopted Alma as
my child. But have remade my will.
BranlesEh Hall could never have
more exquisite mistress than Alma
and she viii know how TO administer
these broad acres and properly care
for ~ splendid old place Penroy will
see - the mines and other properties
for her. should NV guardianship be
removed. Pcnroy Is entirely trust
worfi.,
have no special reason 70. dislik-
ing The man. John FELTON, Is considered
q fine Young fellow and a rising ir.ni-
nary in his profession. But his fo1
great difference To my opinion jas On
me. His attentions TO Alma are entire
iy too conspicuous TO ne either Il,
good issie. or ignored. Has be cansh,
the child's fancy7 God forbid
The .eh. = quiet. and l have paced
for lorg hours this deserted room.
where Elma's presence fingers. strfy-
ing TO look into the rroublous future.
My hesrt is heavy with forebodinc.
and wrung with sorrowfui anxieiies.
Alma came into my life. and has glori-
fed n. Am I TO lose her and settle
back into the gloom and dryrot Of
useless and aimless existence, ! will
take Alma abroad.-New Or.rans
Times-Democ-at-
Mngistrate-s small Fee.