Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-06-25

3
when all the attention was laviBhed upon
her, and when her wishes were para
mount to all others.
Dinner being over, Herbert, taking his
hat, went out into the street, in spite
of his mothers whispered effort to keep
him at home. This, of course, vexed the
little lady, and after drumming n few
notes upon the piano, she announced her
intention of returning home, saying that
'she wished she had not come" At this
moment the door bell rang, and some
young ladies came in to call upon Anna.
They seemed surprised at finding Ada
there, and after inquiring for her health,
one of them said, "Do tell us, Ada, who
that gentleman was that came and went
so slyly, without our ever seeing him2
Mrs. Cameron says he was from Georgia,
and that is all we know about him. Who
| was heT'
Ada started and turning slightly pale,
replied What do you mean? I've seen
no gentleman from Georgia. Where was
he? and when was he here2"
"As much ms three weeks or more
ago" returned Miss Marvin. Mrs.
Cameron got somewhat acquainted with
him"
Mrs. Cameron" repeated Ada, turn
ing alternately red and white. And,
pray, what did she say?'
| fancied there was a spice of malice
In Miss Mnrvin's nature; at least, she
| evidently wished to annoy Ada, for she
replied, "She said he was ugly looking,
though quite distingue that he came in
the afternoon, while she was in the pub
lie parlor talking with lady about you
and your engagement with Mr.. Langley"
The hateful old thing" muttered
Ada while Anna turned white as mar
bic, and Miss Marvin continued when
the lady had gone he begged pardon for
the liberty, but asked her If she knew
you. OF course, she told him she did,
and gave him any further information
which she thought would please him"
"Of course she did-the meddling
widow" again interrupted Ada after
which Miss Marvin proceeded-"Mgs IS.
Cameron didn't mean to do anything
wrong, for how could she guess that
'twould affect him in any way to know
you were engagedY
"And she told him l was engaged! 1t
isn't so. / ain'tr exclaimed Ada, while
the angry tears dropped from her gilt
tering eyes.
What does that mean then?" asked
Miss Marvin, laughingly, pointing at the
ring on Ada's finger.
Her first impulse was to wrench It
from her hand and cast it from her, but
she remembered herself in time, and
growing quite calm, as if to attribute her
recent agitation to different cause, she
said: II wish people would attend to
their own affairs, and let mine alone
Suppose ] am engaged-is that a reason
why Mrs. Cameron should discuss the
matter with strangers? But what else
did she say? And where is the gentle
man nowY
Gone home" answered Miss Marvin
glancing mischicvously at her c6rnpan,
ions HE went the next morning, and
she said he looked very much disturbed
either at your illness or your engagement
the former probably--and that is why
think it strange that he didn't stop to
see you; though maybe he did"
mo, he didn't" chmed in Miss Mar
wins sister, "for don't you know She
said he went to the theaterT'
All this time my interest in the un
known Georgian had been increasing anC
at this last remark ] forgot myself en-
tirely, and started forward. exclaiming
Eyes. he was there; | saw him and spok,
with him. too"
The next moment l sunk back npol
the ottoman, abashed and mortified, Will,
Ada gave me a whitening glance, anC
said, scornfully, You spoke to him
And, pray. what did you say?"
An explanation of what l said would
l knew. oblige me to confess the faintinj
fit, of which | was somewhat ashamed
and so | made no reply; nor was an,
expected. | think, for without waitin
, for my answer, Ada said to Miss Marvin
Mrs. Cameron, of course, learned hi
name. even If she had to ask it out
, rightT
, Yes, she made inquiries of the clerI
/ at the hotel, who wouldn't take the rrou
BILE of looking on the book, but said h
believed it was Field, or something lik
that" returned Miss Marvin.
b As if uncertainty were now made sur,
o Ada turned SO white that in some alarr
A her young friends asked what they shoul
| do for her; but she refused their offers c
aid, saying ut was only the heat of til
o room, and she should soon feel better:
e And is it the heat of the room whic
II affects you, Miss Lee?" asked one of II
II girls, observing for the first time the e!
% IRENE pallor of Annals face.
"Only headache" was her answe
n as she pressed her hand upon her FOR
- head.
!" She was fearfully pale, and knew
y was no common thing which had tn,
ie moved her, and when not long afterwa,
y the young ladies left us, | was glad, Il
1t | felt that both she and Ada needed
e be alone The moment they We're goI
Anna left the parlor, while l., frighten,
e. by the agonized expression of her fac
A. soon followed her; but the door of o.
| room was locked, and it was in vain
called on her to admit me, for she on
n answered in voice choked with teal
ID 60 away, Rosa; l would rather
alone"
at SO | left her and returned 10 the pa
err or, where l found Ada weeping passio
ne ately, while my aunt, who had not be
be present during the conversation viii
IT had so affected her, was trying in vain
a learn the cause of her grief.
1873 Nothing much" was all Ada won
say, excepting that "she wanted
ng go home"