The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1903-01-24


she breathes."
"Ah. here are the VI jor and r Ia
exclaimed her hostess. at.er n Gcsul
tor'' conversation. during which she
had never taken her eyes off the Girl
and Babs rnse.
E-.a, a girl OF about the same ace rs
Babs, was 4 bright little being with 4
rather large mouth. small but very
light blue eyes. and an impe. ,inent
little nose: she kissed their guest T is
lily and heartily. and Babs +rok fancy
to her The Major-she wondered II
he re- anblad her father al olive:
tall ana thin, With long les, over
which he seer>ed to have little or nc
control, and a GU. *. searching, ain ost
covetous way Of looking at on lie
seemed always on ,Ae defensive. .JTe
greeted the girl kicdIy enough, and
then Ella CO veyed her to her room
chattering the whole way. and in five
minutes Babs possessed he [.ho.e
family history. A young artist. MI.
Royce, who had a studio close by.
loomed rather large in her prattle,
and, as it was mothers "at home
day. would probably call that after.
noon.
Where am I to put all my things,
Ella:"
Ella. porchcd on the edge CT tie bed.
looked round with the air OF robin on
the trail Of fat worm
Il can lug couple of trunks into my
room," she said. "aEd, oh, do let me
help you unpack.'
When she saw the ivory backed
brushes. silver mounted, the costly
knick-kuacks that soon crowded the
toilet table, she ga1cd with wide open
eyes.
Your father must have been awful
ly rich. Babs."
Il believe he Tas-once. See here,
my initial is e the same as yours.
VIII you accept this brush?" and she
handed her one OF her Ivory trio. and
Ella impulsiycly kissed her. What
ever her first slight awe Of her statu-
csquc cousin. it was brushed away
now.
All iunch-anl how Cabs hated hash
and its flabby bits Of saturated toast
the Major was talkative and spry,
glancing keenly at his niece from time
to time. She had brought few pres
clts for the family. 4 pair OF earrings
for her aunt, and she handed him 4
cigar case.
Il am sorry I do not smoke cigars.
Dabs," he said, "but l shall value your
present all the same
Something had evidently rufiled Mrs
Gillen, fo- she said aloud, icily:
mo. dear. half a dozen packs of
cards would be more in your fine"
and Babs wondered if she had been al
lowed peep at the skeleton in the
family cupboard.
81 have just had a letter from rT
brother handed me by namesake G.
ours, very distant cousin, introducing
him. l have asked him to dinner to-
night"
Does he come from the West In
dies. uncle?' came eagerly from Babs.
"Yes. he can tell us all about poor
Talbot"
''Poor father is really ruined, them"
'Irretricvably. fear
"Then goodbye to our occasional
checks" thought Mrs. 'Gi,den, sighing
heavily and creaking.
To put it mildly, Mrs Gilden's rccep-
tion was not crowded function. for
no enc but Mr.. Royce called. How this
refined man came to find
himself in this third rate makeshift
kind Of society was marvel to Babs.
Guy Royce sometimes wondered vague-
ly himself what brought him there.
He. lonely man, who made few
friends, had met the trio at an unfash-
ionable watering place. and Ella
amused him. When he entered the
room. smile upon his lips for the
adoring Ella. and was introduced to
Babs, his manners for moment de-
serted him. All the artist in tie man,
all the intense love of the beautiful
awoke in him: he had instirctively
taken her hand and looked into her
dark eyes. Sensitive and proud rs was
the girl she did not resent the glance,
for it was an almost reverential LOOK.
Guy Royce. like most men in his pro-
fession, worshiped beauty. ard in Babs
he thought he had found its very in
Conversation languished. and Ella
was iaclined to pout: Mrs. Gilden, too.
grudged the admiration Babs had
evolved. when suddenly bright idea
struck the artist
Mrs. Gilden." he said. and his was
persuasive voice, will
you all come round and have tea at my
studio? My 'ProsperiEe' goes of to
Paris tomorrow
81 cannot, of course. get away. but
Il Mrs. Grafton will play propriety
there's no reason why the girls should
rot" and tho girls dartcd of fog their
hats.