The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-01

1 turkey-tail fan would have fallen had it | not been attached to her wrist by piece l or faded ribbon. "I declare, Lucy, don't know that I ought to tell you; and wouldn't If I thought you would repeat | 1t to living soul. It Is more than mar
 velous; 1t is, indeed. Lucy" leaning a | little nearer, and lowering her voice, which was never very louI-"I honestly l believe that Rita Claiborne Is in love with old Silas Tomlln! I certainly do." You must have some reason for be- heving that" said Mrs. Lumsden, with | benevolent smile, the cause of which
 the ear-trumpet could not interpret Reasons! l have any number. Lucy I'm certain yo1 won't believe me, but it has come to pass that old Silas calls on her every night, and they sit in the parlor there and talk by the hour. sometimes with Eugenta, and sometimes without her.
 It would be no exaggeration at all If I
 were to tell you that they are talking
 together !n that parlor five nights out of
 the seven. Now. what do they mean by
 that?'
 Why, there's nothing in that, Polly.
 l nave heard that they are old acquaint- ances. Surely old acqualntances can talk
 together, without being in love. Why, very frequently of late Meriwether CIop-
 ton comes here. I hope you don't think I'm in love with him?"
 certainly not, Lucy, most certainly not. But do you have Meriwether's DOT trait hanging in your parlor? And do you go and sit before it, and study 1t, and sometimes shake your finger at 1t play ru!ly? l tell you, Lucy. there are some queer people in this world, and Rita Claiborne is one of them"
 She Is excellent company" said Mrs Lumoden.
 "she Is, she is," Miss Polly assented.
 She IS full of life and fun; she sees the ridiculous side of everything; and that is why I cant understand her fondness TOT old Silas. Why, Lucy, she treats that portrait as if 1t were alive. What she says to 1t l can't tell you, for my hear ing Is not as good now as 1t was before my ears were affected But she says something, for I can see her lips move. and l can see her smile. Now, what do you think of it, Lucy?"
 Nothing in particular. If 1t is true. if would be a good thing for Sllas. He Is not as mean as a great many people think he is.'
 He may not be, Lucy" responded Miss FoiIy, but he brings a bad taste in my mouth every time see him."
 And just think of 1t, Lucy-Ritta CIai- borne sits there and plays the piano for oid Silas, and sometimes Eugenia goes In and sings, and she has a beautiful voice; I'm not too deaf to know that"
 It was then that Mrs. Lumsden leaned over and gave the ear-trumpet some very good advice. 'Tf were in your pIace Polly, wouldn't tell this to any one else Mrs. Claiborne is an excellent woman. she comes of a good family. and she is | cultured and refined No doubt she is sen- | sltive' and if she heard that you were spreading your suspicious abroad, she | would hardly feel like staying in a house | "here- Mrs Lumsden paused. She had | no desire in the world to offend that sjr,- ple-minded old soul. who, behind all her and affllctions, had very | tender heart.
 know what you mean, Lucy" said | Miss Polly. and your advice is good; but | can't help seeing what goes on under my eyes, and thought there could he no | harm in telling you about it."
 The explanation of Miss Polly's susn,- 'ions is not as simple as her recital op -hem No one can account for some op the impulses of the human heart, or the 7agarfes of the human mind.
 For this and other reasons this chron- cier does not propose to explain Silas's motives and movements and fry to sbo1,
 | he beginning. What is certainly trua is nat sllas was one day stopped in tho treet by Eugenia who inquired about 'aul. He looked at the girl very gloom " at first. but when he began to talk bout the troubles of his son, he thawed ut considerably
 You mustn't think too much about 'aul," remarked Silas grirnIy. as tboy were about to part.
 Thank you. sir" replied Eugenia with
 smile. 'I'll think just enough and no nore. But 1t was my mother that told ne to ask about him if saw vou She very fond of him. You never come to zee us now" the sly creature suggested
 siias stared at her before replying. Why I reckon shed kick me down tbe teps if I called without having sorne usiness with her. If you were to ask Ter who her worst enemy Is, she'd tel ou that I am the man."
 Well. sir" replied Eugenia archlv CT ave been knowing mother e Rood many ]