Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-08-14

10 DC nNauNu AZ all I'''" VI ""'
by our ncichbors. bd Alma's youth
and legitimate pleatrrs are to Danish
the onict. drowsy Ne Of perfect con-
tentment | had hoped would be min"
for the rest of my dayS.
Mrs. Brown and Alma VIII expect
me to entertain next. as soon az IN"
child's mourning will permit. l see
looming before me the horrors {" u
house party fer next Christmas.
am in "a dra,net. and a only be
released by ON" event,
Considering Alma as'oniSh'nH
beauty and the repor' 'erlaih 10 get
around that | have adopted my cousin
Arthur's child, ! dom suppose ! VIII
have to wait oVcrloN- ior 'la' pro-
pitioiis occurrence.
Alma has bar, here three months.
Mrs. Brown was riGht. She has
| chased the sombcr shadows ont of
these big. quiet rooms and the sound
Of her light footsteps. OF her sweet
voice calling mo 10 20 riding or boat
ing with her, me e~xhilaration Of her
bright, lovely presence. has brought
another life into Branlaieh Hall.
o.
Alma saw very little of her father
she tells me. lie wandered around the
| continent and at watering places ,and
Monte Carlo. while she was al school
in a convent in Paris
Her mother died ten years AGO. !
had not thourht il 50 long. How time
flies.
am glad Alma wa no with him.
What a ]fascinatiug, homes, child she
Is. His would have made a pcrhicious
| influence. Nor can Alma 2rieve for ono
she hardly knew.
Arc yon happy, child?" | asked her
a few evenings ago, when We cam"
back from a brisk canter and ! was
lifting her down from her saddle.
Happy? | nevfr was so happy IN
all my life. Cousin liuGh.' she said.
resting her little sloycd hands on my
>hOuldcrs.
was passing by the wing part OF
the house the Other day n heard
Alma's joyous. mellow laugh. ! stopped
and looked in Mrs. Browns room.
Alma sat ON the floor, her sleeves
rolled up, steinming strawberries for
Mrs. Brown. who vas concoctrS
something at a table, and the theme
of conversation ! gathered was our
family ghosts.
Alma'S arms and hanIs are exquisite.
Like Pariln marble. A ray Of sunlight
was falling over her splendid bronIa
hair, and ! noticed her eyes were
not purple blue, like her mothers, but
"A dark gray. honest, franz and true.
No. she had not inherited any Of
| Arihur's traits.
OF course the n"iehbors haze ilocko1
to Branlrigh Halls n o ~ | issue!
a f"w informal invitations.
Alma Is clearly the sensation Of the
day and hour in our exclusive society.
Ru; ! wont hav" Catherine Wcihtlcy
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 las
night. My dear Hugh" she said, "yol
are too absurd with that child. You arr
Il hen with a ~duchling, positively. No
DOdy's gong to steal your jewel, u
least not tonight. A little later. Bu
You are worrying necdlessly Aim;
Is very clever, ! assure you, and he
convent education does not proven
her from forming her opinion abOu
men ana women and a very accurat
one 1t Is. Nobody can SPOIL her"
] waS glad such was Mrs. Caring
tons opinion. Sue lives and breathe
for her world social and Paquin Is III
IDOL she w%orShips. But underneath he
l"ces and friyoltios. she has a warn
heart. and considerable brains in he
clever little worldly head.
Having assumed the responsible,
Ol Alma's life, ! must, OF course, carr
II through. The child must have he
Paris gowns. and nirtalions with brain
less youth.
! have not legally adopted Alma a
my child. But ! have remadc my viii
Branleigh Hall could never have
more rXquislt" mistress than Alma
and she will know how TO administe
these broad acres and properly car
for the splendid Old place. Penroy will
gee to the mines and other propertie
Tor her. should my guardianship b
removed. Penroy Is entirely trust
worthy.
! have no special reason for diplll,
ing the man, John FELTON, Is considered
a fine younp foIIou ,,J +. ,i.t.. -,