Amador ledger., 1904-01-15

Ing me silent through long minute,
she sat very straight and added:
Naturally ono is nervous at finding
oneself alone with a lunatic Only
lunatics tall. 10 things as though they
were people,
Don't mind her, Amaryllis," 1 said
softly. ''roor creature, she is jealous.
She thinks You are no more than lily
blooming in a pot. We know better, of
course
Really l did. not dream you had so
much imagination" Myrtilla said out
right, shipping her thread as she spoke
l stared harder than ever at Amaryl-
lis, saying: Imagination is q fearful
thing sometimes. | am glad, Amaryl-
lis, you altogether lack it. You would
never see in ordinary civilities to q
pretty girl anything to turn your love
ly golden tawny eyes green"
Dancing or sitting out every other
number, l suppose, comes under the
head of ordinary civilities,'" Myrtilla
said, her lip curling.
l kept on quietly: "And even if you
felt hurt you would let me explain
The Verinews have hearts as big as
their fortune. Thus it happens 1 owe
them what money can never pay Not
so many years back there was a big
furry in the street that put my govern
or in the worst sort of hole 1t needed
cool million to get him out, and a
Verinew million did it. Yet the gov
ernor was hardly an acquaintance.
Verinew learned his extremity by
chance and came to his help because,
as he phrased it, he didn't think the
other side was putting up a square
deal. 1t does not lessen the obliga-
tion that he got his million back, plus
a good profit. Eventually the Grant
ley girl will have it, with several mil
lions more. She is a granddaughter
unacknowledged because Mime. Veri-
new wishes to seem as young as their
fortune-but the very apple of the Veri-
new eye. They wanted her to be the
belle of the ball-she was shy and sensi-
tive and frightened half out of her
wits. Somehow she trusted me-
81 don't at all wonder at that" said
a voice from the fireplace.
bowed gravely and resumed: when
she is not frightened she is pretty, Am
aryllis. Her head is splendidly red
not quite so red as yours. She is light
on her feet, too, and loves to dance as
well as the flowers do. The trouble is
she has rot yet quite caught the
rhythms she must move to, so needs
must lean heavily upon her partner
understood; some of the others did not.
Occasionally one was furried, still
more occasionally one impertinent. And
single cad let her see he was ashamed
of dancing with her in spite of the mil
lions. At her first ball! Think of it!
had to take away the sting of it some
how Perhaps 1 did seem devoted, but
she didn't misunderstood. / told her
about Myrtilla in our very first waltz"
A little inarticulate cry from the fire
place here. Covertly I saw tears on
Myrdlla's cheeks. She made as though
to rise, but sank back, turned away her
head and resumed the furious stabbing
with her needle. I gathered the green
cry of Amaryllis in my hands, laid my
cheek against it and said dreamily:
"Amaryllis, tell me why 1 am fated
to love dusky hair. All the painters
and poets agree that red is ever so
much more beautiful"
care you sure, quite sure, you do love
it?' Myrtlla asked TREMENDOUSLY She
was not answered in words.
Five minutes later Dicky, bursting in
upon us, found us side by side, looking
down at Amaryllis through sunshine
grown suddenly and mag1cally warm
and golden. After long look Dicky
whistled, turned on his heel and said
from the door over his shoulder: $50
you two have made it up. McSnifters
said you would, cause that red lily
bloomed so far ahead of time. But l
don't care about that All want is to
know what you're goin' to give me
when you get married"