Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1904-11-05
MIND OF
MAID
By Martha
Copyright, 1904, NcCullocn-
bv Martha Williams
.McCWIOch- Williams

MY, Dut Sne Is ugly MIS-. EN ais
said, her accent distinctly one Of re-
lief. Bronson smiled covcrtly as he
answered: Don't be too sure of that.
She has eyes"
"Eyes. Bahr' The ejaculation was
almost snort EStelle heard it, al
though there was the breadth of the
room between her and tie irate ma
tron. She looked plaintively across ut
Bronson, who answered her look with
the faintest humorous nod. Then lie
strolled over to her and said in her
ear: It's too easy-qrite too easy,
Miss Mischief simply had to give
that good soul hint of warming.
"rraitorv' Estelle rctortcd, pre-
tending to hiss the word high tragedy
fashion, yet ending with dimplinS
laugh. The laugh went far to redeem
her face-sO far that it set more than
one bcholder specializing that old Ma
jor Gilbert's stranger granddaughter
would not really be so bad looking If
she knew how to wear her clothes
and do her heavy hair, this despite
her wretched complexion. for size had
beautiful straight nose and good
teeth, to say nothing of her handsome
eyes. Her neck must be bad. else
why was she Swathed up to the ears?
Her sleeves also quite swallowed her
gloved hands but her feet were rs
much in evidence as they well could
be, incased in boots at least three
sizes large.
With everybody else in party bibs
and fuckers, such garmcnting made
her conspicuous, all the more that the
gown she wore was grass green. with
bright pink stock and much dead
white braiding. Spangles and beads
also lurkcd amid the braid, so many
that there was color Of reason for
Estelle's whisper as she looked down
at herself.
"Do YOU know, / feel like the court
Of King Solomon at the puppct show"
This made Bronson frown. You'll
give yourself away" he said severely.
For heavens sake don't spoil sport
Just when it's getting so much better
than a play"
81 WON'T" said EStelle contritely:
then in Il nervous aside: "Whcn does
l slant be easy until he comes. Sup
pose, after ALL he should be color blind
able to see only gold and greenbacks
and old yellow title deeds?'
Suppose nothing so tragic. told
you in the beginning he was artistic
or nothing" Bronson retortcd. art
is, indeed, his weak suit. otherwise
Evans?'
"She is so pretty" Estelle said fer
vently.
Bronson growled: "Yes; regular Chi
ma baby beauty-blue eyes, pink and
white complexion and hair always in
the latest mode. Out in the lobby now,
lying in wait for-Adonls. They'll be
coming in together, the prettiest pair
Of puppets you ever saw"
81 hope he isn't too good looking"
Estelle murmured reflectively.
Bronson scOwled.
You'll find him disgustingly so. In
deed, I've been half afraid all along
that when you saw him you'd be sOr-
ry"-
Indeed l shan't." Estelle interrupt
ed eagerly "How can l be sorry for
anything that sets me free from that
odious bond?"
Bronson did not answer. \ stir about
the door drew all eyes. .AdOniS, other
wise George Gilbert. Estellc's cousin,
coher and fiance. entered with Adela
Evans clinging ostentatiously to his
arm. She had such Il habit of clinging
there that the sports of Grasshope had
been ready to give odds this last half
year that sine would ere this have writ
ten herself Mrs. George Gilbert but for
Grandfather GilbertS absurd will.
This instrument decrecd fatty which
ever of his two descendants refused to
marry the other thereby forfeited all
claim to the big Gilbert fortune.
The boy and girl had been brought
up half Il continent apart. EStclle had
come to Grasshope for the first time
less than week before. But tales OF
her had been rife there the last three
years, how willful she was, also how
sharp of speech and of temper. AS to
her looks there had been several Opin-
ions. Reed Bronson might have spoken
authoritatively, but he chose to be 81
lent. He had met Estelle two sum-
mers running at the seashore. and with
each meeting he became more indffer
ent to GrasshOpe bellies and their
charms. lie had known, first of all,
that EStelle was coming to visit her
mothers cousins, the Warrens. Mrs.
Evans thought her bold for it. She did
not need to marry George before she
was twenty-five and might therefore
well have left it to him to do the seek
ing.
What George thought about it no.
body knew. He smiled down at Adela
as they crossed to Estelle. When he
got good look at her his smile be-
came for breath's space qui"zical,
but it was kind and wholly cordial as
he took both her hands, saying, II
know you all right, young lady-if you
would never let me have your pic
ture."
Somebody's been telling" Estelle
said solemnly, although her eyes dane
cd They had never rested upon n finer
fellow than George. lie had all the
Gilbert look she so worshipcd in her
fathers portrait. Covertly she glanced
from him to Bronson. Bronson was big