The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-11-18

during which Alice Was 00ch q 30VOs
81 propriety, goodness and thoushtful-
ness, that tho family became alarmed.
Her mother anxiously inquired II shs
were feeling quite well. Her father
regarded her lovingly, thinking how
pretty, and-with sigh-how grown
up" she was becoming. Brother Tom
mockingly accused her OF being in love.
and asked: >'Who is my future brother
in-law? for now's the time for me to be
getting in my work." . -.
As the days passed. and nothing un-
usual happened, the load Of care began
to slip of Alice, and her precautions be-
came less rigid. At last one afternoon
she fingered with Helen until that pru-
dent friend said: my dear, you must
love and leave me- now, or stay for
dinner, for it is getting quite late"
mo, can't stay to dinner, for. IA
Their always wants me ut home. Oh, I'm
tired of being so careful; It's such .
bore, but as you say. discretion is the
better part of valor,' so farewell" and
she started forth merrily.
Oh, dear! she had forgotten her music
and she wanted to practice that adagto
before her lesson on the morrow 1t
was in the music room; she would not
disturb Helen, but just run back for 1t
and then fly home.
Winslow was little slow in answer
ing her ring, and then in her haste she
dropped several sheets; how horrid
everything was! 1t seemed like night
mare. AS she neared her own door her
heart lightened; though the sky had be-
come rapidly darker. Was that foot
step behind her? She FASTENED on. The
steps behind rapidly gained on her, and
a low voice murmured:
Surely the very kind young lady Is
not going to run away from her ardent
admirer, Talus?"
Her heart stood quite still; her feet
were paralyzed; she could not utter q
sound. A young man with his overcoat
collar drawn high and his hat low, came
quickly up to her and said, tenderly
and in voice evidently disguised:
do not be frightened; surely you do
not fear me? If you only knew how my
heart beat the other day when I gazed
on your beautiful face, and when I
realized that you were interested In
me-"
Alice tried to hurry on, and STAN
mered: But was not interested at all
i just did it for fun-please 60 away;
you surely realize that cannot speak
to you"
"You should have thought of that be-
FORE my good girl" the man answered,
coldly. Young women do not give such
evident encouragement to young men,
wit lout meaning something, and I in
sist upon having talk with you, I
wish to explain
'Impossible!" cried Alice. "You must
let me pass. If you are gentleman.
you will not detain me a moment
longer"
well, suppose am not gentleman.
Do gentlemen as rule go around ad-
vertising brass? But am man, and
I have you in my power and with this
he firmly seized both her hands.
The next thing Alice knew she was
lying on the couch in the library, with
mother and Tom bending anxiously
over her, and sal volatile was being free
ly administered.
Mother was saying reproachfully: 1T
seems to me, Tom, that it was rather he
roic treatment; you should have con-
suited me. The child has been on q
strain for days, and her nerves simply
gave way Are you all right now, dear?"
"Ye-es,' faltered Alice; but where
is the brass MANI"
1T was only Tom, darling, trying to
teach you little lesson, but It seems
to me that both of my children are
thoughtless."
In the earnest talk that followed moth
er tried to point the way to pure and
true living and discreet conduct, and to
help both her girl and her boy.
1t seems that Tom had, by the merest
accident, been witness of Alioe's little
joke, and had Immediately determined to
teach his giddy young sister a lesson.
He had argued that all his preaching
went in at one ear and out at the other"
and that little practical frightening
would be most beneficial. The missive
he considered quite a work of art as
illustrating the character of would-be
gallant and a fine gentleman.
1t was rather severe treatment, but
Alice was strong and robust Indeed,
she was heartily ashamed of herself for
fainting, so in a day or go she was quite
herself again. 1t is hardly necessary
to add that in the future she kept in de-
middle OBJ de oad."-Young People.
HORNET A PEST REDUcER.