Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-11-10
MIND OF
MAID
By Martha
Copyright, 1901. McCulloch-
By Martha Williams
McCulloch- WLltdns


lief. Bronson smiled covertly as he
answered: Don't be too sure Of that.
She has eyes,"
"Eyesl Bahr' The ejaculation was
almost snort. Estelle heard it, al
though there was the breadth of the
room between her and the irate ma
tron. She looked plaintively across at
Bronson, who answered her look with
the faintest humorous nod. Then he
strolled over to her and said in her
ear: It's too easy-quite too easy,
Miss Mischief l simply had to give
that good soul a hint of warming.
Traitor Estelle retorted, pre-
tending to hiss the word high tragedy
fashion, yet ending with a dimpling
laugh. The laugh went far to redeem
her face-so far that it set more than
one beholder specializing that old Ma
jor Gilbert's stranger granddaughter
would not really be so bad looking II
she knew how to wear her clothes
and do her heavy hair. this despite
her wretched complexion, for she had
a 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 as
much in evidence dis they well could
be, incased in boots ut least three
sizes large.
With everybody else in party bibs
and fuckers, such garmenting made
her conspicuous, all the more that the
gown she wore was grass green. with
a bright pink stock and much dead
white braiding. Spangles and beads
also lurked amid the braid, so many
that there was q 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 puppet show
This made Bronson frown. You'll
give yourself away" be said severely.
"For heavens sake don't apaii sport
just whea it's getting so much better
than a play"
81 won't" said Estelle contritely:
then in a nervous aside: "When does
Adonis come in? Do hurry him along!
I shan't be easy until he comes. Srp7
pose, after all, he should De 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 retorted, Art
-, indeed. his weak suit: otherwise
would he ba In bends to Miss Adela
Eyansf''
"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 ia the lobby now.
| lying IA wait for-Adonis. They'll be
! Coming in together, the prettiest pair
| Of puppets you ever saw"
81 hope he isn't too good looking"
Estelle murmured reflectiFely.
Bronson scowled
"You'll find him disgustfHgfy so. IN
| deed, I've been half afraid all along
| that when you saw him you'd be sor-
| y''-
Indeed 1 shan't," Estelle interrupt
| ed eagerly. "How can l be sorry for
anything that sets me free fron that
| odious bondp'
| nronson did not answer. A stir about
| the door drew all eyes. Adonis. other
| wise George Gilbert. Estelles cousin,
coheir and fance, entered with Adela
| Evans clipging 9stentatiously TO his
arm. She had such q habit Of elinging
there that the sports OF Grasshope had
been ready to give odds this last half
| year that she would ere this have writ
ten herself Mrs. George Gilbert but for
| Grandfather Gilberts absurd will,
This instrument decreed fatty which
ever of his two descendants refused to
/ lnany the other thereby forfeited all
claim to the big Gilbert fortune.
The boy and girl had been brought
up half continent apart. Estelle 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 indilfer
ent to Grasghope bellies and their
charms. He 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 ana might therefore
Lei && %s.h
ing.
What George thought about 1t no
body knew. He smiled down at Adela
as they crossed to Estelie. When he
got o good hook at her his smile be-
came for a breath's space quizzical,
but 1t 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 pias
ture."
Somebody's been telling" Estele
said sclemnly, although her eyes dane
ed. They had never rested upon finer
fellow than George. He had all the
Gilbert look she so worshlped In her
fathers portrait. pegertly she glanced
from him 10 Bronson, Bronson was big
and honest looking and had withal an
air of breeding, but still was not to be
named beside her unwelcome betroth-
ed No doubt he had more hyains, al
though as time sassea she WAS forced
to admit George carried things off
very well indeed. And after supper,
when the dancing began, Bronson, the
luckless, went into complete eclipse.
He hated dancing, as well he might.
seeing t,%t he danced So badly. George
Gilbert, contrariwise, might have been
wing footed, so lightly did he move in
such perfect time and tune. Music, in
deed, was in the Gilbert blood Estelle
danced, if anything, better, When they
waltzed tegeihep other couples stopped
so see. Indeed they kept on and on
and on until they had the whole crowd
staring as alone they whirled and
wheeled over the waxed floor Of tha
hall,
AStan, Estellet Bronson implored in
loud whisper as the couple whirled
past him George smiled broadly. Es-
telle, dismayed. put n hand up to her
face. AS she took it away two pimples
and half q dozen freckles came with it.
George saw them and quickly guided