St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-01-11
MIND OF
MAID
BY Martha
Copyright, 1901, F1cNullocIt
By Martha WllllallS
lcClAlOch- WitIGms

lief. Bronson smiled covertly as he
answered: Don't be too sure of that
She has eyes"
"Eyes BAIL" The ejaculation was
almost a snort Estelle heard 1t, al
though there was the breadth OF the
room between her and the irate ma
iron. She looked plaintively across at
Bronson. who answered her look with
the faintest humorous nod. Then he
stroled over to her and said in her
ear: ITS too easy-quite TOO easy
Miss Mischief. l simply had to give
that good soul hint Of warning"
"Traitor" Estelle retorted, pre-
tending to hiss the word high tragedy
fashion, yet ending with a dimplng
laugh. The laugh went far to redeem
her face-sO far that it set more thah
one beholder specializing that OLD Ma
ior Gilberts 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 mad
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 as they well could
be, incased in boots at 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 a color of reason for
Estelle's whisper as she looked down
at herself.
do you know, I feel like the court
of King Solomon at the puppet show" "
This made Bronson frown. you'll
give yourself away" he said severely.
"For heavens sake don't spoil sport
lust when it's getting so much better
than play"
"I 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. 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 retorted. cart
is, indeed, his weak suit Otherwise
would he be in bonds to Miss Adela
EvansW'
"She is so pretty" Estelle said fer
vently.
Bronson growled: eyes; 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-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 refectively.
Bronson scowled.
you'll find him disgustingly so. In.
deed, I've been half afraid all along
that when you saw MIN you'd be sor'
ry"-
Indeed l shan't," Estelle interrupt
ed eagerly. "How can l be sorry TO!
anything that sets me free from thai
odious bond"
Bronson did not answer. A stir abou.
the door drew all eyes. Adonis, other
wise George Gilbert, Estelle's cousin
coheir and fance, entered with Adels
Evans clinging ostentatiously to his
arm. She had such a habit of clingins
there that the sports of Grasshope haC
been ready to give odds this last hall
year that she would ere this have writ
ten herself Mrs. George Gilbert but fo
Grandfather Gilberts absurd will
This instrument decreed fatty which
ever of his two descendants refused t
marry the other thereby forfeited al
claim to the big Gilbert fortune.
The boy and girl had been brough
up half continent apart. Estelle haC
come to Grasshope for the first tim
less than a week before. But tales O
her had been rife there the last tire
years, how willful she was, also HOY
sharp of speech and of temper AS t.
her looks there had been several opin
ions. Reed Bronson might have spokel
authoritatively, but he chose to be 81
lent. He had met Estelle two sum
mers running at the seashore, and witt
each meeting he became more indiffer
ent to Grasshope bellies and thei
charms. He had known, first of all
that Estelle was coming to visit he
mothers COUSINS, the Warrens. Mrs
Evans thought her bold for it. She di,
not need to marry George before sh
was twenty-five and might therefor
well have left it to him to do the seek
ing.
What George thought about it nc
body knew. He smiled down at Abel
as they crossed to Estelle. When h
got a good look at her his smile be
came for breath's space quizzica1
but it was kind and wholly cordial a
he took both her hands, saying, "
know you all right, young lady-if yo1
would never let me have your pic
ture."
Somebody's been telling" Estell
said solemnly, although her eyes dane
ed. They had never rested upon a fine