The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-12-31

when the#door of the cottage again opened, and 8Osras
her laughter. Her hairy plated IN " 5longI plaits;
she wore i white bodiceS and over 1t q Jacket of black
velvet, and a red skirt hung full from her waist to but II
for 1T was holiday,Sand the bestEo OF all were worm
loved ali except sua sthos shoes, y va She declared that she
loathed all. except the shoes. And Christian, with eyes
sye sthei sad sneeessity, yet' assured 'her that Lotta would
die of envy that very day. &#Y #s@#
tho sooner will IT be done. and y can#get rid Of these
ridiculous clothes. Heaven have mercy on me- and grant
thatI may meet no one who knows me!'
They were mounting the hill now. the old woman.
standing at the cottage door and watching. When they
reached the top. osra saw a smallsyillage nesting IN the
valley below and the sound OF music caught her ear. AT
this "a sudden fear seized her, and, putting out her hand,
oacaught Christian by the sleeve, SAYING whitney VII
know me? 8N#
Not they, madam, said he: But, as he spoke, his
sSsys ds' With ,sh s ahs s'p noy sa's arms N. ps Hset t rssss' SAID & fs hs, .e 'if
YOU conceal that ring;' and for q moment he looked In
her face and he smiled.
from her flnger. and save " to3 him. aying; 81 Keep" gs q Y
s wd,;d and nd 4,a not Ne for Fs1sn e. s iyr ~ I, ne S.s axal9 ran but naw si te
suspect that he knew who she was.
pog Tset ts s94ns st ,ssl rea fb Bsa aes,. saGm 8 se eSs y sassss-s snat
coming near they saw a. long table spread In tho shade
seated asaS tn st i hous The an np, ne aaGm Waa sog ~ ! msa c aaa Wens to
find that the sgirls' dresses were. In all respects like her
G fherst9 5neus SHE n teot ss aousass n'x sna a pat ' hsr a saao issids
Christians arm. saying; Since y have accepted the part
VII, play H. Come: sir Jet US GO and challenge Lotta,
We Is In no danger said Christian. s'and I am worth
IN Thousand crowns, And his eyes most plainly added the
reason whicn&l led him to these comfortable conclusions.
Now, Mt this moment Ohio. having toastedFthe COM
pany and accepted their good wishes, was standing up
before them al. Lolita standing by him her hand in his
and he vowed las was but right all manners OF love and
devotion to her.EandE declared that shes was theYprettiest
girl In the world. And In truth, she was very pretty
being, although low of statue. most admirably formed
having golden hair the plnkest of cheeks and large blue
eyes that followed a man about In ablnost appealing and
distractlng nanner;g so that Ohio had good reason toSbe
content, and would have come to- no harn had, 1t not been
for that old extravaganza 8ofsloyersw which VIII not allow
this world to hold more than one pretty gllrlTthe truth
bongi of course, quite otherwise, But,sleas on hy this
infatuatlon, Ohio cried; " dare any man 70 nnd 50
pretty a. girl! As for Master Christian, whose wager you
heard, why, this evening his fine horse shall feed In my
stable!a5 .tSs@
psoftly, friend Ohio softly''i came to the ears OF the
feasters. from beyond the trees Mistress LotaE is very
pretty, butt have here ~ Girl whom some think hand
solner. Well, this worthy COMPANY shall 1udgei''&9 And
Christian came from the shelter OF the trees, leading
osra blythe hnnd, and he set5her8 epposite4to L.otta, where
all could see her. And all looked and behelld 1kor with
anazement.3 tut none spoke. soathey rested for along
while. $ Christian smiling, and Osrn's eyes helng set on
Isotta,8while Ohio dldfnothing8 but gaze at,osra,
Presently. aSlpwSmurlnur began TO run along the table.
WHO Isl sie2 ~ asked some one; but none could answer,
"aWho ls she?' Nleds an old man to Christian; hut he
auswered; whats that to yougSsls She not fairer2''
And when other asked whence she came, he mads the
same answer But ono young fellow leaned from his
place and plueked@ Ghristian's sleeve, saying; rs she
prpmisedsto you9.Als And at this Christian frowned, ans
hearing. bIusheds~ nliehtly, Thsn Ohio. stiIl saylnglnotA-
ina, suddenly lugged out n geatA pprse9of money and
flung 1t violently into the middle OF the table with
curse; and Christan Hith6a knocking liftSof his hat
came forward, and taking IT. tossed ~ IN andsdowD In
his hand. crying 'lsS ~ fair weight neishboR Otho2'