The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-11-22

Franks influence. and when that
young man tried to obtain her consent
to join yachting party, providing his
| mother and sister decided to go, she
was morally sure Of it. But it made
no difference, for if the supposedly
aristocratic Mrs. Mason had sent her
a written invitation she was the last
person in the world to accept it. To so
60 out of her way for the possible op-
portunity Of allowing the only son Of
q rich family to pay court to her
was not characteristic Of Alice Page.
Rather :: thousand times would she
teach school in single blessedness all
her life than be considered as putting
herself in the way Of a probable
suitor. Of her own feelings toward
Frank she was not at all sure. he
was a good looking young fellow and
no doubt stood we'll socially. At first
she had felt a little contempt for him,
due to his complaints that be had hard
work to kill time. When she received
the letter announcing his determina-
ton to study law and become a useful
man in the world she thought better
Of him When he came up in June
it became clear that he was in love
with her. So self evident were his
feelings that she at that time felt COM
PEELED to avoid giving him chance
to express them. Her heart was and
always had been entirely free from the
pangs Of love, and while his devotion
was in way quite hattering, the one
insurmountable barrier was his family.
Had he been more diplomatic he would
never have told her his mother
frowned at him when he danced twice
with ] poor girl.
Il am a poor girl" Alice thought,
when he made the admission, "but I'll
wear old clothes all my life before his
naughty mother shall read him lee
ture for dancing twice with me-"
Ever since the day Mrs. Mears had
related the village gossip to her she
had thought good many times about
the cause Of it, but to no one had she
mentioned the matter. Her only as
sociate, good natured Abby Miles, had
never dared to speak Of it, and Aunt
Susan was T-ise enough not to.
Now that Frank and his fashionable
sister were coming to Sandgate, Alice
felt a good deal worried. Firstly,
she knew her own stock Of gowns
was inadequate. While not vain Of
her looks, she yet felt his sister would
consider her countrifed in dress or
else realize the truth that she was
painfully poor. She had made the
money her brother gave her 80 as far
as possible. Her own small salary
was not more than enough to pay cur
rent expenses. When the day and train
arrived, and she had ushered her two
guests to their rooms, her worry began.
A trunk had come, and as she busted
herself to help Aunt Susan get supper
under way before she changed her dress
she was morally sure Miss Mason
would appear in gown fit for state
dinner. But when she was dressed
and went out on the porch, where her
guests were, she found Miss BIauch at
tired in white muslin, severe in its
simplicity. It was a pleasant surprise,
and at no time during their stay did
Alice consider herself poorly clad.
During the conversation that evening
Blanch gave an interesting description
Of her life in the mountains, who were
there, what gowns the ladies wore, the
hops, drives, tennis, croquet and whist
games, and when that topic was ex-
hausted Alice turned to Frank and
said, Now, tell US about your trip"
There is not much to tell" he an
swered in disappointed tone. ''The
fact is, my yachting trip was failure.
had two weeks trip all mapped out,
no end Of stores OF board, and antici-
pated lots Of fun. but it didn't materi-
alize. The second day Bert got left on
the island, and we didn't find him uH-
til the next day. In the meantime he
had found a pretty girl and acted as If
he had become snitten with her. Then
we ran to Bar Harbor, and the rest Of
the boys found some girls they knew
and decided that gander cruise had
lost its charms So I threw up my
hands and turned the Gypsy over to
Bert, and for all I know er care he is
using her to entertain his island fairy"
Alice joined with Blanch IN good
laugh at Franks description Of his trip.
When the chitchat slowed down Alice
said: 'I don't know how to entertain
you two good people in this dull place.
There are mountains and woods galore
and lots Of pretty drives. And" look
ing at Frank, II know where there IS
q nice mill pond full Of lilies and an
old moss covered mill and a miller that
looks like picture in story books.
There is also drive to the top Of the
mountain where the view is simply
grand. I have a steady going and
faithful old horse, and we VIII go Wher'
ever you like"
"Do not worry about ne, Miss Page
replied Blanch. 'If can see mountain
and woods I am perfectly happy"
When the evening was nearing its
close Frank begged Alice to sing, but
she declined.
"Do you play or sing, Miss Mason"
she asked cautiously.
"Oh, please don't be afraid Of me-
was the answer. II never touched a
piano in my life. Once in awhile I join
in the chorus, as they say, for my own
amusement and the amazement OF 9TH
ers, but that is ALL
1t wasn't all, for she played the
guitar and sang sweetly. Finally Alice
was persuaded to open the piano, and
then out upon the still night air there
foated many an old time ballad. After
that she played selections from 4 few
of the latest light operas that Frank
had sent her and then turned away.