Mower County transcript., 1905-12-06
CHAPTER XXXVII.

CHAPTER XXXVII.
IN HE mountains around Sand.
II gate were afiame with the
|s[S%SI scarlet and gold of autumn
eAGY before life seemed quite as
usual to Alice Page. The summer idyl
had passed, and though it left y scar
on her heart she had reso)utely de-
1ermlned to put the sweet 11us1on OUT
of her mind. III was very foolish TO
let him see thatSI cared" she thought,
"for it can never be, and by and by
he will forget me- or if he does think
of me tt will be to recall me as one Of
his summer girls who had fit of sill
liness."
| Her heart ached at times, and lin
once in awhile stray to the chords OF
''Ben Bolt" She answered his letters
| in cool, matter of fact way. Occa-
sionally, when he referred to his heart
hunger and how hard he was studying
| in hopes that she might think better
of him, she wished that he had no
purse proud and naughty mother to
stand between him and poor girl and
her next letter would be more chilly
than ever. What perhaps was a bitter
sweet thought was the fact that the
| colder she answered him the warmer
his next letter would be. He happened
to mention, once that his mother had
spoken of certain young lady, who
belonged to the cream of Boston So
ciety, as an eligible/1natch and advised
him to show her little attention. 1t
did not help his cause.
How grateful SHE was all through
those melancholy autumn days that she
had a large school to absorb her
thoughts. She was having a long and
hard fight with her own feelings, and
lima gined she had conquered them
when Thanksgiving time drew near
and her brother announced he would
run up and, spend the day with her.
She almost cried for joy at the news,
for proud spirited Alice Page was feel
ing. very heart hungry when the letter
came. Albert was just little surpris-
ed at her vehement welcome.
'Oh, I have been so lonesome, Ber-
1 tie," she said when they were alone,
land the evenings drag by so slowly!
Then you do not write me as often or
such nice letters as formerly, and Aunt
Susan never seems to notice that I am
blue. If it were not for my school I
should, go crazy think"
y am very busy these days, Sis
Albert replied, "and my mind is all
taken up with work. Mr.. Nason's
business is increasing, and have many
clients besides him." Then he added,
'How did you like Blanch Nason:''
| ''Oh, she was very nice,' replied
Alice coolly, "and if she were poor
girl and lived here I could easily learn
to love her. AS it is, it is useless for
me to think of her as friend. 1t was
good of her to pay me visit, though,
and enjoyed every minute of it,
"And what about Frank? Did he
not say lot of sweet things to you?'
Alice colored.
"Oh, he is nice enough" she answer
| ed, "and tried to make me believe he
had fallen in love with me, but it won't
do any good. I am sure his managing
mamma will marry him to some thin
girl with fat purse
$50 that is the way the wind blows.
my sweet sister, is it? And yet my
possible future law partner has been
humming Ben Bolt nearly every day
for the past two months! You must
have smiled on him very sweetly when
he was here"
"Please do not say any more about
him, Bert" she answered with little
pain in her voice. s'He is all right, but
am too poor and too proud to satisfy
his mother. SO t,:::t i, Ill there is TO- It,
Then she added in self protevtic:2;
'Tell me about the island girl l heard
you fell in, love with on the yachting
trip and for whom you deserted the
crowd Albert looked confused. 1T
| is true, %Bertie," she said quickly. 2ssI
can see it in your face. That explains
your short letters. I shall feel more
desolate now than ever"
"Alice, my sweet little sister, he re
}plied, resolutely drawing his. chair near
and taking her hand, 1T is true, and
intended to tell you all about it, only
I hated to do it at first and SO put it
off. She. is more than pretty, she is
beautiful, and the most unaffected and.
tender hearted girl / ever met. 4 But
you need not worry. She is 80 devoted
tosthe two. old people who have brought
| her mp as their own that sshe viii not
leave Them Tor mo "a long as they
live = Ss
Then he frank,z e Z 4tola q 6 IS.