Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-09-22

Chaptsr Nv.

morning, the hTst objects that met my
view were Irot and Pills wife walking
round the garden arm-in-arm. making a
very pretty picture in their light cotton
dresses among the blooming howers.
And, when they came in to breakfast,
they appeared to be already on terms Of
easy girlish intimacy and To have ex-
changed many condolences
Emmeline's greeting of us was again a
mixture OF timidity and effusiveness that
We found very d.r~rming, and we were
not inclined in the least to complain OF
her "gush" when she praised the old
place we all loved so well-when she de
clared that it was her ideal. tree for tree
flower for flower, of an English home
stead. and that the freshness Of ouI
morning air was a tonic strong enough
10 keep one young and blooming foi
ever.
Why. N few weeks more aunties
] shouldn't wonder If it improved my
poor, pasty, sun Drowned skin and mad,
1t almost '. clear and bright as YOU
owni"
Her complexion was perfect. amixtur,
of roses and lilies, and | told her SO
quite simply; at which she opened heI
blue eyes questioningly and, with
pleased little laugh. took peep into
mirror opposite.
is it really. aunt Nettyi ] didn',
knowi Ii must have been the sea voy.
age, then. for / as a perfect negres,
whes / left Australia How plrsse.i
Phil VIII De-he admires far women SO.
know And, oh dear aunties. ! want
you all TO take me in training from thi,
very day and try TO turn me out nice
well behaved, English girl before nv
dear boy arrives. / want YOU to tell me
at once when / say OF do things J
oughtn't, TO correct my pronunciation
which is shockingly Colonial. | know
and make me as like-like your lrot Al
possible; for YOU must know. MISS Trot'
suddenly slipping her arm round TIA,
girls waist aud looking at her with
caressing pout-"that once upon a time
oh, long, long ago. used to be quite
jealous Of you, my dear Phil had SC
many of your photos about Ills room and
used 10 talk so much OF you. And one
day-wait till you hear what little
goose | was-one day piled up my haii
on the top Of my head-ju>t as YOU wear
it--and it didn't suit me bit. you
know, for, when took Phil in his beef
tea, he pulled it all down again With his
poor bad arm. and said | must always
wear it about my face aud shoulders IN
this childish fashion. which am sure
Trot, where are you going-taking that
trayup to the mother?"-for since an at
tack OF rheumatism in the spring, Janet
always had her breakfast in bed. oh
please let me help you 1t is too heavy
for you, I'm sure Ny arms are much
stronger than yours ~
My arms are quite strong Trot an.
swered. relinquishing her burthen. Il
have carried this for the past three
months without accident. but | think
it's your turn now Emmeline resign
my place with pleasure 10 YOU :"
And sfterward you will let me show
you my poor frocks, won't you, Trot.
And tell me what | ought 90 wear? Phi
said you had such sweet taste and advised
me to be entirely guided by jou ia the
matter Il dress
Phil las entirely too good AN opini or
OF me, Emmeline, poor rrot answered
with laugh that was little shrill 81
will do my best 10 deserve his encOmi.
ums, however,"
That afternoon CHANGED TO De oui
weekly afternoon at home; and. as the
news OF Em .neine's arrival had already
spread IN the nelg bOrhood, there wAs
quite large gathering in the drawing.
room, when. at about four o'clock Janet,
who had gone out after lunch 70 see &c
the transfer of pills property entered,
in a condition Of complac mt ex haustion.
leaning on the arm of her bIushing young
saughter-in-iaw.
4 faint murmur OF appreciation went
round. and the girl acknowledged it by
deeper blush and swift dropping of her
eyes; but, after a few minutes. she
Seemed, without the slightest apparent
effort. 10 shake off the burthen of her
pretty consciousness and To become her
own chatty impulsive self again, moving
from group to group with smiling ease
and wtll-bred elfpossession. And.
when Trot. after a not game at tennis,
re-entered % preside as usual at the tea.
table, she found the place already most
efficiently filed, Emmeline having been
established IN 1t bv Janet's cruel tactless-
hess. hen. 10 make matters worse.
Emneline, seein~. | suppose, the sur
prise on the other girl, face, jumped up
at once and called out in her clear drawl-
INK voice:
On. Trot, IL have taken your place.
dear; but I'm 80 glad you have come,
for I'm making such muddle Of every.
thing-such mudGle."
Trot, dropping into an armchair near
the door, ans ,ered gaily.
As you have taken my place Emme-
line, you certainly will keep it for the
rest of the afternoon at least I'm Just
too done up TO walk across ths room.
You must refresh me here, my dear. and
1T once, please!"
Standing half concealed behind a our
tain, I watched unnoticed the meaning
chances our visitors interchsoged, heard
q few of the whispers that knew were
circulating all through the room.
How well she takes it, TO be surei
DO you really think the unconcern IL all