The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1905-04-21
An Awkward
Mistake
BY HELEN F. GRAVES
= re- tts-t..t ss4IE 49, T. 81 = $ =
NEVER thought to die and
leave her penniIess. never


And here sharp, sudden spasm
seemed to take away the voice of the
dying man; he gasped for breath, and
his wandering fingers seemed to grope
blindly in the dark, while little Juliet
burst out into sobs as she clung wild
ly round his neck. M j
Mr. and Mrs. Montague sAylesford
looked blankly at one; another. Mr..
Aylesford was much agitated. Mrs.
Aylesford turned pale with amazement.
1T can't be" hesitated Mrs. Ayles-
ford, in low tone, with an inquiring
elevation Of her eyebrows
..It must be- nodded her husband.
And Juliet Dallas. throwing herself
wildly upon the corpse that moment
ago had been her living, loving father,
cl..S! out: If =.#
Dead, Dead. Oh, bring him back
to life, some one. Don't let them take
him away from mel" - -.- as
And then the poor child tainted.
MY dear" said Mr. Montague Ayles-
ford to his wife, I'm afraid this is bad
business #s
= My dear" said Mrs. Montague Ayles-
ford to her husband, I'VE have been
under a mistake all along" j
And tney rang the bell for the hotel
chambermaid to come and look after
the forlorn young orphan. For Mrs.
Aylesford, who had dearest" I and
darling" and sweetest oned' poor
Juliet for the last three days, under
the impression that she was an em-
bryo heiress, had suddenly grown cold
since Digby Dallas dying speech had
produced so different a conviction in
her mind. >
DO you think that we are under any
special obligation 10 take charge OF
herr" Mrs Aylesford aske4, on the day
of the funeral, when poor Juliet sat in
her deep mourning weeds alone in the
room in which her father had died.
/, Mr.. Aylesford looked dubious. He
had just been examining the papers
of the deceased. ~. -rE@t ..ltr
"I am convinced, my dear" he said,
chat we have been kept Systematically
In the dark as to my Cousin Digby' S
affairs. He allowed us-wickedly al
him a man of wealth, and here he has
actually had the-the presumption, my
dear, to go and die and leave great
girl on our hands! A girl to be fed,
and clothed, and educated, and-and
all sorts of things, Mrs. Aylesford!" =.
But in this account of the existing
state of affairs Mr.. Montague Ayles-
Iyy Tod Qnf a
he had hurried from a distant part OF
the country to his relatives dying
bedside without any summons. There
he had volunteered of his own accord
to take the pretty young orphan in
charge, and there he had fawned on
Capt Dallas after the most obsequious
manner. firmly believing in his wealth.
And now, after all, to be disappointed
it was bitter cup to quaff! -,
Its the most unheard of thing that
ever transpired within my knowledge" !"
said Mrs. Aylesford.. 4fBut, of course,
we can't be held responsible, and it's
my duty to tell the girl SO at once, and
prevent any misunderstanding on the
subject"
She rang the bell and ordered the
servant to tell Miss Dallas to attend
her in the blue, parlor. i.,.f.s -.
Juliet came-a fair, shrinking young
creature, with soft, blue eyes, a rose
fair complexion, and features cast aft
er the pure Grecian type. straight,
clean cut and aristocratic. Her dress
of deep black was plain, yet became
her like the robes of princess, and a
Jet cross suspended round her alabas-
ter throat upon a black velvet ribbon
was all the ornament she wore I'm.
eJuliet," said Mrs. Montague Ayles-
ford, sourly. 49,
The orphan glanced timidly up. She
could not comprehend why Mrs: Ayles-
lords tone had SO radically changed
toward her during the last "a kours!s = :
Il Yves, Mrs.. Aylesferd. "t5''&2f''6
I..'Mr. Aylesrord and have 4Iaen' talk
ing your sad case over, It In nothing
extraordinary--i fact, it occurs every
!, day. and you may as well tollo4 the
example Of others In a like predicaInent
and decide at once what you wilt do.
!. Juliet looked little surprised bnh
81 thought she hesitated, that i
was to live with YOU
5e Mrs. AyIesford compressed her TIPS.
!. t.;y4 ssi.HY ::i1 i; s!iS Fas rs
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