Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-10-06

in a matter where Pills interests were
30 manifestly at STAKE; aud felt in
clined TO agree with her when she an
griiy declared that the old fool was il
his dotage and not fit to manage any
clients business. But we were all very
fond OF the dear old man. nevertheless
he had managed all cur little difficulties
and family trouble with unvarying tao
and ability for upward of quarter of G
century, and his clever wife uas ou
right hand in all our charitable under.
takings
Two days after the regimentai dane,
we had "A visit from Colonel Roper. Coote
whom. alas. | did not recognize in the
leastl He WAS stout and bald. but, on
the other hand. had lost the impulsiv.
gducherie OF his youth. and seemed a yer.
pleas M easy-going odd mean middle
aged gentleman.
When the Colonel rose 10 take his leav.
IL was almost dusk. an il somehow hap
pened-bv pure accident If course--tha
Dntty. ~ no had left the drawing-roon
half an hour before. was watering som
flo ers In the hall as he passed out.
" as coming down the stairs to bid hin
"Good-bye" too, when a soft hand presse<
my arm restralnIngiy. aud, turning.
saw Pulls wife 10y my side.
Wait. she whispered. with dimp
ling smile. Don't spoil sport, Mis-
Netty."
"Oh, nonsense, retorted; I'VE hav.
passed all that sort oil r;.ng, Emmyl
Il,.f 4 A. slx.
ton nevertheless
"Hem-have you indeed ?"
leaned over the balusters. Freddy
poor old, bald headed Freddy-was petit
tioning Dotty-our prirn, practical, do
termined Dotty, whose tongue was tin
terror of Sunday school-for the gift of,
flower, and Dotty, with the airs anf
girlish graces of eighteen, was enhan
cling by feigned reluctance the value O
her consent
"Go-goi Oh, what nonsense, VOC
silly man! As il you couldn't find YOU
way to the gate! Why, you know YOU
way as well as l do! The dark How
very absurd you are. There are IN
strange dogs, tell you'll
Ny shoulders were beaving with the ef
fort to restrain my laughter-poor Dot
tone of coy coquetry was too amusing
l think | should have decidedly betrayed
myself, but for Emmy's whispered ex
hortation:
"For shame, for shame. you ugl,
spiteful thing! I'll never speak to 20,
again if you spoil the scenet'
Then. when Dot. unable to resist he;
admirers opportunities. had consented
to guide him across the dangers of OH
lawn. she turned to ne with softenes
voice, all the merriment gone out Of La
pretty blue eyes.
"They were lovers once. weren't they.
aunt Netty? p
Twenty five years ago-before you
belonged to the world. my DEAR an
s"er. turning away after gently pressing
the young sympathetic fingers.
Ard this was the girl we none of us
could love! This WAS the girl Trot be-
lieved WAS an incarnation of-of-
Nv reflections were brought 70 a rather
sudden close. had moved few steps
up the stairs towards my own room.
tien. remembering that had left my
work in the drawing room, re de-
scended and very softly pus..ed open the
door.
Pills wife and mother were the only
occupants of the room The latter WAS
staining at the window, perrng
though the darNnesS, evidently watch
ing in moody anger her sister aud Q
,.i.t Il.
with every trace OF sentiment and SYM
pathy baEshed from her face and voice,
was MIN csins poor Dot To the life, re-
hearsing the little see. e we had watched
together with "a faithfulness OF tone,
GESTURE, language th"t was marvellous
and most ridiculous To listen tni
-Oh. nonsense, you silly mani How
absurd you arel The~e are no strange
logs tell you'll Wei, only as far as the
arch plantations not step farther.
lust look at the slight shoes I've onl Do
you want me to catch my death of cold,
ir?"
If had closed my panied eyes, l must
rave believed it was my sister still
peaking.
Il don't like her-I don't like herr
lever will like heri"
Don't like herr Whomf Pills
wife 2" echoed Dot, meeting me in the
TALL and making me aware had spoken
ny thoughts aloud. "Why. l thought
hat was a settled point months-wseks
40. Neti"
Continued next week