The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-09

~ ENEvRA had returned from M " finishing school, tnis time to
 stay, and she sat down by the N open window to face the cer-
 tain problem which had been trying to confront her for some time. and now must be definitely settled. There was no more school no more anything to do. only future of eternal days with Aunt and Uncle, living as they lived. among the people. that they liked. Her eyes closed trag'cally, and tears forced themselves below the lashes.
 She could see herself as she had come to them. six years ago-plain Jennie then, a slight girl of twelve, dressed in cheap mourning, carrying all her worldly goods in two heavy trayeling bags. From the Ii le village to the great city Jennie had come alone; from the house of death to the abode of frivolity. And how the magnt- xlcence of her uncle's home mad impress ned herI With what awe had the small wfr1 slipped into a spindle chair ana Eaxed about her, while the man-ser- want went to announce the new arrival te her aunti
 The room was much ,he same today aS 1t was then--slippery floors spotted with Oriental rugs. slken, lustrous luxurious; damask-covered furniture. with wandering, golden legs and arms the walls heavy with wide g!lt-framed paintings; the ornate ceiling; the frieze of cupids. pink and plump. pursuing one another: here and there marble statue: here and there palm. And then with her aunt had heen heard coming heavily down the stairs. rust ling at every step-when she had push aside the rose-colored drApery with one thick. white, bejeweled arm, and stood there a moment. very pink and very blue and very golden-when she had come In and greeted her kindly affectionateiy. saying that Ehe was not to be an orphan any longer, but their little girl, and that her name was to be Genevla.--
 The young girl sat up hastily. They had been all that was good to her--or they had tried--and now < -ty demand ed the response they asked that she be ae a daughter to them. She was anx- tuus to be worthy of their generous af- xection at any cost and it would cost! Tears flowed again. It meant that the ending of all her girlhood iendships for the girls she had met at school belonged to families that did not know HEr. and Mrs. Pilger--would never know them. Could she ever forget having brought her dearest chum home for a few. holidays. and overh caring later the remark that the PilEers were hope lsssiy vulgar, you know, chough you wouldn't expect it. to see Genevra"
 
 would mean the spelling f her young hopes, she was beginning to realize.
 At the sound of approaching silken- shrouded f otsteps she rose qu ckly and began to take down her hair. Mrs. Pii- ger entered, big and blonde and smil- ingand Genevra kissed ner warmly.
 Dressing for dinner, dear I've got a great surprise for you tonight No. won't tell you anything about 1t. You'u see him at dinner time"
 Laughing, her aunt went away. and Geneva ciutched a. the dressing table, shivering suddenly. Now it had come. They had invited to lfnner the man who had been hanging for two years like a threatening cloud over her hor'~ zon. It must be Hopper. the young business partner of her uncle! She had never seen him, but could Le be any thing but horrible--the man who had said her aunt was the handsomest wn- man in New York; of whom her uncle spoke as a darned good fellow. an artist at concocting certain drinks, and the very devil with the women
 The preparation of her toilette for that dinner was the most sickening trial she had ever undergone; but 1t was nothing in comparison with the dinner. The guest of honor sat beside her, and murmured gallantries in her ear. He was big and sleek, with bold eyes and large laughter. affe ting mas sive jewelry set with just sufficient number of black pearls to throw the diamonds into greater contrast The girl hardly dared trust herself to look upon the figure of her aunt, opposite. s" vast and tumultuous was the expanse of bare whiteness above heI treen-blu0 gown, so myriad the colored gems that glowed amidst the diamonds on her shoulders, neck and hair. Then when her uncle, who drank much wine and showed it in his eyes. slapped his wife coarsely on the shoulder, she flicking a few drops of water into h;s face in return. and thev all lau uThed, Genevra 4eIt that she should surely he consurl- cd with hot humiliation.
 The evening came to an end. with its