The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-02-23

lure VINO hau once DlOsSOheu 80 idul-
antly in the yellow glow Of life's fair
est sunshine.
rs George in?" was the first ques-
ton she asked of the servant who
opened the door to her.
mo, maam; 1 believe he has just
gone to Miss Symons'," was the an
swer.
Mrs. Alberti sat down and began to
fan herself with the hat she had just
taken off.
Il am sorry for that" she unused.
"He used to admire Carrie, and al
though Miss symons is very beautiful
and charming"
And Mrs. Albertrs meditations took
no further OF more definite shape than
this.
Little Christine was sitting on the
area steps, with a covered basket in
her lap, that same afternoon, as Mr..
Alberti approached the house. She
started up.
"Why, Chrissy," he exclaimed, what
are you doing here"
II was waiting for you" answered
Christine, slipping her hand confden-
TALLY into his.
FOR me? And why"
81 have got Zulieka here" nodded
Christine, lifting up the basket, "and /
want to take her home"
"And who is Zulieka"
Don't you know? Carrie Fairfeld's
parrot"
Carrie Fairfeld's parrot"
Mr.. Albert stared at the little girl
as if he thought she was dreaming.
''Yes-come quick before Genny sees;
she said she'd wiring its neck, and she
struck me SO hard right ON the side
of my head 1 don't want Zulieka
to have her neck wrungw
"But where are you going?" demand
ed the young man, nevertheless allow
ing himself to be dragged along by tie
impetuous little girl.
ITO Carries, of coursew
"Where does she live?"
ooh, / know-Pve often been there
with Genny. She sews for Genny,
and makes all her dresses"
But" interposed Mr.. Albert, more
and more surprised, 'it was only yes
terday that Genevieve told me she did
not know anything about Carrie Fair
field"
"Genevieve don't always tell the
TRUTH" Christine answered, with a
glance half shrewd, half timid.
Mr.. Albert smiled a little in the
midst of his bewilderment.
Christine trotted along, turning
corners, leading them to this side or
that, with sage wisdom beyond her
years, until she reached a forlorn-look-
ig brick house, with fight Of dis
colored stone steps leading up to it.
This is the house." said the little
girl.
She tapped at side door, and it was
opened by a slender, wearied young
girl, with deep violet eyes, and hair
like shadowy meshes of pale gold-Car-
oline Fairfield herself,
"Carrie!" cried Christine, eagerly
greeting her. 1--WE brought back
Zuliekaw
But Carrie had neither eyes nor ears
for aught but her old lover.
Carrier he exclaimed, lis it possible
that it has come to this?"
"Yes," said Carrie, quietly. IT am
very poor, and I work for my own
living, and have no friends left-not
even you-for Genevieve told me that
you cared no longer for me, now that I
was poor, and an orphan"
Carrie" burst out the young man,
cit is false! I never even knew that
you were in the city"'
"She has deceived me cruelty, then"
Miss Fairfield answered, with a culver
to her lips. Elbow could she-oh, how
could she be so heartless?"
And Carrie, weak, weary and worn
with toll and privation, burst into
tears.
Don't cry, Carrie-dear Carrie, don't
cry" soothed Christine, patting her
cheek softly, Here's Zulieka come
back to you again. Geneyieve shant
wiring Zuieka's pretty feathery neck,
shall she?"
mo, that she never shall" Mr.. Al
berti said, in the deep, low tone of
suppressed emotion. "Henceforth Zu-
lieka and her mistress shall both be the
objects of my care through life. Car
re, my poor, broken-spirited lily, will
you lean on me from this moment"
And Carrie was but too glad to muir
muir Eyes"
1t had been a very sudden courtship;
not so much the flame Of a new love as
the old one blazing up from the long
SmoldeTing embers.
And little Christine went home tri-
umphant, and told her mother and
Genevieve the story she had just wit
messed, taking care, however, to nestle