The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-11
PRETTY.
By Nancy Hazlitt.

By Nancy Hazftts
 Alfaretta ran about the garden sing ing shrilly:
 Dear! Dearl What can the matter be? Dear! Dearl What can the matter be! Deari Deari What can the m-a-t-t-e-r
 be?
 Johnny so long at the Fair.
 He promised to bring me bunch or
 of blue ribbon { He promised to bring me bunch of
 of blue ribbon
 He nE2mised to bring me bunch or
 Of blue ribbon
 TO tie up my bonnie brown hair"
 Pretty, I really wouldn't call him out of his name--you know IL isn't Johnny" Cousin Langly said pro- vokingly, from the ieafy depths of < the grape arbor. Besides, yours hair isn't abrown--not in the least. Instead it's pure carrot calor. Also mighty pretty. If I were painter person might call it something else, but being what I am. a stickler for truth"
 Would you know the truth If you met it in the read?" Alfaretta flung at him. T don't believe so," she went on disdainfully, shaking her glowing waves at him.
 she was bare-headed and the sun struck out high lights from the Titan mass above her white forehead, then fell down to waken green gleams in her long-lashed eyes Slim as became seventeen, tallish, light on little arched feet, with a long neck upbearing her face, she was. distractedly pretty, ana sick of fashion--more specifically, langley Madden's eyes.
 Langley was only a third cousin, Aut assumed that tie of blood entitled Rim to take an attitude so critical it was more than brotherly in its candor.
 He had come to Alderbrook farm for six blessed, idle weeks, after the stress 4x& lex~x Gn~a tFf Slx sAE a big legal victory. He had not been there in three years, although the place belonged to him--its present occu- pants, the Lanes, lived in it to oblige him. Therefore he had but a faint memory of Alfaretta, as a solemn. young person, who had sdisdained to be friends with him, choosing rather to make companions of the dogs. the kittens and her pony, Snap.
 He recalled that she had barely toI- of being bigger, came sometimes to play with her Susette had been famous comrade--he had kissed her often. called her his little sweetheart and actually gone the length of send ing down to her from the city after he was back there birthday ring, Notwithstanding, he had found her married and happy, with a baby as round, rosy and dimpled as he remem- made big changes every way-still he ' was not quite prepared for the change they had wrought in Pretty.
 The name was of his own coinage in all other mouths the girl was Alfa. He had been quite taken aback to find | that she did not resent his version of | the baptismal mouthfuL Indeed, she l had said, with a little lowering smile: | -The one comfort of my name is-no | matter what people call me they can't | possibly make it worse than 1t is."
 The saying had in a way startled him ehe had not thought to find philoso- ! phy at seventeen in the rural regions. | But as time went on he discovered l that the philosophy was the least of | Eretty's surprises-young as she was, uniformed, and inexperienced, she had | way with her, also a boise wonderful | 10 see He did not wonder that she | had taken captive his artist friend l Wernon--it was Vernon's habit to fall , MtTufly in love with every girl who was | in the least out Of the common. Fret | ty had not a single usual fibre in her | e-in proof take the fact that Vernon's | adoration had not in the slightest de- | gree turned her head.
 What have we to say to the paint 1 or person. Fretty?' Cousin Langley | asked. coming out and laying hold of | her hands. Are we going to tell him | to go about his business? Or are we | going to say 'Yes-and thanky, sir,' | when he asks-"
 He won't ask" Pretty said, not | trying to take away her hands. You see. I told him at the very first, I re- garded it as my duty to marry you