Bridgeton pioneer., 1907-02-28
artist, whose eyes followed the Martha
of his favorite painting.

| Alden doesn't favor our room as
OFTEN as he does the antique" began
Ze, with affected nonchalance. az won.
der why" She gave Amy's hand lit
Tie squeeze. 81 also wonder why he
came today. Ahemw
"Ze, please don't tease; nv head
aches So" Amy's voice ended in a
choke.
re opened her eyes widely at the
note OF pain in the others tone. She
pursed her lips to whistle and then
thought better of it as a girl emerged
from the door of the life class and
sWooped down ON Amy, exclaiming:
| 'Oh, such hair! What shame to
keep 1t done UP properly. You ought
10 leave 1t out like this all the time"
She turned Amy's face up and kissed
1t 1mpulsively. You're a dear. any
way" The little country girl had won
a warm place in the hearts of the art
sstudents. "By the way, that invita-
ton has arrived by this time, Of
course?"
"Oh, no" Amy tried to speak nat
urally Il am not invited, Miss Hall.
Just because I'm Daughter of the
| Reyolutlon doesn't make it necessary
Tor Mr.. Alden to include me-"
But l supposed that you Miss
Hail stopped abruptly, but her express
sion said more. She gave Amy curl
Gus backward glance as she passed on.
| "Ze, I'm going home and sleep off
my headache" exclaimed Amy hurried
ly, dropping Ze's arm She spoke cheer
fully. but with averted gaze. "Good-
BY"
| "Goodby," responded Ze, looking aft
er her. To herself she said energetical-
ly, IF John Alden has been flirting
with that child, shall"-- She stopped,
not being able on the spur of the mo-
ment to think of punishment severe
enough. "But if eyes tell true tales
his do whenever he looks at her. Still
that matter is queer"
She referred to the informal dinner
which Alden was giving to a few
Daughters and Sons of the Revolu-
ton on the evening of Feb. % and to
which Amy had received no invitation.
ut has certainly been delayed. She
will receive it tonight" thought Ze.
But the evenings mail brought no
invitation, and the unconsciously pa
thetic look in Amy's eyes went
straight to Ze's heart. After dinner
she repaired to Amy's room and set
tied herself comfortably on the bed.
| Nov, my DEAR" she began, "being
three inches taller, twenty-five pounds
heavier and four years older than you,
l intend to talk this matter over with
you whether you want me to or not. l
cannot believe that John Alden has
Sighted you"
| Amy smiled family and laid Ruskin
aside. ''But, Ze, the fact remains that
I am not invited"
81 tell you," obstinately, "that I be-
| lieye you are. You are not only a
Daughter of the Revolution, but you
are the dearest girl l know, and John
| Alden-no, won't be shut off-Alden
thinks so, too, if, I'm big enough and
old enough and know enough to judge
| thoughts, and l surely can judge a few
of his" Ze spoke with vigor and con-
viction.
| Later, after she had tucked Amy into
bed as tenderly as she would a child,
she brushed her hair rapidly to an. ac-
compartment of half indignant, half
amused thoughts: Believes she has
been unwomanly and forward with
him! The shy little thing! She
couldn't do a forward thing If she
tried. No, l believe the invitation has
| gone astray, and l do hope she gives
| him a chance to see her around the in
stitute'
This hope was destroyed the very
next day at the door Of the antique
room, where Ze and Amy encountered
Alden. He removed his hat, with
| bow in Ze's direction, but with his
eyes on Amy's face, from which all
warmth had fed.
Il have been looking at your work
on Cicero's head, Miss Low" he began.
| "Will you allow me to add a few
lines?"
! Ze had not believed Amy's manner
| could be so formal and cold. ''Thank
you, but have just thrown that
sketch aside. am beginning another"
| The muscles about Alden's mouth
tightened. With quick movement he
| swung on his heel, bowed and walked
away without word.
| "Oh, you little wretch breathed Ze,
seizing Amy's shoulders in an impa
tient shake, but glance at the girls
face caused her hands to drop. eff
ever I'm in love-" she confided to her
| easel moment later, may the saints
| preserve me from 1diocy. Here Alden
has left in white heat, and I wager
we don't see him again in a good
whilev'
She was right.
The days passed, and the mail
brought no invitation or explanation,
but still Ze, steadily proclaimed, 81
believe it's sent and has been lost"
"You know Mr.. Alden will receive as
George Washington at the dinner, and
in his invitations he has assigned to
each of us the character he wishes us
to represent" volunteered Miss Hall
the 21st Of February as she showed
Amy photograph of Aldens Martha
Washington picture which she had just
secured. "You ought to have been in