Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1907-12-25

she seemed perfectly at ease. Am
bleby laid this to her being so young
Ambleby thought he was properly
worried over the situation, ridiculous
as it was, but in reality he was
| pleased. Admiration is admiration, be
it from those of ones own age or from
| too youthful to know better or SC old
as to have outgrown common sense.
! And Ambleby throve on admiration.
Occasionally after an evening at the
! Howard home Ambleby would try to
convince himself that he was mis-
taken. that there was nothing unusual
in Lottie's attitude but he was unsuc-
cessful. Even blind man could not
well avoid seeing that she lay in wait
for him at the front door, sat in the
library chair, which commanded a
view of the reception room and his
corner and only pretended to read her
book.
"Jove!" said Ambieby after some
weeks of this. 81 really don't know
what to do about it! romantic child
like that suffers so from such one
sided romance. And she is going to
be prettier than Frances when she is
as old as Frances is now. never saw
such eyes-they look fellow right
through! But l wish l knew how to
stop it, for her sake!"
When Ambleby occasionally threw
Lottie a pleasant smile or kind word
he had the sensation of having done
a good deed and make the child happy
for week. Yet he felt that he should
take care not to encourage her in her
foolish notions. Altogether, he began
to be rather miserable about it.
Finally he heroically decided he
would speak to Lottie himself. He
would be very careful not to let her
realize that he knew her youthful
fondness for himself, for he did not
want to hurt her feelings. 1t was very
pleasant to think that he was an OBJ
ject of alteration at least to one person
in the world, and he had no objection
to its continuance. Still, Lottie must
be made to realize how silly was her
sentimental dream. He would speak
to her paternally, kindly but firmly.
When his opportunity came, Amble-
by found himself rather breathless He
was waiting for Frances to come
down, for they were going to the thea
ter Lottie slipped into the room and
seated herself in the farther corner
after she had greeted him. He could
feel that she was looking at him.
Poor foolish child!
'Lottie!" Ambleby said in what he
meant to be calm and fatherly tone.
Ambleby is q. Come here, my
child"
Lottie approached with interest. No
confusion flushed her face or fastened
her breathing at finding herself beside
her hero, Her large eyes gazed at him
inquiringly.
'Lottie,' said Ambleby, and
coughed, Il am glad you like me, my
dear. You are asnice little girl. How
old are you now?' He felt this treat
ing her as a fye-year-old was cruel,
but it would do the work-make her
indignant, and hence hate him.
You know how old | am Lottie
said calmly. @And never said ! liked
yoa!H
There were no tears of mortified
rage in her eyes, and Ambleby felt
frightfully i'll at ease I know, but
but he stammered, losing his head
entirely. why do you watch me SO,
then. and seem anxious to be where
am?'
Lottis continued her impersonal re-
gard. tyouf eyes are close together"
she said, and your nose is long and
we are studying facial characteristics
at sthcol, and the book said long
nose and closest eyes showed COZ
ceited and egotistlcaI character, and
wanted TO see If 1t was SOL
Just then Frances came down,
smiling and Ambleby and she went TO
the theater lie could not recall much
81 the play after 1t was over.