The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-12
,1e won1d hothar her greatly. Mrs

pie would bother her greatly. Mrs' Rushwell reflected.
 well, there Is Susie Hoyt, and Bill ly Morris. and Jim Blackwell and-ana -oh. yes, you remember Townsend Lassiter. He is just returned from Chilli, where believe he was the most popular minister ever sent there sfrom Washington. And Belen di Herrera arr riyes. too. She Is a sort Of ward of his, I believe. He knew her parents inti- mately and when they both died he ra- ther took charge of the girl and mas just brought her up to ner mothers people. She was an American. Tne girl is awfully young. only seventeen' but they develop early In those coun- tries. So when I asked him, l invited har. too. He brought ner to see me just before I left to n and in spite os his being so much older, believe he is going to srnarry her. Its quite romantic story. isn't it
 very" murmured Margaret. She had grown a triae1 .paler, but that might have been attributable to the heat-the breeze was going down with the sun. Her manner was quite unruh- fled.
 q remember MT. Lassiter very well" she said quietly: Tt will be pleasant to meet him again
 But as she dressed for dinner that evening Margaret found herself using even more than her usual dainty care When she had finished. the girl lifted the hand glass and surveyed herself carefully. A little sigh futtered be- tween her parted lips. She was still slim and straight and tall, but the thoughtful mouth had tired curve, the soft hair showed patch of sil- yer.
 And he Is engaged to a rich girl of %h raAaNfad rathaF WlSt1ullX. "Will he think me very changed, wonder?" Then with a sudden change of mood she blew out the candle and smiled. He has probably forgotten the whole episode ages since" she de- cided Don't be a goose, Margaret: Evoking ghosts Is a foolish pastime.
 But despite her philosophy, Marga-- ret was conscious of quick throb or | interest as Townsend Lassiter came forward to greet her. He, at least, had not changed. Or If he had it was but to improve, conceded Margaret. The straight thick hair on his tenn ples was touched with gray; the pleas ant frank eyes had serious look in them. But the old flashing smile was there. Margaret experienced a sud den sense of relief. There was no hint of awkwardness in his manner. The note of cordial greeting to an old friend was exactly right; then he turn ed.
 q want you to meet Miss di 5Ier- rera." he said.
 During dinner Margaret looked at the little South American. She seem ed a mere child with her great. dark. velvety eyes and sensitive quivering mouth. And Townsend Lassiter cared for her. He treated her with a grave, careful tenderness that considered her l every want. Yet all at once MarEa- ret was conscious of a sudden, swell | ing sympathy for the shy, half-fright- ened little thing. She seemed so young, so helpless. As they all rose to leave the dining room. Margaret spoke to her in kindly. halting Span ish. The small face lighted up. the soft olive cheeks flushed duskily as the girl stammered some grateful re- | ply Margaret was almost startled at 1 the loveliness of the child, and young | Morris, close behind, caught his breath.
 The house party had been invited for two weeks. But hardly three days had passed before Mrs. Rushwel be- gan to dimly surmise something wrong To all appearances her guests were we'll chosen and congenial But some subtle sixth sense made her aware of a strain, tension, carefully hidden but acutely present. She fell te watching, but conclusions bafled her The littles South American Birl, Hel eyes wider and darker than ever, cluns to Margaret with an almost passion ate devotion. The Morris boy moped Margaret. in a mood dficult of an alysis. enveloped herself in a way ward brilliancy impossible to penetrate Once or twice her hostess caught Las
 sitter studying with curious eyes hi little fancee. What was the mattel ], with them all, wondered Mrs Rush
 well. Was Lassiter jealous? Ther'
 could be nothing serious in the Morri
 boys attentions.
 It was the last night of their stay. Al
 day heavy clouds had been piling up il
 the west, threatening masses Of violet
 The sun had sunk below the horizol
 in a sullen blaze of dull red. Tn
 stiffness and the heat were intense
 Margaret, restless and wearied, ha'
 slipped outside, seeking as refuge,
 breath among the stately pines. AboV
 her head they murmured in endles
 cadence; musical and mysterious. Bu
 to her troubled mind the tranquility the woods brought no peace. As ye the pain was too fresh for nature
 assuagement And twisted throug the tangIe of her own persisten : | thoughts ran teasing little auestio of Belens. Before dinner the girl ha l come to her room. The camellia lik face was pale, the dusky eyes had a odd look of suffering. She had picl