Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-08-28
Appearances to
The Contrary.
Copyrighted, 1907, by L. G. PARCELS.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


est chair, undid her collar. This was
preparatory 10 the rite. SCARED in Mill
town, OF dressing for the afternoon.
Susan, who, Notwithstanding the fact
that she had just returned from an art
school and did not deny being artistic,
refused TO be called Suzanne, was do
Ing something TO her face, With the aid
Of a hand glass and many unbecom-
Ing grimaces
"What are you going to wear this
hfternoon?" inquired Mrs. Holton in
an deliberately careless voice.
"Nothing-that is. I'm going to wash
my hair, since there is not a place in
this metropolis where l can have 1t
washed for me-"
but, Susie, not in the afternoon!
There will surely be callers"
Just say I'm not at home and don't
bother" said Susan, drawing out her
hairpins and letting her red hair down
over her yellow and brown and tan
kimono.
'You forget that you are not in New
York" said her sister sharply. do
try to forget that you have been to art
school and be decent to people. Not
at home won't go here. Every one in
this village knows that you are at
home. for you couldn't possibly get
away without some one seeing you go.
And. anyway, | asked that Mr.. Bates
over to call on you"
"Kind of you! What Mr.. Bates|
asked Susan. dropping her comb and
STOPPING to pick IT up.
Mrs. Bartons nephew. He's from
the east somewhere, and he has the
incest manners. / thought maybe you
would like 10 have some one cora who
is a little more like the men you are
used to- she added.
II would" said Susan emphatically.
"And 1t was nice of you TO think OF II.
Perhaps he'll come late in the after
noon and my hair will be all dry.
I'll hurry And she ran down the
hall and slammed the bathroom door
after her.
''There's something familiar about
the name" she said TO her face In the
glass while the water was running.
"And-and I don't particularly want to
see any more of the Bates clan-but If
Bessie should find that out she'd never
let me forget 1t. SO I'll see her Mr..
Bates and try TO get interested in this
place"
She played croquet with her little
niece while her hair dried. and the
II - he hrOIfohf
into full view of the street She got
down on her knees and bumped the
gaudy ball with care and precision
against the little post, and while she
knelt young man walked up the
straight walk to the front door.
And so ii happened that three min
utes later as she entered the sitting
room, with her glowing, wind blown
hair and flushed face, she was just In
time to hear her sisters company
voice" say:
Come right out into the sitting
room, Mr. Bates. It's so much cooler
there"
She gained the stair closet just in
time and softly pulled the door shut
after her. And then, safely hidden, she
called herself a goose.
"Why didn't you 90 back out into the
yard and reach your room by the lad
der? No one but Bessie would live in
a house that has no back stairs"
She hoped the caller would not stay
long, but she knew there was no tell
ing what false hopes her sister would
hold out to the young man to keep him
until Susan should appear. She did
not know that Susan was In the closet,
and If she had known 1t she would not
have known how to get her out Of 1t.
but II she had one grain of sense,
which unfortunately she has not, or
she'd not be trying to make a match
for me. she'd know that /, presumably
in the back yard. could not get to my
room In any way save through the
place where they are sitting"
The closet was small. alrless, dusty
and full of odds and ends Susan hard
ly dared move for fear OF knocking
something down.
"Not that / care for being discov
cred" she reasoned. "for that would
serve them both right, but | do not
care to bring Jim's golf sticks or In
dian clubs down on my defenseless
head. I'm not much Of a club woman
She searched cautiously for keyhole
and found none
"of course not" she mutteed dis
gustedly. II am denied even the small
comfort of watching the dismay on
Bessie's face as ! fail to appear. SO
] must think upon my sins and be
patient / presume"
She sank back on her heels and
mopped her hot face with one corner
Of her kimono. Il hope It doesn't
fade" she thought.
Presently she rested her forehead on
her knees and forgot time ana place
and heat and discomfort Her
thoughts were busy.
Il suppose he and Maude Formnn
are married by this time ! wish
knew how shat happened. lie always
Eaid he did not care for her baby kind
OF prettiness. II must have been her
talent. No one can deny that she had
the rest Of us beaten all hollow.
That little characterless, baby faced
thing could paint better than Dan him
self"
"Maude knows how ! feel about IT,
and SO does be- That's what hurts
the worst I could not help showing
It that last day. Aud She there was
such triumph In her silly little face
when she came out ~ the studio. and
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