The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-07-26
An Earnest
Trifler. *
By Constance Darcy Mackay.
CopyrIghted, l9O7, by P. c. Eastmen


The pink slklrted candles on Mrs.
Courtney's dinner table cast a glow
across the pale oval of Miss Grayson's
face. From under her dark, delcately
arched brows her hazel eyes looked
out on the world with starry serious
ness.
THE last time we met" he went on,
was at the Van Nestors tennis tour
lament on the 18th of September"
Miss Grayson laughed.
What a memory for dates! l sup
pose you also recall each bit of our
| conversation"
Every word. Do you remember
calling me trifler?"
"Did l? Well, recollect your telling
me that was an erratic, headstrong
young woman. That was two months
ago, and | don't think either of us
| have changed much since"
II accept the rebuke," said Ridgely
| meekly.
Isn't it pity to waste such good
| material? Instead of leader of CO.
tillons you might be leader of men,"
"And isn't it a pity to hide yourself
from your friends and stay in that set
Element, toXing and slavlngY
'And enjoying it more than anything
I've ever done before" supplemented
Miss Grayson warmly.
That's all very well, but how am I
ever to catch glimpse of you? l was
just beginning to know you last sum-
mer, and now your time Is taken up
morning. noon and night, and you
haven't a momen. to give me. And
you'll end" he predicted savageIy, "by
falling in love with one of the workers
down there-unless you're already in
terested in some one else"
"Such frankness merits frankness in
return. l am deeply interested in some
one But your first surmise was
wrong. The hero in this case is quite
unknown. I've never even seen him."
Never mind" growled Ridgely,
hell avow himself soon enough when
he's found you've begun to care"
"Well, then, he'll have to change his
present tactics" answered Miss Gray
son lightly. "Do you know, it's the
most mysterious thing! Each week
through the mail I've been receiving
an envelope filed with paper money.
Enclosed is printed note which says,
For the needy and it's signed e. t."
STRANGE" murmured Ridgely.
Eyes, and there's more
''More?"
81 mean each day there's bunch Of
violets, too, and the same initial on the
card"
1.-THE deucew said Ridgely. "Well,
and what then?"
Then? oh, there's nothing more.
The flowers continue to come, and the
money continues to come, and though
| have spo clew as to who e. II. is, l
continue to accept both"
"How do you know he's a man?'
What woman would be $3.50 sys-
tematic?"
''True. And do you wear the flowers
ne sends?"
Sometimes"
Lucky dog! He's to be enviedv'
That's so like you, Mr.. Ridgely, to
think Of the flowers first and forget all
about the money that has made it pos
sible for me to carry out one Of my
pet schemes. This week Miss Elllston
and l have rented and renovated a
house-number II Pearl street, and
we're going to live there and run it
to suit ourselves"
"Alone?"
"Why, of coursew
"Well, to say it's madness Is made
quatei In that quarter Of the city
regular slums! If you had parents
II shouldn't be doing It? Probably
not. As it is. my friends have expostu-
lated in vain, for am quite capable
Of taking care of myself. And I see no
reason why I shouldn't make expert
ments and do as 1 please. Besides,
Miss Elliston and 1 aren't altogether
alone. We have a very competent
German servant, Gretchen. And I'm
sure the man who sends the money
would be delighted to see to what use
we've put 1t. We have only been In
the house week and have an inmate
piteOus case, little
italian girl whose stepfather, Grinaldo.
tOhNSu hSi W WI IN III a. Ni6oi hoStOiyt
though she was so iii she could scarce
ly stand. Grinaldo used to beat her IL
ner earnings didn't please him. If you
could have seen her poor arms-~so
wasted and pinched black and blue! or
course it was case for the societies.
but didn't wait for them to interfere.
took her in myself. l wanted to see
those olive cheeks Of hers grow round
ed out and rosy, and those scrawny |
brown hands-do you know, she looks |
rs IL she'd gained pounds already! Her |
eyes are beginning to lose their bag |
gard look, and she doesn't duck her
head as if she expected blow"
"And her stepfatherT
"Grinaldo? Oh, he's disappeared! |
We won't have any more trouble with |
him. fancy. There! I've bored you |
with talking about myself, but it's go |
ing to end, for l am taking the prlvi |
ege Of excusing myself and leaving |
early. Mrs. Courtney is lenient |
lostessw
you'll let me put you into your
,abY' said Ridgely.
II would If expected to take one,
but I'm going back to Pearl street via
Ia