The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-24

She endowed him with a flower: and from window the sisters. with their own four eyes. beheld the French sog sticking a rose Into Jonah's coat; "and the poor fellow looking so shy and awkward tool"
 Marietta assured him that he was un bel homme," splendid man, and wor- thy of a handsome wife. such, she modestly implied, as herself and not to be chased and caught by an old woman with a figure like a stick and the face of a lemon.
 Marietta bragged of her own savings, and of the swarms of her dear friends servants of the mighty; she talked glibly of princes and even kings, and how she had once with those very hands-displaying them as she spoke dressed the hair of royal lady--and dressed 1t well. too!
 You don't say sol' gasped the far nier. H chad lived dull, remote life. and the foreigners talk of grand people and the gay worlG was a revela- ton to his slow, unlmagfnative nature. The stranger almost took away his breath: he was transported by her mo- tice of him; and when Tudgoose came slouching round the Grange every other evening, Marietta waylaid him, English country. and flattered him till he scarcely knew what he was doing! She also imparted malicious stories of the Jubber sisters--of Liza's gin bottle and Jane's faise teeth.
 Oh, 1t would be useless to deny that Marietta had claws; she was an un- scrupulous, a dangerous, and fearless antagonist.
 The feelings of Jane may be imag- ined, but could not fitly be described; and her face and the face of Clarice, her fat niece, were studies. as they watched from a landing window the foreigner gaily promenading in the garden, supported on either hand by their faithless admIres. Tudgoose and JukeslS
 "She must be got out of this house." said Jane fiercely, that is certain, if we have to burn 1t over her head!"
 Nor was it only with the faAner and gardener that the French maid was so successful; she carried the village by storm. Mademoiselle was a novelty. so affable. so pleased with everything and so good-natured. She offered pro fessional advice as to the making of gowns, the patterns and style; she even trimmed hats and bonnets Mademoi- selle was invited out to tea, and sang strange Basque songs in a shrill voice, and boasted extravagantly of her mis- tress. who could. had she chosen (so Marietta swore), have married a Mar quis and been a Duchess if she pleas ed!
 Miss Forle visited among the cot tagers in Shalesmoor, who now looked upon her with the deepest awe and re- speet: there was nothing "gaumless" about this handsome. dignified lady, who held her head so high, had a gem erous hand, and did much for the aged and the poor
 Hester had held several interviews with MT. Levin, and touched but delicately on Mrs. Britten's services; he was a wise man. and understood the art of silence. Mrs. Britten. soon to be Lady Potts. was nothing to him-in- deed he disliked her: whilst. on the other hand, Miss Forde. the amazingly improved heiress, was his most impor- tant clientl
 T see you managed to lay out a good deal after all," he observed with a smile. You remember how you thought you never could spend money; one of your checks was for a large | sum. nearly 1000 pounds"
 'Yes, I bought a beautiful orna- ment."
 'oh. did you!" ("Four thousand pounds for an ornament" he said to | himself, "wcS a smart price.)
 And also bought a painting. which l is now being cleaned in London. am | fond of old things At least" correct | ing herself, as her eye caught sight of | Jane chasing an outside cat. "of some | old things. My father gave the Jub- | bcrs permission to, remain here all their | lives did he not?" she asked inconse quently.
 Yes: a most unwise permission in my opinion" replied Mir. Levin. land | I hInted as much. find they take a great deal on themselves. and have | actually come. by some strange mental process. to regard the Grange as their 
 That seems to be the case" replied Hester; land it is not particularly com tortable for me. as you may suppose"
 ''Of course. when you leave, as presume you will. there will no longer be any occasion to provide for them as heretofore. and I should suggest a sale of the furniture"
 Don't you think that would be | rather mean?"
 Not if they drive you out of your own house; and they have two hun dred a year--an unusually handsome pension"
 "certainly, they are oddities" she said