The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-02-11
CHAPTER VIII


ture than was made by bonnie Maude
Denison this early April morning. The
close-ftting French grey merino dress,
with the plain linen collar and cuffs, set
of her beautifully nodded figure to per-
lection, while the cerise neck-ribbon Just
relieves and gives warmth to her some
what neutraltinted robe. Moreover. that
she had just returned from successful
raid on the conservatory, a snow-white
camellia and its blood-red sister coquet-
tfhly twisted in her glossy brown hair,
sufficiently attested-those crown Jewels
of the floral world looking more in place
now than when adjoining their parent
stems.
''Good morning, sweet mother mine"
cried Haude, as Mrs. Denison entered
the breakfast room "Only look at the
plumber I've brought you, l found old
Judkins' flowers unguarded this morning.
and / gathered and plucked. Isn't that
bouquet, mamma, to greet you in April:"
"Yes. love-glorious- No need to tell
me Judkins was away. or never would
his pets have been despoiled in this wise"
No. cross old thing! He thinks flow
ers were made only to look at on their
stems, and not to wear or decorate
rooms"
The entrance of Harold Denison here
checked conversation. He nodded a care
less Good morning to his daughter, and
then plunged moodily into his correspond
ence. He found nothing there. appar-
emily, TO raise his spirits. At length,
thrusting his letters into his pockets, he
rose.
WELL" he said, things look blacker
and blacker. It's no use struggling: the
sooner my scheme is tried, the better. Do
what you promised yesterday. Delay is
useless"
But, Harold" pleaded his wife,
as the ever-ready tears rose to her eyes.
Don't be foolish. It's our only chance.
Understand," he said, crossing over to his
wife's chair, and lowering his voice so
that his daughter could not catch his
words-'.just put it before her in a COM
mon sense way this morning How can
you tell she will object. She can do as
she likes about it. / have no wish 70
coerce her in any way but, mind, tell her
the whole truth. 1t is only fair the pro-
posal should be laid before her. I'll come
up to your room after luncheon. and Won
can tell me how sac takes it - and. turn
ing on his heel, Harold Denison left the
room.
whats the matter, my mother" said
Maude, as she stole to Mrs. Deaison's
side, aud. passing her arms round her
neck. laid her fair, fresh young cheek
against the pale. worn. troubled face
'Afore Of these dreadful money miseries
II hut LINT
1t. Papa looks 50 gloomy, and you so
sad, it's enough to brighten poor me. Even
IL he has lest some more money, I SUD-
pose W. shall always have enough TO
live upon: and if you and I, mother, can't
have new dresses for everso long, that's
nothing to be very sad about"
I am afraid Maude Denison is DISPLAY
ing an ignorance of the world, and a dis
regard to the vanities and gewgaws there
of. that may seem little high-strained :
but recollect that she is but eighteen.
that the Xmbinster was her first ball. and
that, owing to her fathers pride and
straitened circumstances, she has lived a
very secluded life.
Few were the strangers that came with
In the gates of CHM of late years. Har-
old Denison scorned to entertain unless
he could do so with all the old lavish
profusion-that prodigal hospitality OF
former times which had entailed such bit
tsrness in his present daily bread. His
wife. naturally an extremely sensitive
woman. shrunk also from mixing in so
ciety in a much more humble and modest
way than she had been wont TO do. She
was not OF the temperament to face the
half-wbispered comments and appraised
eyebrows of her country neighbors Poor
thing ] hear he has run through every
thing: even the carriage ..orses have TO
be put down." Remarks of this kind
were past her endurance, and so X was
that since she leff school. some two years
ago. Maude had led a very secluded life.
True, many an cid friend of the Deni-
sons had offered 20 take care of the girl
TO various Saieties in the county, even if
they could not induce Mrs. Denison L,
come to their houses and chaperone her
own daughter: but all such invitations
had been met with brief though cour-
teous refusal. Poor lady, she had more
than once pleaded in her darling's behalf
but. wrapped in bis OVID selfish pride,
Harold Denison said fercely. he would
be patronirsd by no one.
And so Maude grew up like some wild
flower. though not "torn to bloom and
blush unseen" For are there not already
TWO who would .aiD pluck the wild flower
and gather /. to their bosoms IL they may
Did Maude know she was handsome
OF course she did She wanted no Xmin-
ster bali 20 tall hsr that What Eir'