Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-28

she regarded a romance. Up to lately
romance. however unlikely or improbable
had a pleasant bearing. 1t did not occur
to her that it might not drift in her di-
rection. But now she felt unconsciously
jective than herself. The possibility.
therefore, of a romance for JOY. whom
she very sincerely loved. was thing
to be cherished. She could see. as we'll
as feel that her niece by keeping IT a
secret from her father, had taken the
matter with at least a phase of serious
ness. This alone was sufficient to feed
her own imaginings. and in her glow her
sympathies quickened She had instinct
iyeIv at the beginning determined not to
spoil sport; now 1t became conscious
intention.
Mrs. OBrien. too. in her own way
helped to further the matter. She felt
that she had good audience for he,
little anecdotes of the child whose in
fancy she had fostered and toward whom
In his completed manhood she had a sort
Of almost idolatrous devotion. Seeing
the girl so sympathetic and listening SC
patiently. she, too. began to see some
thing like the beginnings of fact. And
so the game went merrily on.
The kilograms at Queenstown were not
very reassuring, and Col. Ogilvie and his
party pressed on at once to Sorrento
whence his wife had moved ON the com
pletion of her series of baths at Ischia
Naturally the whole of the little party
was depressed. until on arrival they
found Mrs. Ogilvie. who was something
they expected. The arrival of her hus-
band and daughter and sister seemed to
complete her cure. She frightened up at
once. and even after a few days began
to enjoy herself
One day after lunch as she drove along
the road to Amalti with Judith and joy
the colonel was lazy that day and pre-
ferred to sit on the terrace over the sea
and smoke-she began to ask all the de-
tails of the journey. Judy, who had not
had a chance of speaking alone with safe
ty. began to tell the little secret. Her
method of commencement was abrupt
and somewhat startling to the GONZALES
cent:
We've got a husband for Joy at last"
"Gracious.' said Mrs. Ogilvie. What
do you mean. Judy? Is this one Of your
pranks?"
Prank. indeed" she answered back.
belted earl. if you please whatever that
may mean
lis this true. Joy?" asked her mother.
beamingly anxiously on her-if such a
combination is understandable. JOY took
her hand and stroked 1T lovingly:
do you think, mother dear. that if
there was such a thing / should leave
you all this time in ignorance of II. 1t
is only jest made up by the steWardess
who attended us on the Cryptic. Aunt
think. dear, you had better ask her: she
seems to know all about (which is
certainly more than l do
And how did this common woman dare
to jest on such subject | don't think.
Judy that this would have happened had
been with her myself
"Oh. my dear, get off that high horse.
There's nothing to be alarmed about. The
stewardess-who is a most worthy and
attentive person.
She is a dear" interrupted JOY
Took such a fancy to Joy that she
said there was only wan in all the
world who was worthy of her-a young
nobleman TO whom she had been foster
mother. II was certainly meant as very
true compliment. and am bound to say
that ii the young man merits a hun
dredth part OF all she said of him there =
certainly no cause of offense in the mere
mentioning his name
What is his name?'' There was shade
tof anxiety In the mothers voice.
Lord Athlyne""
The Earl of Athlyne" said Joy, speak
ing without thought. Then she turned
away quickly to hide her blushing.
~ really don't understand. said
Mrs. Ogilvie, looking around helpless,y.
Then with shadow of a shade Of an
noyance in her voice. she went on:
Il really think that in a serious matter
of this kind i should have been consult
ed. But | seem not to count for anything
any more. Col. Ogilvie has not even
mentioned the matter to me. l think l
ought to have some say in anything of
Importance relating TO my little girl
Lord bless the woman.' said Aunt Jul
dy throwing up her hands and lifting her
sJes. Sally. dear. don't you compre-
bend that this was all joke. We never
saw this young lord. never heard of him
till the stewardess mentioned him; and
as for him he doesn't know or care
whether there is such a person in the
world as JOY Ogilvie-'' The mother in
terrupted hotly-it seemed want of re-
spect to her child:
Then he ought to care I'd like to
know who he is 10 consider himself so
high and mighty that even my little girl
isn't oh, ! have no pa
thence with him.
l.. Il Il