Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1910-09-15

graph which hung upon the wall above
the couch. II was the picture of
girl in gypsy costume; her eyes shone
laughingly beneath the dusky bead.
ed hair.
The original of the picture is my
only daughter" Mr. Alden said pres.
emily in an amused tone.
Ashton turned with a start. Eyes"
he said quietly. 81 have met her be.
fore"
The curtains parted and the girl
herself entered the room. She wore
flowing white gown aid the dark
braids were wound about her head.
She stood undecided a moment, then
advancing extended her hand. In 81.
lence she arranged the lights and
with murmured word or two. with.
drew.
With a great effort Ashton forced
himself to answer her fathers ques.
tons, to receive the necessary in.
structions. At last when he came
out into the moonlit gardens he saw
the white clad figure OF the girl and
she motioned him to a seat upon the
bench at her side.
so" she said smiling, the fortune
is really coming true"
He leaned forward and looked long
into her eyes. Yes" he answered
slowly. land you have my eternal
gratitude. but all evening have been
asking myself many questions. Why
did you stoop to interest yourself in
the poor lonesome beggar at the lawn
fete-to give him a place in the
business word ii would have taken
years OF faithfulness. perhaps. to
earn? How did you learn OF the past
failures, the"
Miss Alden put out protesting
hand. 20, wait" she said. land l
will tell you story"
I'VE were riding one day down a
long Jersey road when something
happened to our automobile, and, to
add to our troubles, while the men
were working at the machine. down
came a heavy soaking shower, the
kind that blows beneath the Tapping
curtains. We were stalled before a
white farm house and in moment
an old lady stood upon the porch
reckoning me to come inside.
quickly accepted her invitation while
the men went In search of a repair
shop. She was such a comforting old
lady and called me 'Dearie' as she
went to make.a cup of tea, while
wandered about the quaint old-fash-
toned parlor and inspected the pic
lures which hung upon the walls.
There was one of another old lady
who proudly wore black silk gown
while a lavender cap rested upon her
white curls, and there were many and
varied photographs OF sturdy fair
haired English lad My hostess told
me the history of each as we drank
our tea. The stately lady was her
sister in far away England-the clear
eyed boy was Harry Ashton, her sis
ter's youngest son. They were very
proud OF you when you wore the col
lege cap and gown for your future
seemed full of promise.
"She told me of the failures and
the disappointments. OF the letter
wherein you spoke Of coming to this
county to make a name for yourself,
to show them that you could be worth
something after all. She was jubi-
liant at the prospect Of seeing for the
first time the nephew of whom she
had heard so much.
1--WE were very friendly when We
parted at the gateway and ! prom
ised to visit her again" The girl
sighed. This Is such an age of
hurry" she said. Though I have
travelled down many a Jersey road
since then, have always missed the
one which led to the white farm house
door. Soon after, was spending a
few days with friend in another city
and she persuaded me to assist as a
gypsy at a church lawn fete. The
true gypsies told the fortunes, while
the rest of us merely helped out in
the picturesque effect.
"As l was passing through the
grounds, the light of a lantern shone
full upon the face OF a man and l
recognized Harry Ashton at once"
She laughed softly. II had not for
gotten the pictures and there could
be no installing the likeness.
"As | turned to go. the utter de-
spondency of your attitude told that
you had failed in your quest. Curl
osity prompted me to question you.
and them She looked up at him
with her gypsy SMILE determined to
help you show them
They say It takes a great deal OF
influence to obtain any position in my
fathers Offices. That may be true. but
we talked it all over together-he and
HE never refuses a wish OF mine"
She arose and moved across the
lawn. Ashton walked at her side, his
eyes resting upon the scarlet flowers
in her hair.
Being English" he said haltingly,
"and therefore rather slow OF speech,
am afraid that cannot properly
say thank you If actions can show
my gratitude. however"
They can" she interrupted quick
ly. keep on climbing. You have not