The Paonia newspaper., 1911-03-10

m1ratlOn IN tno youhS ~
he acknowledged the Introduction.
I've got money enough OF my own.
I don't covet madame's thousands.
he declared with q boyish laugh.
They must 60 to those OF her own
blood"
mot a dollar to the daughter Of
play-acting woman. II that II what
you mean" snapped madame.
Leslie bit her lip. She let the siur
pass. this once. But never again
should her grandmother disparage her
beautiful mother unrebuked!
For a few days all went well. Les
lie wrote madame's letters. read 10
her, performed the duties OF ladys
maid. She would have welcomed any
task that gave her the Joy of living In
that charming house. And then she
began dimly to realize what vivid
part of the beautiful life for which
she sighed Hugh Wentworth had al
ready become.
She fairly haunted the dear old
garden. She knew just where her
father had loved to play when boy.
where he had walked and dreamed
as a man. The sweet tangle with its
hallowed associations had charm OF
which she never tired.
One late twilight she wandered un-
der the trees until the gold was quite
gone from the sky. She had hung
about her a wrap OF oriental silk. long
and voluminous. II had been her
mothers. She still had II on when
she entered the quaint old library
where her grandmother and Hugh sat
in the lamplight.
One look. and the old lady started
violently to her feet THAT cloak"
How did you come by it," she almost
shrieked.
Without waiting for a reply abe
crossed to her desk. fumbled In a
secret drawer with trembling hands.
and held a card photograph up to the
light Leslie gasped with dismay.
Her mothers picture taken In this
seifsame wrap. Madame glanced at II.
then at the girl. white as the lace at
her throat
Now I know why you look like an
actress, That dancing puppet OF the
footlights was your mother,"
Leslie drew herself up. Yes. ana
I am proud OF the fact" she said.
who would not be proud of such .
mother-the best woman In the world
and the most beautiful7"
Madame sat down heavily. pound
ing the arm af her chair with her INST
You dare say that-to me'" she
cried. her voice rising louder and
sharper with each word. Leave my
house-this Instant"
Leslie turned. with n wonderful ges-
ture that was n legacy from the stage.
On the threshold she paused an In
slant
Grandmother" she said. Il want
you to forgive me for coming here
like this. My poor father had told me
so much about Overlook and the hap
py days of his boyhood ! wanted to
know more OF the dear old place. And
he always spoke tenderly. forgivingly
of you. He loved you in spite OF your
harshness: or he never would have
named me Leslie. after you"
Madame said nothing. she turned
to the halfsobbing girl and took her
hands In his.
Il am your friend" he whispered.
"Now-and always. Don't forget
that" Unspeakabie things were In
his eyes.
A new. sweet Joy thrilled Lcslie's
heart as she climbed to her room.
Nevertheless n few scalding drops fell
among the belongings she gathered
hurriedly together. Still enveloped in
that picturesque old wrap she de-
scended the stairs. Hugh Wentworth
was waiting In the lower hall. With
out a word he led her back to the
carved mahogany chair. where sat
Madame Graham like 4 queen upon
her throne.
Slowly the old woman lifted her
bowed head. There was a wonderful
new softness in her wrinkled face.
"Nobody-eyer called me grand.
mother-before," she said brokenly.