The Detroit times., 1911-12-05

ness, a proud little mouthTa Joyous
bearing the youth tall and Wei
built young country-bred gentleman
his eyes a clear blue. his hair q sun
burned yellow, his mouth and chin
clean-cut and firm. Colonel Todnunt
er approved heartily OF both.
AS Mary left her companion ano
went 20 Join her mother. second
girl, with obvious intent. crossed Tom
Strickland's path. She was or ali
ferent type. a plebeian beauty. black
haired. with passionate eyes, fuil rec
lips. A suggestion OF rich animal life
In her movements.
You ought 10 be ashamed OF your
self, Tom Strickland" she said IN
low tone, little break In her voice
you let me drop like was somethln
you despised just the minute you
caught sight OF Mary Todhunter
wouldn't treat dog that way, Tom!
There was something pitiful in the
utter frankness OF surrender VIII
which the speakers eyes confessed
her liking for Tom Strickland. Col
onel Todhunter knew her we'll. she
was the granddaughter OF old Rare
Doggett, who had been a private sol
der in a confederate regiment dur
ing the civil war. The family De
longed 10 the class once known as
poor whites" but old Doggett had
been a good soldier, and LottieMay
his granddaughter, owed her MEMBER
ship In the Daughters OF the Conteo
eracy TO the esteem in which he was
held
This was even more than a conces
sion TO inferior caste. The darby
beautiful girl whom old Rafe Doggett
son had married in another state
had gone away from home one day
leaving her baby daughter behind,
and never returned. A picturesquely
handsome Indian herb doctor" VINO
had been peddling his wares IN
Nineveh for some days, and was
known 10 have paid both attentions
10 her, disappeared at the same time
Lottie.May Doggett, inheriting the
same vital beauty of soft roundness
red lips and sensuous black eyes, mad
grown up in Nineveh, defiant, under
the shadow OF her mothers shame.
Tom Strickland stared at the girl
plainly surprised. Why, Lottie
May" he exclaimed Il won't lei
you think such q thing, only hur
ried 10 say 'howdy' TO Miss Mary be
cause she had just got here. Anyway
and here he smiled teasingly-"l
could see with one eve that Stan
Tucker was just wild to have a talk
with you"
Lottie- Mays eyes flashed. Stan
Tucker-shucks, she cried scorn-
fully. IL wouldn't wipe my feet OF
him, Tom, when you're around, ant
you know it, But / can tell you one
.thing"-and here a note OF prou1
vanity sounded in her voice-'tryin
lard as he is TO git Miss Mary Tod
hunter 10 marry him, just like yov
are, STAN Tucker loves me-more IN
enc minute than he will love her In
his whole lifetime,"
"Lottie-May," calculated Tom an.
srily. you mustn't talk like that. Yop
ought to be ashamed. You've got nc
right to couple Miss Mary Todhunt.
er's name"
No, no, that's it," interrupted the
girl hotly Il mustn't mention Mary
1odhunter's name In the same breatf
with mine. IL amt right, you think
Well willard hate her! hate
her!"
81 didn't mean that. Lottie- May
protested Tom. You know | didn't
mean that"
But the girl was gone Hagar-like
she moved with sort of outcas'
pride. her pretty head held high, he
eyes ASKING In fla moment she had
disappeared in the crowd.
Tom" said Colonel Todhunter. ad
vancing, you'd better be hurryin' &c
where Mrs. Todhunter is. and make
Your peace of stealth Mary away
You're in hot water, young mani"
Tom Strickland flushed consciously
Colonel. / reckon you heard what
Lottie-May Doggett was saying h.
me-"
81 couldn't verv well help IL, Tom.
We'll. sir you mustn't draw anv
wrong conclusions from what she
said, Colonel Todhunter LottieM May 5
a good girl so far as know, and I've
always felt sorry for her But she's
been brought up under a cloud anc
it's made her sorter reckless and ful'
OF the devil I don't believe she careF
how black she paints herself. and
think too much OF her to take he
al her word about knowing that Stan
Tucker loves her and makes love &c
her without thinking OF marrying her
That's Just her wild talk. sir"
SHES certainly grown up 10 be
mighty pretty girl. Tom" said Colon
el Todhunter. And now that you've
troached the subject, and I've heard
what I have. will you let me give you
word OF advice
Certainly. Colonel" replied Tom
We'll, Tom, speakin plainly. it,
this. You better fight mighty shy o.
Lottie- May hereafter. sub. don''
mean anything against the girl. Blu
she thinks a lot OF you, and she dom
mind lettin' you know 1t. and tha'
makes a mighty dangerous situation
II amt safe TO play with fire, Tom
specially when a girl like Lottie- MAJ
Is BLOWN the fame"
"Oh. pshaw, Colonel! but Ton
Strickland laughed uneasily. Lotto
May can't harm me any. And | DON
want TO hurt her feelings, SIR"
That's all right, Tom. But yot
Just take my word for H. The bes
way not to hurt her feelin's after this
is to keep away from her, sub. I'm
good deal older'n you, and / know
what I'm talkin' about"
Then seeing that the young mar
"a t,.~ rA1 I