Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1911-10-11
The Age Of
Romance

ed seriousness at her sister. across
the lawn.
Lucy. who had been engaged In
coaxing the kitten into one of her
dolls dresses. suddenly became aware
OF Nellie's studied gaze. 1t worried
her. Though only two years younger
than her sister. Lucy had a deep
rooted respect for Nellie's opinion
Perhaps Nellie thought 1t very silly
to dress the kitten. She held It's paw
through one sleeve and called out
bravely: Won't It look funny. Nell?"
Nellie continued to gaze as IL lost
In thought. Lucy tucked the half
dressed kitten under her arm and hun
Red over to Nellie's rocker
Are you mad. Mailer" she asked
apprehensively.
why, no. dear" Nellies superior
tone implied that she had nevaI
known such a state Of mind.
We'll. you're something" insisted
the puzzled Lucy.
Il was just wondering whether /
ought to tell you or not"
Nellie spoke in a dreamy way, still
looking into the distance.
Tell me what? Have you a secret?"
breathlessly
Yes, secret. l really shouldn't
tell you. Sit down on the grass"
Lucy followed directions. I'll never
tell. What is it,"
Nellie began very slowly. I've been
wondering for a long time whether
ought to tell you or not"
Go on! Honest. won't tell"
Let me see You're nine now.
You'll know in few years, anyhow.
But 1t may make you feel bad IL | tell
you"
Il don't care how feel. Go on and
tell me-
Nellie clasped her hands over her
knees and glanced down pensively at
Lucy.
1t is all SO strange" she murmured
But you may as well know. | am
not your sister! I'm an adopted
child"
You mean like Jessie out in the
country" The words came in e.
spasm
Wees. Only not like Jessie. Shall
tell you about my own parents?"
Yes. Go on,''
My parents were both very veal
thy. was born in Paris. France.
Paris, France. is across the ocean.
l lived there with them in a grand
house. but they both died when | was
a mere babe. The-the person who
had charge of my wealth knew your
father and mother and brought me
over here for them to take care of.
DO you see? I'm living just like you
now, but, OF course, when I'm eight
cen I'll get everything own-the
grand house with the park around IL
Recommendations OF dollars. Lucy
may go over to Paris. France. to
live"
The little sister regarded her in a
nervous, frightened way Nellies
look OF abstraction quite awed Lucy.
"Of course l intend to divide with
you. You see, l have no relatives OF
my own" Nellie sighed.
What's your real name?" Lucy
asked
My real name isn't Nellie Smith.
OF course. It's Elinor De Maupret,"
Obi"
They'd tell you some day. ANYHOW
But now you know what | mean
when | say. Some day you'll be sorry
Would you mind seeing If / dropped
my hair ribbon on the front porch?
And If 1t isn't on the front porch run
over and ask Bess johnson If
dropped 1t in her yard It's my Sun.
day ribbon"
For the next two days Lucy waited
on Nellie hand and foot. She carried
messages across the street and down
the block without a word OF protest.
She expressed glasses of water and
cookies from the kitchen to the lawn,
hardly knowing what power forced
her She felt strangely inferior and
awkward. She addressed Nellie stir.
ly and followed her at a distance with
wide, frightened blue eyes. The knowl.
edge that her father and mother knew
not that she knew" weighed upon hes
fearfully.
The third night after the revelation.
Lucy was sitting on the veranda with
her father watching her sister play
tennis with the girls across the street.
For some time she sat counting her
fingers with perfect self-control But
she had never been so bottled I'D in
her life before, and when her father
asked her what made her so quiet,
she burst into tears. Once in his com.
forting arms she could not restrain
herself. then--oh, treachery!-before
she knew It she had given him all her
share of the secret
As she lay there quietly awaiting
further light on the mystery of Nellie.
she felt him shake Looking up 10
GOO -uhnL ..rnnLLn.. IL 49,.