The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1912-06-21


seen the world at at angles, more
over was college bred, and a master
of the art OF Irritation. He had come
a fortnight back to see his fathers
people-his father who had died, i'm
the year he was born. His mother
had married again, and herself been
drowned along with her new husband
upon the wedding journey. 1T was
thus Basil had come into 80 much
money. His stepfather had made him
his heir, no less his mother. He had
stayed with her people, quite apart
from the Kings. Formal letters had
come yearly from his bachelor uncle
and two maiden aunts, and been an
swered as formally. In such fashion
he had EESWn OF Miss Charlotte
Kings existence, but he had never
dreamed of her as a factor IT, his fu-
ture when a sudden within moved him
to come back to his fathers native
county.
Now, she was Hthely angular; she
had freckles and opinions both de-
cided. Moreover she had no rever-
ence for him, for anything masculine,
ii appeared. Uncle Joseph even was
her playfellow, notwithstaL ing the
rest OF the world saw him starch
and downright parsonage. She was
certainly the life and soul OF things,
there In the old homestead. It had
been borne IN upon him further that
she was coquette of the first water;
not malicious one, but in a merry,
sprite-like fashion. AT first the thought
of it had amused him greatly. Lat
terly, he had been finding out that she
was indeed, when she chose to be,
worker of charms.
They rode to the Dale place az O.
headlong gallop. The afternoon was
heavenly-air like wine went to the
head. Basil tried hard to say things
A. they rode, but Lotto would not
listen. She was in her widest spir-
its-and managed as soon a. they
were in the big, dim parlor to get
Basil anchored betwixt Emma and
Agnes, while she herself sat at merry
gossip with Granny, the other five
listening in mute admiration.
DdSu y0dTu0u W llSL0u, LOO-ctuy-
thing would BE- better than the pair
painfully entertaining him. They were
just through reading the latest and
tritest best seller" and eager to
show the stranger how much they
had got out of it.
II loved the book. Ii il just like
Lotte-the love part, you know" A.
waC or,,ro1od - lano+h
Basil looked politely puzzled. You'll
have to explain" he said. II have
neither read the book nor heard
Lotte's love story"
"Why-you know-that is-Amabel
Just has to marry her-her rich cous-
in," Emma stammered.
"And he was perfectly horrfd, and
turned out to b. college professor
In disguise" Agnes added eagerly.
Basil laughed heartily, yet could
not help flushing. I'm her cousin
and horrid enough, i admit" he BE-
gan.
AT once Emma and Agnes were COW
cred with confusion. do excuse us!"
they cried in a breath. We've for
got-and it was so-tnteresting-se
ing people just like those In the
book"
"But-she doesn't have to marry
me, not unless she chooses!" Basil
said apologetically-he really felt
quite guilty. Just then there was
check In the gossip-his words car
r1ed all the length OF the suddenly
silent room. Granny caught them
she looked hard at Basil and rumbled
&C him.
That's all you know, young man.
She'll never get such another chance
trust her not to miss it. Charlotte
Is the only girl I know with more
sense than goose"
"Lotte-what do you say?" Basil
demanded, getting up and striding to-
ward the group at the other end Of
the room.
Lotto looked UP at him, a side-long,
birdlike glance, and said demurely:
1--WE been too well brought up, Cous-
I'm Basil, ever to contradict my
elders"