Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-01-30
CHAPTER VI.
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police still report mo progress" on
the Wade-Hanska murder case, now
back number with the newspapers--a
story laid aside. The week has been
equally quiet at the select boarding
house maintained by Resale lie
Grange-a quiet overlain with gloom
and yet illuminated with human sym
pathy and even gaiety.
Out of the shadows twinkle two
stars-Betsy-B Barbara and Tommy
North. Rosalie In Jest. and Professor
Noll in earnest, call Betsy-Barbara
1.-THE little household fairy" Engaged
though she is In tragic guardianship.
she is also young and sprightly and a
village girl fresh to the wonder of
New York, Rosalie is the quiet force,
but Betsy-Barbara the visible focus,
which draws them all together. She
asks counsel of Miss Harding and Miss
Jones on her autumn clothes. In her
spare moments she sews industriously
with Rosalie LIE Grange-dropping
flow at sewing-bees. The orphan OF a
country clergyman and schoolmis-
tress. she has at her finger-tips all the
arts OF play Whenever the household
! stays in Of nights, she gathers them
| together over hearts or bridge; when
cards grow stale, she is capable of
getting contagious fun out of charades
or anagrams.
| More and more the boarders take to
staying at home This charming life
domestic is novelty in New York, 1t
seems; they revel in the fad. Mr.. Es-
trilla has developed way Of joining
them after his evening visits to his
sister; and he brings such spirit of
Latin gaiety that they quit their for
NAL games, and take always to music
and conversation when he enters. Ro-
sale especially delights in him. He
has q quick turn Of the tongue which
matches her own; and they fence with
good-natured repartee. Whenever Els
trilla enters the room his eyes travel
to Betsy Barbara and they two play
in boy-and-girl spirit very charming
and amusing-to every one but Tom
my North. All speak well of Estrilla.
Il guess he's regular man all right,
IL he 10 wop." says even Tommy
Miss Estrilla alone never Joins the
group downstairs. Though her eyes
are better, though she can bear some
light, she shows state Of debility puz-
zling to her physician and alarming to
her watcher and attendant, Rosalie LIE
Grange. The doctor advises her to re-
turn to a warmer climate before the
New York winter sets Unlike all
transplanted Latins, she is very
shivery person. She answers that she
cannot; her brothers business lies in
New York, and she would be unhappy
away from him.
The time came when Rosalie lie
Grange determined to visit Inspector
MCGEE; she wished to unload some
theories of her own concerning the
Hanska case. Such visits must be
made with all due precaution Of Sc
crecy She chose an evening when, as
happened seldom nowadays, nearly all
the boarders had engagements else
where. As step preliminary to her
diplomacies, she telephoned to MCGEE
and made with him an appointment far
from the office. Then she approached
Betsy Barbara.
Its asking lot of you, my DEAR"
she said. "but I've been SO busy gettin'
this place shook together that
haven't had time to mind my own af-
fairs. I've O cousin in town an Jest
haven't had time to pay her any at
tention- Mas Estrilla is kind of nerv-
GUS tonight, an hate to leave her
alone until her brother comes-any-
how, he misses some evenings. Just
sit by her-an' If he shows UP you
don't have to do even that"
Betsy Barbara accepted the new re-
sponsibility.
I'D love IT," she said almost cheer
fully. Constance is going to try to
get some sleep tonight. and I'll put her
to bed right after dinner. And I've
been dying to meet Miss Estrilla-'
Miss Estrilla's appearance appealed
at once to Betsy-Barbara's quick sym
pathies. Her eyes were shaded;
further she wore heavy colored glass
es. She was a rather tall and slender
woman. Betsy-Barbara decided. There
was a kind OF exquisite shyness about