Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-02-19

ert Burr ended. all interest of most
of the relatives present died out, for
he had favored few of them, and those
with no marked liberality. There was
great confab at the Dalton home
that evening. Alice was an orphan
and lived with the Daltons. The Win
steds lived only next door. and Mary
and Nettie came over to discuss the
great event of the day and abuse their
dead relative.
"Humph! his old portrait can 60 to
the barn loft, for all I'll hinder" de-
clared Mary, spitefully.
"Tn loving remembrance quoted
Nettie. sneeringly. Il hope some one
smashes a stepladder in it when they
go to hang 1t in my room"
II shall retire my precious legacy
as soon as the decent period of mourn
ing has passed." observed Esther.
icily, as though she were furnishing
the relative who had failed to cater to
her extravagant tastes.
Alice said nothing. She had always
had warm spot In her loyal little
heart for Uncle Robert. She was in
a measure dependent upon the Dali
tons, but we'll earned her way. Espe-
cially. since the gift of the piano she
had been able to pay fair cash price
for her board. besides helping in many
little household duties which the
naughty Esther disdained.
A month later the really priced por-
trait hung in a cherished way in the
poorest room In the house. which Of
course was the one to which uncom.
planning Alice was assigned. Esther
had placed her legacy in her brothers
neglected den. The Winsted girls
openly boosted that theirs had found
storage in an unoccupied servants
room. Then there came along one
Worth Davenal. and the complexion
of the four young girlish lives was VI
tally affected by the occurrence.
He was a bright, manly young fell
low. What pleased the Winsted girls
was that he was reputed rich. He
was the favored nephew d prosper
Gus city stockbroker. Esther set her
cap for him at once. This caused a
bitter break in her relation with Mary
and Nettie. and the harmony of the
little coterie of cousins was broken in
upon.
Esther was pretty. but bold as well.
She simply started out to appropriate
the distinguished visitor to the town
all to herself Young Davenal was,
however, no more attentive to her
than to the others. Alice greatly ad-
mired the manly. free-hearted fellow.
and from the first he seemed to enjoy
her company. Twice, however. once
because of necessary attention to
some pupils. and again when Mrs. Dali
ton fell i'll and wished some one to
keep her company, Alice disappointed
Mr.. Davenal in engagements. and this
seemed to nettle him. It was possible
that Esther created some false i'm
preston in his mind as to the true
facts of the case. At all events. he
became quite a regular escort to Es-
Their. and the Winsteds gave up the
contest.
Not so Alice. She felt that she had
stood aside too often to please Esther
and the others. She had time and
again sacrificed her pleasure for their
benefit. She had been more or less a
drudge in their service. Now ieal-
ousy and petty scheming. she was GER
tain. was discrediting her with a man
whose friendship she valued. She
wished to stand well in his eyes. The
opportunity to vindicate herself came
one evening when. at a lawn party.
she found herself alone on a rustic
] garden bench with Mr.. Davenal.