Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-20

The Daily Story
Mind of Maid

MY! but she is ugly" Mrs. Evans said
her accent distinctly one Of relief. Bron-
son smiled covertly as he answered
Don't be too sure Of that She has
eyes"
Eyes BAH" The ejaculation was al
/ most snort. Estelle heard ii. although
| there was the breadth Of the room be-
| tween her and the irate matron. She
/ looked plalntively across at Bronson. who
! answered her look with the faintest hu-
/ morous nod Then he stroled over to
I her. and said in her ear: Its too easy
| quite too easy. Miss Mischief. 4 simply
had to give that good soul Mint OF
warning"
Traitor" Estelle retorted, pretending
TO hiss the word high-tragedy fashion,
vet ending with dmpling laugh. The
! laugh went far to redeem her faCe-so
far that II set more than one beholder
speculatinR that old Major Gilherts
stranger granddaughter would not really
he so bad looking f shc knew how to
wear her clothes and do her heavy hair.
This. despite her wretched complexion,
for she had n beautiful straight nose and
good teeth TO say nothing Of her hand
some eyes. Her neck must he bad. else
why was she swathed up to the ears?
Her sleeves also quite swallowed her
gloved hands but her feet we're as much
In evidence as they well could BEEN
Cased i'm boots Mt least three sizes large
"Do you know I feel like the Court
of King Solomon at the puppet show
This made Bronson frown. you'll give
Yourself away" he said severely. For
heavens sake don't spoil sport just when
it's getting so much better than a play
II won't" said Estelle contritely, then
in n nervous aside: when does Adons
come in? DO hurry him along. 7 shant
he easy until he comes, suppose after
all, he should be Color-blind-ahle to see
only gold and greenbacks and old yellow
title deeds?"
Suppose nothing 50 tragic told YOU
IN the beginning he was artistic, or moth
ing" Bronson retortcd. Art is. indeed,
his weak suit-otherwise would he be in
hords to Miss Adela Evaus?"
'She is so pretty" Estelle said fer
vently. Bronson Erowled "Yes Regu-
lar china baby beauty Blue eyes. pink
and white complexion. and hair always
in the latest mode. out in the lobby now.
lying In wait for-Adonis. They'll he
coming in together-the prettiest pair of
puppets YOU ever saw
~ hope he isn't too good lookngr'
Estelle murmured renectively.
Bronson scowled.
You'll find him dlsgustngly so. In
deed. I've been half afraid all along that
when YOU saw him you'd he sorry--'
Indeed ! shan't." Estele interrupted
eagerly. How can I be sorry of-any
thing that sets me free from that odious
bond?'
Bronson did not answer stir about
,he door drew all eyes. Adonis. other
wise George Gilbert, Estelle's cousin. CO.
their and hanCee. entered with Adea
Evans Clinging ostentatiously to his arm
She had such a habit Of clinging there
that the sports Of Grasshope had been
ready to give odds this last half year
that she would ere this have written her
self Mrs George Gilbert. but for Grand |
father Gilbert's absurd will This instru-
ment deCreed fatty whichever of his two |
descendants refused to marry the other |
thereby forfeited all claim to the big |
Gilbert fortune
The boy and girl had been brought
UP half continent apart. Estele had |
come to Grasshope for the first time less
than a week before. But tales of her had |
been rife there the last three years, how
wilful she was, also how sharp of speech, |
and of temper. AS to her looks, there |
had been several opinions. Reed Bron- |
son might have spoken authortatively, !
hut he chose to he silent. He had met |
Estelle two summers running at the sea-
shore. and with each meeting he became |
more Indifferent 20 Grasshope bellies and |
their charms. He had known. first of all, !
that Estelle was coming to visit her |
mothers cousins, the Warrens, Mrs. |
u.
not need to marry George before she was |
%. and might therefore. well have left |
1t to him to do the seeking.
What George thought about 1t nobody |
knew. He smiled down Al Adela as they |
crossed to Estelle. When he got a good |
look at her, his smile became for a
breath's space. nuizzical but II was kind .
and wholly cordial as he took both her
hands, saying: 'I know you all right, |
Young lady-if you would never let me
have your picture"
Somebody's been telling" Estelle said
solemnly, although her eyes danced. They
had never rested upon a finer fellow than
George He had all the Gilbert look she
so worshipped I'm her fathers portrait |
Covertly she glanced from him to RrOn-
son-Rronson was big and honest-looking.
and had withal an air of breeding but |
still was not to he named beside her un-
welcome betrothed No doubt he had
more hrains-although as time passed she
was forced TO admit George carried
things off very WELL indeed And after !
supper. when the dancing began, Bron-
son, the luckless, went into complete
eclipse. He hated dancing, as well he |
might seeing that he danced so badly.
George Gilbert, contrariwise might have
been wing-footed so lightly did he move,
in such perfect time and tune. Music, .
indeed was In the Gilbert blood. Estelle
danced If anything, better, When they
waltzed together other couples stopped to
see Indeed they kept on and on, and on,
until they had the whole crowd staring as
along they whirled and wheeled over the
waxed floor of the hall.
stop, Estelle!' Bronson implored in a
loud whisper as the couple whirled past
him. George smiled broadly. Estele, |
put hand up to her face. AS
she took II away two pimples and half
a dozen freckles came with 1t. George
saw them and quickly guided her out of
the light
Go wash your facet he commanded
"And the next time you |
want to 20 masquerading. let me help |
you make up / know heaps OF better |
besides, grease paint is
fearfuly unreliable, when one loves
dancing as we do"
81 fOrgOt-I ought not to have danced"
Estele said contritely-then with a swift |
change Of mood: But you wouldn't have |
known II ! had been a little wiser"
Indeed | would l went 500 miles last
summer, just to see you" George half
whispered. so l understood the minute |