El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-10-06
CCTL T:J,.'1 By Virginia 7erhune Van
4AC AA1S4OCA De Water
Miss Dart and Grace Find Pleasure IN the Mysteries
The Attic
The Attic.
CONTINUED from Wednesdays Heraldl

NA--+sAAe-- -AGA anu
. As We passed the scuttle 10 the roof
I tried TO forget the day on which
Mr. Norton had taken me up there
The attic was very large and very
neat At one end OF the huge room
was a boarded space, in which fur
niture was stored. Grace and 1
glanced in here. The place was dark
and uninviting. In the obscurity /
could discern an old fashioned dresser,
four post bed on which were some
pillows covered with a sheet, and,
farther back, some chairs and tables
That's dark and dusty" re-
marked we don't want TO 80 in
there"
"No. we don't" the child agreed
promptly. pressing close 10 me ana
taking my hand There's where 1
She pointed TO the front Of the
attic where stood a number Of trunks
and boxes near windows that lie In
sufficient light for Us TO see clearly
The books are in these boxes" the
little girl announced Lets open
one"
The lifted cover Of the box she in
dicated revealed a number of boys
books, undoubtedly a part OF Toms
childhood library We glanced at one
volume after another until we came
to an illustrated mythology. one of
the pictures looked so interesting
that Grace asked me TO read to her
about IL.
SEATING myself on top Of a low
trunk, 1 drew her down beside me, and
read TO her the beautifully written
story. The language was so simple
that II required no explanation from
me. When I had finished the tale
turned 10 the flyleaf. On this was
written Toms name. followed by the
words, in a clear handwriting, From
I sat for n long time gazing at
the inscription. I recalled what Mr.
Norton had told me Of Toms mother
reading TO her child tales from my
thology and from history. As unused
of the woman whom I had never seen.
my thoughts returned, as they did
constantly just now, 10 the man who
had married her, and who. as Tom had
declared hOtly, had forgotten very
dearly. or had he cared more for the
second wife, Grace's mother And
did he care more for me than he had
for these other women
An Odd situation.
The grotesqueness Of the situation
struck me suddenly. Here was a
man who wanted TO take unto him
self a third wifei How could any
young girl with even a spark Of ro-
nance in her heart promise TO marry
him?
For was no longer in any doubt
as 10 my sentiments toward Brewster
Norton
Hugh Parker's few words last night
had rung in my ears all day. They
had taught me to answer for myself
the question as to whether I could
ever love my employer. I knew now
ter Norton had been one of gratitude
that heretofore my feeling for Brews-
for his kindness. coupled with fiat
tered vanity that he had found me
worth attention and admiration. But
/ could veneer love him-neveri
Yet how could I tell him 500
dreaded his anger I knew also that
he would accuse me Of caring ror the
man with whom he had found me
out of doors last evening. Were I
to acknowledge the truth, Parker
would be discharged. I was sure Of
this, and I reflected on the conse-
quences Of his discharge. / remem-
bered Tom and his plans. his pleasure
in his semi vacation, all the hopes that
were conferred in his association with
his tutor this summer.
What could I do2
I was aroused from my revery by
Grace's voice.
"Oh. Miss Dartr she was saying
Are these the clothes I had when 7
was little-the clothes that auntie
was telling you about? Please come
and look al them-"
To be continued.