The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1920-11-24

BY SUSAN E. HAYEoRp.
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day afternoon she sat In the little
front room and looked Gown the years.
Of her youth she knew that Of all days
this was the happiest
For the first time the thrill Of real
adventure was hers. She was to spend
the summer at Seaside hotel, and,
moreover, as the owner of It.
A week before she had expected to
60 on with the same life as the last
forty years had held TIL the eventful
day that brought her the letter from
lawyer In the city telling that she
was the owner Of Seaside by the will
Of her late uncle. Jared Stone.
Seaside was to go on The same as
before. She had that very day COM
pleted the arrangements with Mr.. West.
ley as proprietor, and he was to attend
to everything. Her presence there as
owner was not to be known to anyone
at the hotel save to that suspicious
person himself.
June came and went with little ex-
element at the Seaside except to Miss
Higgin. The season had been cold and
the guests few, but there were rare
days when she and the young man of
the orange tie, Mr.. Harding Graves,
boated. and evenings when the moon
was bright across the water.
1t was the first Of July that Miss
Sophronia looked In her glass ana mar
veled Mt the naccountableness Of love.
"And he says my eyes are beautiful"
she reflected, as she worked at the tell
tale crows feet with the new vanishing
cream that Mrs. Winters, who passed
for forty, had told her about.
But notwithstanding the thE,l of the
new excitement and the softly modu-
lated voice Of her escort, there were
moments when Miss S0phronia was
troubled, one reason for which being
the pretty blue-eyed girl who presided
at the Seaside piano. The other was
the somewhat angular but sturdy form
Of Ezra Bascom, that had a peculiar
way Of appearing in her dreams Of late.
For twelve years Ezra's brilliantly
polished No. 9's had crossed the Higgin
threshold on Sunday evening, and ev-
cry pleasant Wednesday evening they
had driven behind Ezra's handsome
roam; but never a word of love had
passed between them.
But what troubled Miss Sophronia
was that she had promised to write,
and after week of Seaside distrac-'
tons had forgotten.
July brought Its usual flock Of vaca-
tionists and the man Of the orange tie
was greatly in demand. Miss Sophro-
MIA noted this and considered his I'M
selfshness one of his most admirable
qualities. Stifl there were hours that
he stole away to entertain her and
escort her wherever she willed to go.
while all the time the blue-eyed pianist
cast tender glances nj him, while her
cheeks grew pale under the demands
of the Seaside guests
The season was to close the second
week in September, and the last of Au-
gust, her conscience having been more
heavy than usual of late. Miss Sophr6-
nil sent picture postcard to Ezra,
and IN return mail fAr'r~'v attrac-
tive one came in return. In the center
sat a youthful swain on rustic seat,
one arm about ghOstly vision of a
sweet young thing. and underneath.
"This Is lonesome town without YOU"
while the one word ezra" was writ
ten In the corner.
Miss Sophronia put her hands over
her hot face as the realization OF
things came over her.
"POOr Ezra" she sighed. "Oh! this
isn't right and she loves him, | know"
~This." meaning her affair with the
man of the orange tie.
That Mr.. Harding Graves had hoen
very attentive al summer could not be
denied. "Half beau" she had called
him at firsts then later she had con-
gluded that he was an "almost beau"
But of late the pleasure had been
married by the thoughts Of the little
blue-eyed girl, who wasn't fifteen years
older than he. Miss Sophronia felt
sure that she cared for him, and even
II he was pleasant with the others she
decided that she would not be the
cause Of broken heart Mt least, and
then ITS not being true TO Ezra" she
concluded as she rang for the bellbsy
and dispatched formal note to the
man Of the orange tie. pleading head
ache that made their sail TO the point
impossible and thanking him very de-
mureiy for very happy summer.
Two weeks later. back in her little
parlor, Miss SOphronia was planning
for the new house. and as she planned
her fingers were busy on long white
silken seam. Only one thing troubled
her.. She wondered " she had really
had Irritation that summer. To her /,
mind II was grievous sin. and how
could she ever explain II 10 Ezra? inst
then the little Hunter girl came from
the post Office with a letter. II was
from Mr.. Wesley. telling her when he !
would be there to settle the seasons !
business; also 10 learn the terms for
the sale. OF the hotel. Inclosed was the
account OF the employees of the sum-
nier and their wages, and heading II