294
WEST SHORE.
" No, my dear madam, bat the man to whom the was engaged is here
in the city with me, aa la also her twin sister-my wife."
Mrs. Lane was delighted. " Indeed," she said, " I have grown to lore
the girl as my own, and nothing could please me more than to see her rosy
and hanpy again."
" Where shall we find her?" Late asked.
" She rooms on Sutter street-bnt stay ! I will invite her here this even
ing, and you bring your wife and friend."
Beece Rodgers could scarcely restrain himself and wait for the long af
ternoon to pass. Annie was nervous and timid.
" Maybe she will scorn to own me because I have not had the advan
tages she bad," said Annie. Late patted her head reassuringly, and Reece
hastened to say that was not Rose's way.
And maybe she will bate
us for living at the Villa," the
young wife went on.
" Don't borrow trouble,"
Lute laughed. ' She'll
likely be happy to find a
sister."
Evening came at last,
and found Mrs. Lane's
muslo teacher seated
in that lady's cosy
boudoir. She wore
a simple black dress.
Not a bit of white re
lieved it, save the
handkerchief in her
lap; but the dainty
frill of black lace only
made the snowy throat
gleam whiter, and lent
an added charm to the
pale, delicate face. The
queenly head, with its
coll of golden hair, re
clined wearily on the
crimson head rest of
the chair. The host
ess was so full of ex
citement she feared
she would betray her
secret. Presently Uie
door bell rang, and a
moment later the ser
vant handed Mrs. Lane
card
" Only a mutual friend
or two; you won't mind If I
receive them here T Show them amih "
In, Jane."
Rose Wilton was feeling unusually
homesick and wea?, so she barely roused herself to
smooth out plait or two and settled back. She had
been a society belle too long to fear any of the people
sue was likely to meet amonir Mra. T n'. Iniim.u. Tt,.
door opened and Jane ushered In a gentleman. Rose raised
her eyes, gave a little hysterical scream, and the next mo
ment was sobbing In Reece Rodgers' arms.
" I have found you, at last, my darling; how could yoa
doubt me to? Do you know it came near killing meT "
Mrs. Une waited to hear no more, but limutil mit i n.
tertaln her other guests in the parlor.
" Oh, Reece, I did not care for anything so much as the loss of your
love. 1 knew you ought not to marry a nameless, penniless girl, and It was
for love of you, partly, that I ran away, and partly to escape the Insults of
that dreadful woman. She did not seem to care at all that mother (I shall
always call her mother, for she was true to me) was gone; and ber son fol
lowed me here. Wasn't it dreadful T " the trembling girl sobbed.
" Well, darling, there has been a good deal of mystery, but everything
Is clear, now," and briefly be explained matters.
" My sister In this house I " she cried, in astonishment, " and he thought
he was marrying met"
" Yes, love; but he teems quite content with hit wife as Annie, now
Presently they remembered the others were awaiting them, and saorl
Bctd the joy of being alone to the rightful demands of others; besides, Rose
was anxious to tee her titter, tht woman, too, who had been Instrumental
in bringing all thii Joy to her. The meeting in the parlor can better be
Imagined than described. Annie's doubts and feart fled at the first kiss
.MM Mil 'i'lMmm
Wmn ftU I81
WW vftmmWi
from her sister's lips, and the tie between them from that moment was one
of great tenderness. Their likeness to each other was so great that but for
Rose's pallor and the difference in their costumes, Lute could not have told
which was his wife.
It was a very thankful, happy party that took its way back to Oakland
the day following. Reece urged an immediate marriage, bnt the girls op
posed it, and Rose availed herself of the lady's right to " set the day."
" All the great events of my life came on Christmas," she said.
Very strange must have been her emotions as she once more set foot
in the Villa. She laughed and cried, and Annie did whatever she did.
" Wasn't this room yours? " Mrs. Gaylord asked, leading the way to a
sunny room with a bay window.
" Of course it was ; how came you to know ? "
" I guessed ; and something seemed to tell me not to let It be
disturbed. How glad I am that it is as you left it."
Under Rose's tuition Annie became quite a society woman,
and now that the mystery was explained and so much ro
mance connected with It, " the twins," as they were
soon popularly known, became quite the rage. Rose
learned many useful home arts from Annie.
" You see, I am to be the wife of a comparatively
poor man, and must understand housekeeping," she
said.
Annie tamed her head away to hide a smile. Of
course, they were much occupied over the trous
seau ana uie tnousana ana one tnings women
have to attend to when there is a wedding
in prospect.
It was Christmas again. The Villa was
in festal array. The bride was lovely In
her filmy, white robes, and people said
ir r. I J l - . i - i I.
jr. jura, unyiuru iwitea aimosi as weu
yn& 'n er P"' P'" costume. Reece
tr2 Koagers was a nappy man so was
Lute Oay lord. The hit
ter's sister Ellice was
present, notwithstand
ing ber mother's indig
nation. Mrs. Lane was,
as she termed herself,
" mistress of ceremon
ies." Lawyer Rodgers,
senior, bid his chagrin
that his ton should
marry poor.
Among the wedding
gilts was a long, nar
row box, and opening
it, Rose read : " From
Annie," on slip of
paper. Beneath lay a
worn yellow document.
In surprise Rose open
ed it and read, with
wild, incredulous eyes,
the words:
"Last Will and Tes
tament of Florence T.
Wilton."
Her surprise was no
greater than was that
of Reece and Late; but
TIIS MKKTINQ IN Till PARLOR
it .i i .. oi neece ana i.aie dui
of them all. the latter ami h .:r. .i .
i . . , . " -- tuo uiuei genuinely giau. wnen
he came to think of It, Lawyer Rodger, remembered that the deceased had
never said she had not made a will, but had said she ought to, a. .1,. want
ed Rose to have everything.
unjlT. VU!H ,TP'e enough tot both ""PH Md begged to
remam together, to it was settled that they all live there.
tor th. Ceding'"14' gi"'" 'nd bridegn0m whiBpwed-evenIn
" Why, that Is what mamma always called me."
Velma Caldwell Mklvillk.
DOMESTIC ECONOMY.
lTv 'tJ.?TJ' Wh4t do m "P to H Christmas?
he wiJr ' ' "ckiD' D4d CWtma. to.
he won t her t buy no present.. Se. bad boy. don't git no present..