Aunt Jane's Nieces in Society

ortance to the renewed flirtation in which they indulged. That they were deceived in their estimate was due to the girl's reputation for frivolity where young men were concerned. She had been dubbed

dormant in her heart was aroused at a time when she was more mature and capable of recognizing truly her feelings, so that it was not long before she surrendered her reserve and admitted to him that life wou

their walks and drives together undisturbed, and during these soulful communions they arrived at such

noticed his presence. Louise, indeed, noted that his eyes were fixed upon her more than once with thinly veiled admiration, and without a

inty personality. When he found her responsive to his admiring glances he was astounded to note his heart beating rapidly-a thing quite foreign to his usual temperament. Yes, this girl would do very nicely, both as a wife and as a banker. Assuredly the game was well w

's bridge whist party, where they had opportunity for an extended conversation. Arthur was present this evening, but by some chance Mershone drew Louise for his partner at cards, and being a ski

e had been guilty of discreditable acts that had won for him the contempt of all right-minded people. That he was still accepted with lax tolerance by some of the more thoughtless matrons of the fashionable set was due to his family name. They could not forget that in spite of his numerous lapses from respectability he was still a Mershone. Not one of the careless mothers who admitted him to her house would have allowed her daughter to wed him, and the degree of tolerance extended to him was fully appreciated by Mershone himself. He knew he was practically barre

er all the evening, took pains to hint to Louise that Mershone was an undesirable acquaintance and had a bad record. Of course she laughed at him and teased him, thinking he was jealous and rejo

holiday sensation of the season and bade fair to eclipse the horse show in popularity. It was primarily a charitable entertainment, as the net receipts were to

f novelties, notions and refreshments. There were to be lotteries and auctions, national dances given by

s to provide the stock of flowers to be sold. "There is no fund for preliminary expenses, you know," remarked Mrs. Sandringham, "and of course all the receipts are to go to charity; so

ning that this was merely a part of the game. To be talked about, to have her goings and comings heralded in the society columns and her gowns described on ever

enses of the flower booth would fall on the should

"Mustn't we pay the

ared Beth, angrily. "I'll h

sn't it? Charity covers a multitude of sins, and I'm just a miserable sinner that needs a bath-robe to snuggle in. How can the poor be better served than by robbing the rich? Go

atsy, kissing him; "but it's

to crush me," he rejoined, smiling at them. And the nieces made no further protest, well kno

ster bouquet of artificial orchids in papier-maché, which reached twenty feet into the air. The three cousins had their

arations might be completed in time, and during this period groups of busy, energetic young folks gathered by

rshone, who, having called once or twice upon Louise, felt at liberty to attach himself to her party. The ferocious looks of his riv

Patsy and Beth took occasion to remonstrate with her for this folly, for having known Weldon for a long time and journeyed w

ience well-nigh exhausted,

poor thing has been dead many years. Not long ago Charlie was tabooed by even the rather fast set he belonged to, and the Von Taers, e

d me so. She said he had been a bit wild, as all yo

If you'll watch out, Louise, you'll see that all the girls are shy of being found in his society, and all the chaperons cluck to their fledglings the mom

e," returned L

young man, glumly, and thereupon he became silen

his annoyance, and she had a feeling that his judgment of Charlie Mershone was quite right. Although the latter was evidently madly in love with her the girl had the discretion to see how selfish and unrestrained w

ng her flowers and bonbons daily, accompanied by ardently worded but respectful notes. Really, Louise was in a quandary, and she frankly admitted to Arthur that she had brought th

in the comedy she refrained from interfering prematurely with the progress of events. She managed to meet her accomplice

girl even better than I do her fortune. And of one thi

do?" asked Di

that is necessary to a

"Keep a cool head, Charlie, and

el

ew chances, do it. Arthur Weldo