ALICE THORNTON'S ROMANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 204, 2 October 1909, Page 3

ALICE THORNTON'S ROMANCE.

"Oh,auntie, if I could only know "said Alice Thornton, as she nestled down nr the side of a pale, sweet-looking lady who was lounging in a plush-covered easy-chair by the open window. "What, child?" Aunt Kate questioned, letting her soft white hand stray caressingly over the bonny head that leaned against her. though she hardly needed to ask. knowing, as she did so Veil, her darling's thoughts. "Which one loves me best?' "Well," the lady said, thoughtfu'ly. "you surely know which one you care for the more. They are both desirable suitors. Frank Lopez is very devoted, and 1 think that he -loves you; but, Alice, you aru an heiress, and it is a .fact that, I believe, has weight wila hnn, and even with Harold Montrose." ,

"0 aunt! I do not think they care for my fortune. They are neither of them poor." "I know that, child. Still, I fear they would love you less if vou were a poor girl."

"I wish I could test them, auntie, though I see and Alice musi-d| over the important subject with a shadow of thoughtfulness resting upon her fair'face. Frank .Lopez was a banker's son, aid would at some time become heir to a large fortune. He was intelligent, relined, and, Alice thought, excecdinglv ] agreeable; very much in love he ap peared, judging bv his frequent cull-', land Alice, orphan as she was, was nc one but Auut Kate to love and caress, thought it very pleasant to receive s'lc'i devoted attention. Harold Montrose was quite the reverse of Frank Lopez, who, with his dark Spanish face, his bright black eves and proud bearing, was of Southern birth. Harold, with fair and snnnv fae 3 . rich brown hair, and eyes of deepest blue, was one to inspire confidence. His father was dead, and he and his mother lived in a handsome cottage at the extreme limit of the city. They were, in affluent circumstances, and though there seemed no real necessity for it, Harold Montrose was fitting himself for [lie legal profession, and had hopes of being admitted soon to the liar. One morning Alice eame down to the breakfast-room to find Aunt Kate the'e before her. It was quite an unusual thing, and. seeing her aunt busy ovev her letters, she entered eoftlv, and. stealing up behind her, imprinted a kiss upon her pale, delicate cheek. Exquisitely fair and lovely was the young girl, and a sweet sfiiilc, played around her vivid lips, but as Aunt Kate looked up, her face was so pale, her eyes so sad and tearful, that' she was startled. I "Why, auntie!" she exclaimed. "Arc you ill! Have you had bad news!" Aunt Kate drew her arm about the slender form and kissed Alice before she spoke a word. "lly child," she said at last, in tremulous tone, "the news concer-js you; the letter i 6 from our lawver, Mr. Cartwriglit." "Tell me. Aunt Kate," Alice said, growing pale and standing erect as if to meet the blow. 'The bank in which your money was deposited- has failed, and your fortune is swept away. sfy child, you are penniless," and she gave way to her grid "Don't auntie," Alice said, essaying to soothe her excitement. "Pel-imps something will he saved; and yon kno.v this house is mine; wc can live here still."

"On whatasked Aunt Kate, when I she grew calmer. "This house will shelter us. but we must have food and clothing, and the few hundreds I possess ,i were deposited in that bank." Food ami clothing were important| items, ami Alice found that she must toil for her daily bread. i Aunt Kate, thongf stunned at first by their great loss, was not one to give up in despair, and she and Alice laid plan after plan, to be rejected final.y as impracticable. At last Alice, who had artistic taste, decided to give her attention to decorative art. and. fitting herself by the necessary instruction,' she turned' their parlor into a studio. Hut where were the lovers of Alice Thornton's prosperous days? With th» coming of adversity, 'Frank Lopez showed his true colors. He came to say good-live, ns business had suddenly called him to the Continent. His leavttakiug was cool and formal. Not a word of love, nor even a promise to write, and Alice remembered her aunt's words.

Harold .Montrose called, but not to say good-bye. Ho came to oiler the love of a warm heart, to ask Hit- question he would not venture when Alice was rich. ami slip could at last draw 111,, distinction bvtwoen (lie false and the true; lint though her heart thrilled wildly with intense emotion, she answered ' "Xo." Aunt Kale was feeble. she was growing old, and silo would not leave her penniless and alone. Sim hoped to earn enough hv her decorative work to support them' lioth, , and against Harold's entreaties she remained firm. Xor would she give him ja ra.v of encouragement for tly?"future. Thai she cared for him the tell-tale Mush, the tremulous lone, the downcast eye told eloquently; but Harold was obliged to go as ho came, and Alice tried to convince herself that she luid acted wisely. Aunt Kate knew nothing of Alien's decision until it was given; then she renionstrated. but it was useless, and Alien resolutely threw her energies into her I new employment. From several shops she obtained workout! from one of theiu a large order for liaml-paintoil fans was given. She didl not know that the proprietor was ail in-j timatc friend of Harold Montrose, nor Hint Harold had particularly requested I him to give he r employment; but it waV true, and she went home with a supply I of work (hat rendered her hopeful anil' contented. Alice became interested in iicr work, and the result was succor I | Her employer was delighted. The fa us' I were unique iu design, and their novelty] brought them at once into demamj, '

I Another order ami then another, anl. | Alice grew enthusiastic. She scarcely I stopped to rest, and in a few months j such intense application began to upon her health. , The work wa? remunerative and amply 1 supplied their net Ms. while Aunt Katv by I'm icy knittimr. was adding her initej to the family fund- | Harold Monlro?: h id never called since j the night of his rejection. Alice met hint i occasionally, aud in* was always gravely j polite, but a shade of reproach seemed ' 10 eloud his face, and >he som'.limes v .-hed he would ask once mure that name question of a year ago. She had ] weighed the subject, and perhaps she bad not ben wise in her eager desire to he independent.

It was twilight of a sultry August day. From early morning Alice had bent ovef her work, for the order was an imperative one that must be filled at once. She was exhausted by the labor aid the intense heat, and us the last piece--a cluster of lovely pansies—was finished, ! &he leaned back with a 6igh o! relief and fell asleep. How long she had slept she could not tell; but she awoke suddenly with an in. explicable sensation of fear—a fancy that someone was In the room.

A storm was threatening, ami thunder was henrd in th* distance There came n vivid flash of lightning, and the objects in the room were revenled. Bonding over an open cabinet in the corner of the room stood a tall man, am. hv the aid of a dark lantern ho was <?x amining every drawer and recess that ho (onld open.

| Alice shook with terror. A few treasured jewels, heirlooms of the family, were there, and though they wore in 'concealed drawer, he. might lind them. Without the presence of mind that slu might have exercised when le6s exhausted, she echoed a low cry, ai\d the burglar turned and faced her.

Completely unnerved, she sank back in a faint.

When she revived there was a light in the room; she was not alone, for Harold Montrose was standing by her side. As he was passing the house he had heard Alice's cry, and stepped from thv verandah through the low, open case tment, to meet the burglar making a hast v retreat, and Alice just recovering from a swoon.

Fortunately, the burglar had failed tn discover the hidden drawer, and thfie was nothing of much value taken; but, like a true lawyer, Harold took advantage of the incident to impress on Al>ec the danger of living alone; and to avoid all risk in future, she reconsidered the question he had asked a year before, and now answered "Yes."

Aunt Kate no longer has to knit. She is a capital companion for Alice, and Harold considers, himself the luckiest man in the world.