“Our parents being dead, she naturally took Annette and made a pet of her. She was all for show and loved publicity. Theatrical applause had been the very breath in Aunt Lettie’s nostrils for so many years that she was always attempting to attract attention and get her name mentioned in the society columns of the papers.
“She dressed my sister, even when she was a child, in the most striking costumes. And Annette absorbed her ideas of flaunting fashionable clothing in the public eye. But I tell her that the public eye of Polktown will be literally blinded if she attempts to dress so loudly here.”
Janice’s quick mind jumped to a sudden conclusion. “Oh, Mr. Bowman,” she asked, “did your sister drive over here to see you in a yellow road-cart, with a bay horse with a docked tail?”
“Yes, that’s the turnout. It’s one of Judge Slater’s. Did you see her on the road?”
“We met her as we drove to Middletown,” said Janice gravely.
“Well, I want her to know you. I know she’ll be delighted, for, when you scrape down through the silly surface of Annette’s character, she’s a good girl, after all.”
Janice was troubled. She was quite sure she did not wish to know the girl who had been so rude to her on the road that afternoon. In addition, she was positive that Annette Bowman would not care to become acquainted with her.
CHAPTER X
POLKTOWN’S NEW AWAKENING
Yes, this was Annette Bowman, to whose coming to Polktown Janice had looked forward with such pleased expectancy. Now she was very sorry she even knew Frank, for she did not see how she could escape being introduced to his sister.
There were, however, a few days of grace. It was mid-week when Annette came to the Lake View Inn and Frank could not very well bring her up to the Day house before Saturday afternoon.