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About The Coos Bay times. (Marshfield, Or.) 1906-1957 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1916)
rifiiii Aiweu Love At First By Enos Emory WW HSWH'. ' Talis f L&ft tare and Sight 0W, Aunt Hose, lffl going away to bo rone six weeks ut feast." Bettlo Blood bc'oro Lor astoulsh cd relative urruycd for a Jouvwy. Mrs. Lane gasped, "Out, Dcttlc, what of Mr. Dean? 7 You know ho is to bo Forro...i.. i.im ..untie. And. BJumTymur'ryhlmintl.o Wi'i'. .;, -i.i.i twiif Hint i I'm ace anub '" "-" . ,; Tenoneo(tlicocut.und.drcd y !.-. i.i-i.rvili ne Is decided Ke a lrl Is even born. ,1'vo R the matter "" .. .. ... P. ';...- ii.. n rrv out n v fa- Ii1 ! J" ; nl'ro never rrun off until Itho danger I. Lano threw up liar bands In "But all mm ",uuu' ..i int count with me." mW Be lo, "Luckily oaa ten i """t" 7 l. ji.,1 r 1pnn mo III Lnd butter during my lirotlrae. I not too extravagant. Ho fixed in u...i.ia nrrnnniont to lure that I ahoultl havo plenty ot Iu:bSt: -i wild llin bread Ba inns iuub - ---ftter. Hut ttio Idea of marrlago wn io oonojiouo iu uiw " fil Mr. Deane nas cumu n b" r ' t.i.. lm Ihim nnvcr lever u ""'" "" , ., ." fee If more than probable bo F. -1-1 4. Iava mill rl1l auawnw 6' '"'"". ""V, fl it for turuiug mm i " HERE'S no uao talk ing mother. We've just got to erono mlzc. That's alll" Farmer Cobb's Rtulky framo filled Hie narrow door nay of tho hot klt clicu whoro his ovor patient wlfo had spent tho longBum- cinulng vegetables for tho Cob's pale face flushed slightly glanced almost guiltily toward uiuloncd stove, upon which 1 Just placed an even moro nnti- ittak broiler. ner Cobb followed hor gazo and I comternatlon. indyCobb. aro ou crazy or has at affected you? la thut incut I sIsT William!" pleaded tho gentle "It'i Just a II o steak. We'vo lid It onco beforo this month." Kft before? And this makes la one month and today's only of the month! Now, mother. it to atop. We can t afford t." Inow, William, but It's Tomiule's HE Woman's Club met that afternoon ltb Mrs. Blalsdcll, uho had an old, stately house full of old, stutoly, Kru floiisly worn tilings. And Mrs. Blulsdell was like her house of a past generu- vleum. - "' ' ei " fill thin . "a.1 accit. She Wl!?f Perclug black yes. 1Haiimn .? no worument j ;o a rue-y darted Crfi!"?. Insistent. She did drEr.J"Vomn Club, which Wilrt. ii EiY- "c .Hut.8l'. knew oHtinMBULI,ar,lcil',l,tlme. ut at id "Ul"ri uuu looked rblchMT..,Hi."r.l"e,'p t0 "i -" """1'iuuu wus read f. nARAH S,00 l the gate 0f ber ""I Httlo white 'ottage aud peered ar down the dusty d. Mis. surah as an Industrious na one gctlq spin r so u wuB Ql her wont to vBn ,8'riB notira" Vi u.br,8ul ani1 lr,retoini,?i ln. Idleness, only iMolnLe,;8ttt,ndiu''e-o r tamacui-u E to cleu thu u. ?Aftto5s h fcBnWOth0P tatters n .ii?,of lUo tow. Ho iWlD88,",Ue .""tdlslrib- ts wppiiei C ' a ,nat lu very -' U83 Sarv't ..-.. . .. , tuueu me opened bor pockctbook Hnd counted Kb contents. "Whoro ' aro you going, Bcttlo?" asked Mm. Lano. "I'm going to try for a poHlllon as governess to it lady nt Wood Eud. You k, auntie, iu throwing up my mar riage with Doanc. I'm also throwing up ull my prospects for futuro wealth and muat go to work." "Wood End!" said Mrs. Lane, Htur tlcd. "Yes," said Bottle, carelcBBly: "a lady wltb two children. I'm foud of kiddles, and whllo govorncBslng 1h sorriethlng 1 don't know much about J'm detormlued to try It. You sec, uuntlo, the wealth I refuBo to marry I must raako by labor." "Why not rcmalu nl homo uutll you nt least meet your flanco? I'vo heard that ho Is a very perBonablo creature; good looklug and well educated." Bcttlo counted hor money ovor itguln to muko Btirc. "Thirty dollurB," hIio said, thrusting It back In hor purse. "It's rather far to Wood End, but thir ty dollurB will lake mo thoro und fetch mo back In cuso 1 prove unsuitable. Goodbyo, Aunt Rose. Be good to Mr. Deane, nud bore's luck to both of you." Mrs. Lano watched tho girl's retreat ing figure until U disappeared. "To think of Bettlo going out govornoBsIng and to Vood End of all pluccs. It's fate." Bottle settled herBelf comfortubly Iu Iier scat and ntnuscd licrscir for a 4 Farmer's Change Of Heart birthday, and last night, when I pass ed tho boys' door, I hcurd them say how tired they wero of vegetables ull tho time nnd how they wished they had aomo Btcak und soand so" Tho volco trailed off wearily und a llttlo Bobbing breath caused the tired womuu to turn her head uwuy from tho angry man thus revealing hor faco to r bright young girl of 18, who camo singing cheerily from the dlulng room. Tho Bong died Instantly upon tho girl's lips, us, dropping tho armful of whlto clothcB sho was carrying, she sprang townrd tho llttlo woman and pillowed tho tired head upon her breast. "You dear llttlo mothorkln!" she cried rcbelllously. "It's u shame to havo you work yourself to death);' "Thon why don't you help lier in Htead of gallivanting over the country ull tho morning?" Tho girl turned quickly toward her father. "And why was I 'galllvuutlng,' us you cull It? Trying to boII a few boxes of berries In order to get u few cents to buy something to wear. It's no iioo tulklng, father, wo muot havo a little money. Just n little, father. When John Forgot ing. Some of these women wero old, a fow young, and most about her owu age. Sho know them ull. Hho ex changed culls with them. Half u dozen wero cnthuslustlo members or her whist und embroidery clubs, with three or four sho wus on iutlmuto terms. Sho had believed thoro wore no surprises In tlicm for her. How could thoro bo when sho knew their houses, their clothes, thoir very per tiouulltlcs so well? And yet hero In Mrs. Blaisdell'H library, each woman presented ti new aspect to hor. Sho roll amazed, timid, almost awe struck. Of course she hud known that Mrs. Armltugo und Mrs. Reese und it lot moro wero unlvorslty women, but sho never hud thought of their educution amounting to more than the superfi clul boarding school training which sho horsclf had received, As for Miss Shoplund -could anything be moro ustonlshlug than tho way sho quoted Pluto und Berger und Ruuschenbusch? Mrs. Bland believed that Plato was Homo kind of an undent; of tho other two Hho had uover heard ut ull. Yet it seemed that not to know them whs Ig The Career Of postman as his horse, much tho worse for 25 years or service, approached ut u leisurely gult. "Land o' Goshen er I hain't got u letter Mr ye!" Miss Su rah, taking tho letter, mado busty in quiries und ctered tho hotiso; that is, Bhe entered uttor every fly wuh care fully whisked away. Meauwhllo Mr. Orulium Jogged on. deeply regretting Miss Sarah's reticence and her so crecy concerning her correspondents, Miss Sarah read her pretty pink note. "Dear Auntie I havo decided to go to Europe us a nurse, but it .worries me greatly to leave my dog, Cherry. I wondor It you would mind taking him for ho is very good? Your loving niece, EUNICE." "Just llko Eunice," remarked Miss Sarah. "Sho always wub notional. Well, I can koep tho dog lu tho ebed and he won't be much bother, I guess." whllo .watching tho different people who ut Intervals got on and off tho train. She was attracted by Borne chil dren In tho Beat ueross tho way from horB, whoso chattor wus amusing. Sho would not arrlvo at her destination tin. til late Iu tho uftornoou and hor thoughts revorted to tho probablo ef fect her abBenco would have upon Mr. Donne when ho should make hla up pcarauco tho ensuing day. Sho closed her eyes and Btnllcd, only to open them widely, und Bprlug to her root. Sho felt u sudden, torrlble Bliock. There wiih the IiIhh of escaping steam, u tour or grinding wheels. The couch reared vlolontly eudwlHo and overturned, fol lowed tin Instant lutcr by tho screams of tho wounded 'passengers. Bottle never knew how It wus that sho found herself standing on the ground ut n sufo dlsthnco from the broken coach. A Btrcuk of blood crim soned her cheek, otherwise hIio was unhurt. A full muu In summer fltm ucls grasped the two stiiull children she had noticed In tho couch und tossed them up bculdo her, Buying. "Stay right horc, you two kids, whllo I go find mamma," and buck ho plunged Into tho wreckage. "Como on, joung lady," ho presently called to Hettlc. "I guess you itro tho only woman ablo to walk. Everybody seems to need help." Bottle sprang back to the coach. Tho Iran, tull man looked his approval. "You aro no oowurd." bo said, "Now, hero aro two women terribly hurt. Cau you hold this arm whllo 1 pry up the please, to get cheap little gowns for the church picnic." ."How much money hae you? You ought to havo u lot. You've becu sell ing berries all summer." "Yes, but who wuntB to buy them, when their own farms aro overrun with them?" demanded tho girl. "I only havo ?2." "Well, $2 Is $2!" sagely remarked her father. "Put It In tho bank, leave It thoro and you will alwayH huvo money." After which brilliant remark, Furmor Cobb turned toward tho door to Intimate tho culmination of tho in terview. Ucntly forcing hor mothor into tho brokon kitchen rockor, which, lucl dcutully, rcftiflod Jo rock, Fannlp Cobb turned pleadingly to her rather. "Daddy, perhaps two dollars will got me a dress, but how about Muttlo? Sho needs a now dress, too, and she's been kind of ailing this mitnmcr and couldn't sell nny berries and so sho has no money. PIciiho, dad, glvo mo a llttlo for hor. Bho will never ask for it herself." "And a good tlilug sho don'tl'' ro tortcd the old mun, ".'cause she won't get it no more nor you will. I hnveu'l norance of tho most culpable kind Why, among thoso learned women who rend big books, and, what wbb more, discussed them, sho folt u fool. In a mirror opposite Bho aaw herself like u panel picture-u full bosomed shapo, lu perfect blue, with u vivid fuco, dark-eyed, carmine touched, framed by rich dark hair, ami a charm ing hat. Beautiful! Oh, yes; very beautiful. Tho most perrcct womau in the room perhaps oven in tho whole town. Hitherto sho had alwayH been glad of her lookB, und had taken every reasonable means to preserve and on bunco them. Sho hud felt that as far us she was considered, beauty was ul most everything, and yet evory ouo ot theso women was Impressing upon her tho fact that beauty was of ho little moment that If tho inside of your head wbb well furnished, tho outsldo need ed uo uttentlou. Whut was beauty? Miss Shoplund was tolling her with dellcuto conclsonesB that beuuty wuau mero garment which fuded, wore out. fell awuy und left tho soul naked. God pity tho soul that could uot bear this unveiling! On the other hand, intel Eunice arrived a week later, carry ing lu her ama a tiny whlto dog with very loug hair. "Isn't ho lovely?" alio asked. "Holl he a nice companion for you, auntlo. "H'ni." said Miss Sarah, "Why do ou rail him Cherry?" "Oh. becauao ho likes candied chot rles so much. Isn't it un origluul nume. uuutlo?" "Very," said Miss Sarah, grimly. "What's In that big box?" "Oh, thoso ure Cherry s things, his comb and brush and ribbons und soap und his medicine," she udded hustlly. When Eunice, after giving many di rections about tho care ot Chorry. had doparted, Miss Sarah, sighing, sat down heavily and looked ut tho sort, spoiled, little dog. "Well, I don't envy myself this job! Cherry's first week was an eventful one for him nnd for Miss Sarah. First timber thut weighs hor down?" Sldo by Hide they labored. It seemed to Dettlo that tho leuu, flannelod man was ubiquitous. Here und thoro ho went, always whoro tho need was greatest. And whero ho wan thorp was hIio ulso. Bettlo marveled ut his skill his knowledge, his patience. It scorned to her ns sho worked bcsldo him that she had known him forever. It was hard to realize that Just u fow hours previously sho had not known that micli u man existed. Sho was learn ing fast. Other help soon eumo from a nearby utatlon und ho desisted from hU la bors long enough to speak a fow words to tho two children, who had remained where ho had placed them. Bcttlc smiled ut tho two mites stmid Ing with tightly closed fists iiear her. "You got hurled," ventured tho boy, pointing to tho gash on her check. "Uncle Bob won't let ub got hurled. Ho's taking us home." "Who aro you?" asked Bcttlo Idly. "We're Puss and Hobble- Burns,'.' said tho little girl. "Wo live nt Wood End." Bottle thought quickly. These must be tho youngsters sho wus goluit to teach. Whatu strungo mooting! llad ly Injured, their mother lay uncon sciously umong the wounded. Hettlc sighed deeply. "Why that slghT' queried tho mun in flannels. "Wo havo both douo wbat wo could here." "t am so selfish," she returned light any money for tomfoolery." The expression of tho girls' faco changed. Tho great eyes snapped an grily us bIic returned: "No! You haven't any money for us, but you spent D,000 this mornlug for another plcco of land thut you'll never use lu u thousand years I" "That's dlfferont!" muttered tho old mau. "I have to Icavo something for my Boas." "Cosh, dud," exclaimed ouo of them, who hnd upproached unpercelvcd und now poked his hend through tho kitchen window, Bcrrcnlcss, of course! "Never mind tho land. Give uh a tnsto of meat onco In w whllo by way of a change" Thon, us he noticed tho droop of his mpther's head, ho wriggled his great framo through tho window and clasped both arms around tho quivering figure. "I'm only Joking, llttlo mothor. I dou't cure If I over tHBto meat. There, there, dctir!" as tho poor llttlo woman rested her head ugulnst his shoulder und wept pllcously. With u Hnarl of rage. Fanner Cobb stumped out of tho room. "All tho love for your mother," he grumbled. There's no room far mo In 5r lect wus light. Sot a light within tho ugliest vase und straightway tho vaso glowed with loveliness. Even tho charm of this room depended upon light. Tuko light uwuy und no duu geon could bo moro uuroveulcd. With every passing moment Edith Bland grew more uncomfortable. At last nho became actually miserable. She could not bear the sight ot thut punel picture or horseir. Sho felt empty, disillusioned, tin worthy. Whut was her beauty worth so long as she lucked wisdom? Her thoughts went back to hor Innocont childish vaultios, to her lutcr conquests, to tho tlmo when John uppearod and first told her that sho wus beautiful. Would ho have) loved hor It Hho had not hud those eyes und thut mouth 7 She shivered. Suppose alio lost hor beuuty by uccl deut suddenly, would ho still lovo her? If thut wus ull of her ho loved would ho not ccaso to lovo hor when he saw her growing fuded, old? Supposo that the thing was beglnulng to happen al ready! That morning something had occurred. Her breath ull but stopped. He had uot kissed her bood-by! Sho A Dog lie iusibted upon monopolizing Tom's bed, and ho barked as only u very small dog can when tho Injured feline tried to claim his property. Hanuah, Miss Saruh'a mald-of-ull-work, com plained of cooklug meat In u sprclttl way for tho exacting Cherry. "I didn't ugreo to cook for no dog,' she grumbled. Cherry killed threo chickens belonging to a uelghbor the day after ho arrived ut his new home. MIbb Sarah, thanking goodness that she had never lost her reason to tho oxtont of ownlug u dog, tried lu vain to quiet Hannah uud to appeaso the wrath of tho uelghbor. Now Miss Sarah could have pardoned Cherry ull theso of fenses, but there was one thing she could not rorglve. Cherry. longing for uttention, hail Jumped upon the table, unnoticed by his new mistress and then Miss Sarah shivered when Bhe thought of Cherry's tluy, pink tongue ly. "I was Just lamenting my own bad luck. I think I'll not finish my Jour ney, but return home. Somehow, this seoma tlko tho end of ull my dreams." He was looking at hor attentively. "Whoro is your homo, if I may oak?" "I livo in Wlnflcld a small town. I started out this morning to seel: my fortuno as a governess." Ho laughed. "Don't let one railway smash-up deter you from tho fulfil ment of your ambitions. Keep going." "I had a sort of engagement ut Wood Hnd. But. of courso this disaster will make u ehungo of program. I really believe thoso two llttlo children arc tho ones I was to havo In charge. The namo wus Burns." The man wus instuntly interested. "My coiiBln'B children," ho said Blmply. "I have a business engagement at Win field tomorrow, but foar It will have to bo cancelled for the time belug. Other wise I would be glad to boo you Hafoly on your Journey." Tho ucwb of the accident had boon flashed along tho lino. Mrs. Lano heard tho newsboys crying their spe cials and four possessed her. Sho know Bettlo hud tuken that particular truln. She hud nearly worked herself up into an attuck of norvoiii) prostration, when tho door opened and Bettlo horsclf walked lu. "Auntie!" "Oh. Bottle!" "At homo onco more." "No more to rumble," cried Aunt Hob. your hearts." "There will be." flashed back Fannie, "when you find room for uh In jour looso cbahgo pocket!" "Hush, Fun! You arc bothcilug mother." "All right. Bill. I'm mum. Dad means all right, but ho Just docs not understand. I'm going to finish sup per, mother dear. Bill, Just put her lu tho hammock. Tlo her In If necessary; anything uh long us you keep bur there." And Fnnnlo laughed merrily uh Bill, suiting his actions to his sIster'H words, curried his now smiling mother from the stuffy kitchen to tho apology or u hummock thut adorned tho front porch. When thu evening mrnl Was pluccd upon tho table, Karmcr Cobb was utlll grouchy. "Where's Tom?" he demand ed. "Sulking. I'll bo bound. Didn't want to hoc the potutoes this morning, but I kept him at It ull day! I'll touch him who's boss!" "Tom Ih not well, father!" Thcro wus u new nolo In Bill's volco that his futhor did not quite understand. "Ho has retired for tho night!" "No supper for Tom?" whispered t j-w$fjIKvsP had not thought about it at the mo ineut. but now sho remembered with renr. And thoro wero other times und other things which seemed to gather Importance In this now light sho wus gulnlng. For eighteen years sho hud been u fearless wlfo und a happy womuu; sho had been satisfied with herself und content witli whut llfo brought her. Now she was no lunger satisfied. Her beauty wan going. Gray hulrs und lines wero coming. Sho wus chuuging. And slnco beauty waa but u garment that sooner or luter would wear out and Icavo her true seU re vealed, sho must expect to Iobo whut tho gurmont ulono hud won und kept for her her husband's love. After tho mooting they crowded round her and asked her to become u member. She shook her head weurlly. "I don't know enough," wuh ull ho could say. Thon she tried to get uwuy. But Mrs. Armltugo trotted bcsldo hor, talking fast about Miss Shoplund's pa per, They parted at the Armltago house, and Edith went to her own. Sho shut the door suftly behind her and as soft 4... v- .isyjjwaa.!! comiug in contact with her faded cheek. Tho "llttlo darling's" next crime was devouring tt half dozen floated sponge cakes. The result was uppalllug. Miss Sarah udmlulstercd largo doses of tho medtciucs, al though sho did not exactly remember which one should cure which disease, but by using ull kinds sho hoped for success. Tho spinster's uephew, coming to call ouo duy, found the house empty. Ho felt In the pansy bed for tho key, us he kuow that was Its hiding place. Who did not know where Miss Saruh kept tho key? In tho sitting room his eyes fell on something soft und whlto curled up upon the piano. On further inspection this proved to bo a dog; "Great Caesar's Ghost! Aunt Sarah keeping u dog! Tho world is coming to an cud." Ho greeted hiB aunt with "I see you "Thut's ub may be," unswered Bcttlc gravely. "Auntie, I've mot a man, I'vo mot tho man. Ho Blmply puts all other so called men to shame. Ho's it. And he's comiug hero tomorrow." "Upon my word," ojaculatcd Mrs. Iino. "And what about Mr. Deane?" "I have turned him ovor to you. I cannot think of Mr. Deane when I am over my head In lovo with this man I urn telling you of." "Oh, Bcttlc. Is ho handsome? Is ho rlch7 lu ho good?" Bcttlo shook her head dubiously. "Not handsome. Ho's lean and tunned. I don't think ho Is rich, for his clothes arc Tar too plain for that. No Jowclry at all. But good! You should have Been litm holplng those stricken peo ple. Yes, ho Is all to tho good." "Oh-o-ol What on earth will you live on," walled Aunt Rose, whoso thoughts veorcd alwayH toward tho practical. "You'll starve." "Not so long as tho cook stays with you, Aunt Rose." It wiis neur dusk tho following aft ernoon that Mrs. Lano waited expect antly lu tho parlor for Mr. Deane. Bot tle had made a hasty flight, leaving her aunt to face tho music nud glvo tho ob noxious suitor his conge. Bather tired of his Btrauge delay, Mrs. Lano casually watched a tall, slim ilguro striding toward the house. "Probably that is Bottlo'n man," thought she. "Why. I do bollnvo ho's coming here." And tho hell ran By Annette Angert jood natured Mattie, touching Fan lightly with her foot "No, dear," answered Fub. "Obi Aud wo havo steak, too! Per IntpH, If I told him-" Tho sentence unfinished, tho girl with u mumbled apology, slipped from her chair and sped upstuli'H to hor brother's room. In a fow minutes, ii scrambling, fol lowed by u tlMimp. accompanied by a Hcrcum, proclaimed tho arrival of Tom und Muttlo lu u couglomcrous heap ut tho Toot or tho Htulrs. Tho magical words "broiled hIcuk" hud proven Tom's undoing. Ho tried to accompany Muttle. Ah ho reached I ho head or tho stairs, ho wus so dizzy, ho could not reaph thu balustrudo; Just catching Mattlo's outstretched hand us the looso solo or her worn shoo caught lu tho torn stair curpet, they arrived simultaneously in u heap ut tho foot of tho stairs. Tom with both legs broken uud Muttlo with a broken arm. After the dopurturo or tho doctors, Farmer Cobb, who hud scarcely Hpokon slnco the accident, watched hlu wlfo und Fnnnlo arranging tho great front chumbor, In which, two cots had been placed ut opposite sides of the room. "Fan!" his voice sounded lionrso nnd J-fftiiw.WWH'JW fpnnmBfffca By Will Scaton ly scudded up to hor room. Sho waul ed to bo alone, to think, to get back hor baluuco If possible Sho luld her hat nnd cout on the bed. Then HUddon ly nho fell forwurd bcsldo thorn und covered her face with her hands. A sound aroused her prcsontly. She looked. Tho door wus open und John stood thoro smiling In upon hor. "Tired?" ho Inquired. "Meeting too much ror you? Guess you round it harder work being Intollectuul thau pluylng whist, didn't you?" Sho stood up. "I couldn't bo Intel lectual if I tried," Bho said solemnly. Sho was thankful sho waa not u cry ing woman. If sho had tears on her faco sho could uot comfort Johu uo calmly. "No, you couldn't, And I'm glad or It." Johu said. He wulked over to tho glass, peered In, and took up her brush. "Edo, do you notice how thin my hair Is gottlug on top?" "You must get a tonic," she replied. "Toulo! Nonsensel What good would that do? I'm getting old, that's ull. You must muko up your mlud to have nu old fellow ror a husband from By Elsie EndTcott havo a lap dog. I've been feeding him u little candy." "Harry," Blghed Miss Sarah "don't speak ot thut creature. He belongs to Eunice. I wish to goodness sho had stayed homo and played maid to him I Sho ia u Red CroBs uuree, I'vo Just been out to buy him somo candled cherries. Did you ever know of u dog thut liked cherries? Did I hour you Buy you had given hlw candy? Mercy oil us! It you've made him sick agalu I'll glvo up. Candy always makes him sick, but cherries never do." Hurry choked back a laugh ut his aunt's dilemma, saylug cheerfully, "Never mind, uuntle. I know Eunice, In three months she'll bo buck uud you will bo free." "Three montlm!" groaued poor Miss Sarah, "Harry, ho chewed up Huu nuh's red sash yesterday, Hannah is going to leave. She thought more of "It's Deane," slid said a moment lat er as tho door flew open und tho girl brought in a card. "Whoro is Bottle? Sho nil all manago hor own scrapes." And on tho heels of tho strango nr rlvnl Betty floated into tho room. "Mr. Doanc," announced Mrs. CAac scvoroly. "Mr. Deane, my nteco, Bettlo Luno." Doutio started forward, surprlso and delight shining on his face. Bottle, pulo us a ghost, looked hor confusion. "You?" Bho gasped. "You?" "Yes. I was due yesterday, but wan delayed and I see you did not rccolvo tho curd I sent you," ho excluimed cugcrly. "Oh, Bottle, I never dreamed you aro tho girl I fell in lovo with nt first sight on tho train." "I'll leave you young people to quar rel your quarrels and calm your own storms," remarked Aunt noBO to no body In purtlculur. "I hopo Bettlo will romo to hor senses. She said If Mr. Deane wcro a llttlo tin god on wheels sho wouldu't marry him. And sho came homo from that railroad wreck head over heels in lovo with n long legged man In flannel clothes vrhom sho declared was ML'" Aunt noBO reached tho parlor door In tlmo to savo her life, and tho cook outdid all former efforts on tho supper. Every tlmo Betlio raised her band to her lips a great, blulBh whlto slonn sparkled so brightly on her finger that her auntie knew without being told that Bcttlo really had como to her sonars. strained. Fannie turned instantly und slipped nn arm around tho stooped Bhouldern. "They will bo ull right, dad. Per haps, it won't be very expensive." "Drat the expenso! They might huvo broken their precious neoksl IIubIi, Kan, what Is Tom suylug?" "Thank you, Just tho sumo for thu stcuk, llttlo mother! It was bully of you to romomber my birthday!" A great gulplnc Hob burst from Farmer Cobb's throat u ho tottered to Tom's bed. "Tom, boy, you can havo ull tho stcuk you wuut from now on, und mother will huvo now things to work with, und tho glrln will liavo an allow unce, and Bill" "Dill has his dear old dad!" replied his first-born, slipping his arm through that or his father. "One thing troubles me, fathor. How are mother und Fun going to look after these invulidsr "Thoy aro not going to look after them. Tho trained nurses tiro on thu wuy and" "Poor putlcut Murandy!" ho finished softly, us ho felt his wlfo's hand Hllpped into ills. "You have heard ni" speak for the Inst time of 'economy!'" i inyMVNtfuM -mwmmiwmmt . i 4 S. t now on. Sho went close to him. "John, I'm getting old, too. I'm getting gray liulra Hor breath paused on a sob. Ho put his arm about her and kissed hor. "That's what I forgot this morn ing." ho Bald. "To tell tho truth, I'vo been hurusscd lately, but everything's oleared up now. Besides that, I hud it bit of good luck toduy- some mouey paid in I'd given up looking for. If you llko wo can go to the city for it row days. Tho children ure all right with Eliza, uln't they7" "Oh, John." Edith suld. She put hor anna uround his neck und laid her fuco up ugntust his buuurn chin. "You don't mlud my being just us I urn, do you?" Ho luughed, "I'd mind If you wasn't," ho Bald. "I wus ufruld you'd catch un intellectual germ over thoro umong the highbrows this afternoon Look into tho gtuss, darling, uud set' tho hundsomest woman lu Westmore und tho "best loved." "Aud the happiest now," Edith euld, with her old bright look ot content mout comiug buck- that sash than of anything she hap." "Hurrah!" said Harry, whose head alwayu uched when ho saw Hannah or tho aubttru hair wearlug a scarlet Bush. "Well," said Miss Saruh. "I bopu I'vo got grit cuough to stuud him. that's ull." Two months later, when Harry vis ited hla aunt, hIio told him of her last letter from Eunice. "She's comiug home, uud I'll bo rid o' that dog. i hopo you'll be coming out often, Har ry. It will bo kind of lonesome. Dla you bring any cherries?" Hurry wus much umtiBed upon re ceiving it note from his aunt shortly after Chorry's departure. It read; "Dear Harry I wish you would buy mo a dog us much like Chorry as you can get. I will glvo you the mouey next time I see you. ..,., "AUNT SARAU."
