Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-12-27

before We left home"
"Ahem! So it was, so it was" said
John. We'll, my dear, what shall We
do with poor John White? He seems
to feel very badly at your sudden de-
parture. l don't think he knew we
were all coming, He acted surprised
to see your mother and l in the
house."
ooh, that was part of his pretend.
ing" said Grace's indignant voice
"Charlie says it's almost time for oul
train, so goodbye"
Goodbye, dear; I'll see you soon.
John went back to the house with
slow steps. He could not understand
the situation at all. One thing alone
was plain-Grace and her family had
accepted long neglected invitation
to visit his family. He remembered
that such an invitation had been sent
at last Christmas time, when he and
Grace were expecting to be married in
the spring, and he remember ed the in.
dignation of his mother and Annie
that no acknowledgment of the invi
tation had been made by the Wilde
family. He could not comprehend
this sudden descent of the four, mol
the sudden departure of Grace and
Charlie.
He entered the house and the
library.
"The boy from the drug store made
a mistake, as errand boys always do,
said he. at was Mr.. Wilde who was
asked for"
"Ah," said Grace's father, rising. al
must 60 over"
Il took the liberty of answering il
for you, SIR said John. 1t was your
daughter. She said that she and hel
brother were going home. She tele
phoned from the Albany station"
Home" eshoed Mr.. Wilde.
"The Albany station!" cried Mrs
Wilde.
"What else did she say, Johni
asked Annie.
"She called me names. What doe,
it all mean, anyway" he asked sud
denly, turning towards the five.
II feel as though l am walking ovel
a mine. Does Grace want to make uI
with me?"
"What a coarse question:" said hi
sister, who was still irritated at him.
II should say not, from her goin(
home," said Grace's mother dryly
"We accepted your family's invitation
for Christmas day because we supposed
you wished to make up friends will
Grace, although it would certainly
have been quite as nice Of you to come
to our house."
"Pm sure we are delighted to have
you here" said Mrs. White.
Eyes, indeed!" echoed Mr.. White
and Annie.
"I didn't know you were invited
myself" answered John bluntly.
"That is strange, when your mother
said expressly that it was your wish
that we should be asked" answered
Mrs. Wilde.
"Papa White!" cried Annie sud
denly, getting up and going to hel
father. Didn't you wear your old
last-winter overcoat into Boston day
before yesterday"
"Yes, my dear. What of itf
wore it yesterday and to-day, too. Ny
new one was at the tailor's for a slight
alteration. It's back now.
Annie dashed into the entry, and
returned with the new one over her
arm, exploring the pockets rs she
came.
Here are the letters 1 gave you to
mail the last day you wore this over
coat! You said you mailed them,
papa"
"I mailed some letters" faltered
Mr.. White.
"Some!" repeated his daughter,
with atfectionate scorn. "You mailed
some old last-year's letters that you
ought to have mailed last December.
That's what you mailed! That's why
we got the mysterious telegram from
the Wildes this morning that they
were to be here this afternoon"
"Well ! Well! Wellw came q cho-
rus of voices John was looking at his
watch.
"Pm going to get the last train out
on the Albany road" said he. "Pm
going to see if Grace and C harlie won t
come back for Christmas dinner, to.
morrow"
Annie rushed at her brother and
embraced him.
go, you darling boy, but 1 know
she won't come" she cried. And
John hurried away from the buzz Of
comment and ejaculation which
stormed about his father.
He reached the Albany station too
late for the last train to the distant
home OF the Wildes, although he had
dashed across the city from his own
station at a cab drivers most tremen.
dous speed. He stood and thought
over matters for a moment, then, after
making few inquiries of the ticket
agent, he got into cab and drove to
an office of the long-distance telephone
He called up the junction station
where the train on which Grace ant
Charlie were going home, must nov
be stopping for ten minutes to wait
for the returning express train. H,
asked for the porter of the parlor car
then for Charles Wilde.
Who are your" he heard Charlie
voice inquire.