Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-08-09
TWO M0URNERS.

In Woodbury. she was forced 70 Keep her
grief TO herself because she had not been
officially engaged To Jack She thought it
might hnvo been ll,tlo easier 10 bear il
her friends had known how unhappy she
was and with what good reason With
this great secret sorrow in her heart the
ordinary routine Of life grew painful. She
had not spirit for tennis parties; she hated
her gay summer frockS, sho even wished
she need not act ns bridesmaid 10 her
cousin Susie She used TO lie awake mt
night. and think about Jack, and wonder
how much DC had minded being drowned.
However Celia went to her cousins
wedding, and spent three days away from
Woodbury. The news Of tho wreck was
fortnight old ana forgotten by most people
when she cano back again. She arrived
by morning train, sent her trunk TO
Bccchdcne House with porter and walked
homo through Woodbury. High street,
where she wished 10 do some shopping
AS she went into the statiuncr's she saw
Fannie Potter there girl sho know
slightly and dislkod If IL had been pos
sibc she would have escaped from the
shop rather than speak 10 Fannie, but she
was recognized at once
Good morning, Cola, said Miss Pot
ter, putting down packet of black edged
envelopes and coming forward For "A
short time some years ago the two girls
had been in the same class at the high
school, and on Tie strength of this Fannie
continued to address Cola 10y her Chris
tian name She did not often get the
chance Of doing 500 The Pottors werc not
people with whom the Grcys wished 10 be
on friendly terms Mr. Potter was an at
torncy of doubt.ul reputation 1t was
wei! known that on Fannie > behalf lie
had threatened well 10 60 farmer with
breach Of promise case and that tLc
young man had Cnly got of by paying
substantial sum Since that time Fannie
had dressed more fashionahly than ever,
but she had not been asked for her hand
and heart again
Celia bought what She wanted and was
about To leave the shop WHOM Fannie fol
lowed her and said That they might as
well walk a littio way together She was
going past Hoccad,uc
Celia had Lo cSeuso CA tLv Tip Of hcr
tongue. so shc Gla as she was asked, al
though she rather objected 90 he seen IN
Miss Pottcrs soci,ty The two young
women walked through tic town togcth.r
and were soon ia quiet country road IL
was ii very hot morning
You mus; find chat gown rather
heavy said Cc.:u. who say that her com
panion wore mourning deep cnOu4 u for
young widow
Ny heart is very heavy said Fannie,
with an acccutuatgd sigh
Celia reflected She had not heard Of
Mr. pottcr's demise, and Mrs. Potter she
had seen at the station dressed IN bright
blue
Il did not know you woro in trouble,
she said civilly
It was rather difficult TO be more than
civil. because i'anuic showed her grief in
such ali objectionable way She had
pulled out a pocket handkerchief with
broad black border and was sobbing into
it so loudly that any they passed stared
after them
Didn You Euow;" howlcd Fannie
No said Cola What Is the mat
TO-
thought every one know am stay
ing with The Testers That is why have
To pass Bccchdrnc
Celia felt as If her heart stopped tor
moment and then won't on again in a
greater hurry than was comfortable She
laughed rather uorvou,ly and Said
are not in mourning because you are stay
ing with the testers, ! suppose
Wy hat hoartlcss girl you must bo 10
mako fun Of us when we are in such trou
blel" sobbcd Fannie she paused wAii2
wave of extra strong emotion shook EoT
breast, and then size added in scpUlchral
tone, Poor Jack Lester is drowucdr
Il know that. said Celia sharply, but
/ don't see yet why You should re in
mourning
Jack and ! were engaged
Celia turned ashcn white Otherwise
she made no sign SEo walked ahead dog
gedly and kept her open sunshade between
her companion and herself
lie gave me this ring continued
Fannie, pulling off her glove Look at
It'll From Jack To Fannie is engraved
inside Poor dear Jackr
Celia raised her sunshade little and
glanced at the ring She thought it rather
vulgar and quito suitable for Miss Potter
1t consisted OF large emerald surrounded
by coarscly cut diamonds She thought IL
did not look like Jack 5 choice
How long -" she began, and then, to
her vexation. she could not 90 on Her
heart beat too much
How long were we engaged Oh, only
just before he sailed No one knew of it,
hut when | heard that he was drowned
wrote to his father and mother / felt
sure they would bo glad, poor, old thingsl
i am staying with them now
Really said Celia, and then, having
arrived at the gate OF Becchdene, she rath-
CT abruptly babe goodby.
From her mother Celia learned that the
impossible story was true. Woodbury. rang
with the news The Testers were great
people, the Potters very little ones. No
ono could understand why Jack Lester
should have made such trumpery choice
or how Fannie with her blowsy beauty
had managed to captivate him Without
the ring she would hardly have persuaded
any one that she told the truth. Directly
the confirmation of his death arrived she
had put herself into mourning and drawn
down the parlor blinds, while Mr. and
Mrs. Potter, with an air of great surprise,
spread the story of her bereavement. They
had Ut known Of any engagement, they
said, until poor dear Fannie swooned at
the news OF the wreck and afterward ex-
hibited her ring. She nearly swooned
again when Colonel Lester called She
said he reminded her - strongly Of her
beloved Jack
Colonel Lester and his wife were elderly