The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-12-30

you were so mean as to stay away up
to this hour-fcur o'clock in the after
noon!"
Now, considering that had gone most
reluctantly on an urgent telegraphic
summons from an old invalid client
(and wealthy cne), who desired, /
knew, some alteration in his will; that
I had done without breakfast, so as to
catch the early train; had driven six
miles out from the station, in the teeth
of a biting north wind; had worked hard
all day, and had hurried back to town,
to dine this special evening at home
with my unreasonable young sister, it
seemed to me l hardly deserved her
present keen reproach, one intensified
by the look.
But here, as in the matter of age,
women have their own special way OF
looking at things; and if they tumble up
circumstances" with "volitions," Sin
tent" with necessity it is doubtless
owing to their aloofness with the hard
problems of life, those terrible conun-
drums of bread winning which force us
to be more cautious in our apprecia-
tons and lucid in our differences.
Gust so," I remarked, without at.
tempting an explanation of the why's
and wherefores of my enforced absence.
Gas am here now, suppose you tell me
what the trouble is, little one"
''It's awful" again calculated Susan,
impressively, and began to believe it
really must be, for there was just the
suspicion of a dimness in her big, gray
eyes.
began to feel dim, stern animosity
awake in the bottom of my heart. toward
Cameron. If that man has CAUSED any
grief to my winsome. joyous pet will
neither forgive nor tolerate it, if human
intervention is OF any avail.
awful" l repeated, lightly, scanning
closely Sues lovely, flushed, perturbed
face. what is the catastrophe which
has befallen during my absence? Has
burglar carried off your diamonds!
or have your dressmaker and tailor
spoiled your new gowns? Say the word
and I'll cable to Paris and London:"<
Neither, you silly boy" answered
Sue. cts worse. Just read that
Sue tossed over to me an open en-
velope containing a note or letter, and
fixed on me look of surprise and des-
pair. So.
'Well,' I said, turning over the mis-
sive without reading it. II can't see
how this can interest you so keenly, as
it is not addressed to you."
On the envelope was written in Came
ron's abominable handwriting miss
Louise Morrison"
'That's exactly it," said Sue, tear
fully. II opened and read it,
+ I looked at Sue in establishment. I
knew her to be that exceptional thing,
strictly and scrupulously honorable
young fellow-woman, I meant to say.
The idea of Sue deliberately opening
her friends letter, especially when she
knew-well, never mind.
I was now fully determined not to
tolerate Cameron's early and late visits
any longer. Iwould not have'him send
dollhouse flowers to- Susan, and lavish
like attentions on Miss Morrison at one
and the same time. We would inaugu-
rate new system with the New Year.
"You opened and read this letter?''
1 asked, slowly possibly with some
slight severely, when you knew it was
not written to you?"
Sue flushed deeply, and Took Of
panied indignation swept over her face
"Why, Tom; who do you take me for :
OF course not! Thought it was for me
or 1 would never have broken the sea
of the horrid thing! It's awful" added
Sue, clasping her hands with gesture
of despair.
"What's in ito" 1 asked, bluntly.
Read il" responded Sue.
"You must read it, Tom, to under
stand and help me out. Louise viii
never, never forgive me! and she viii
never, never. believe that,I did not ope1
her hateful letter. out of mean curl
osity." r. ,'''- -.
"Of that you may be very sure, m,
dear child" said.
This was not 1nagnanimous, but I wa
seriously annoyed at the absurd i'm
broglio into which four people were be
ing plunged by Cameron's folly.
J For it had not escaped me that Sue