Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-10-07

~. y. "a II '-1| '''' \. .'
oven ! matter of-fact account Of her
chance meeting with him by the river.
But she had no mind to make herself
unhappy over It. especially az she had
| Just received q letter from the aunt
whose namesake she was which en-
| closed q generous check and the re-
quest to use It In the replenishing OF
| her wardrobe. Katherine's elasticity
of temperament was one of the most
delightful facts about her.
A week later Sterling. the social
portion of 1t, at least, was startled by
the news that Wilton Eliot had lost
all his fortune through an unwise
speculation. It was Mrs. Westford
who brought the news to the Wards.
Pauline, who had been for walk.
came In to find her mother and Kath-
crime still In the first bewilderment OF
their surprise.
"Oh, Pauline, what do you think
has happened to Mr.. Elliott" was the
exclamation that greeted her as she
entered the parlor.
Pauline turned perfectly white, but
managed to control herself sufficiently
to ask
what hiss happened to him,
mammal"
"He has lost all his money. Did
you ever hear of anything so dread
ful?" and Mrs. Ward drew little
fluttering sigh of sympathy and con-
dolence. Her relief was SO genuine
that Pauline felt she must either cry
or laugh outright. She chose the lat
ter alternative as being the safest.
"Oh, is that all?" she said.
"Why, you ridiculous child!
screamed Katherine. What more did
you expect? For my part, can't
possibly imagine a worse disaster TO
befall man like Wilton Eliot"
81 can-several," said Pauline, who
had grown suddenly grave.
"What? demanded Katherine.
But her sister slipped out of the
room without replying.
For several days thereafter Wilton
Eliot's misfortune was the theme OF
conversation in the Ward household
with Katherine and her mother, that
is, for Pauline made no mention of
the affair and did not care to hear 1t
discussed.
Then the nine days wonder ceased
to be wonder, and Wilton Eliot
dropped out of the minds Of every
body apparently.
So a few months glided by. One
, morning Pauline had been sitting at
the piano a long time, playing me-
chanically, for her thoughts were not
, on the music before her. Suddenly
her hands fell from the keys into heI
lap and a tear rolled down her cheek
splashing upon her blue gown. Al
, that moment two hands were laid up
on her shoulders, and Jack Donelson':
, voice, vibrating with happiness
sounded in her ear.
I "Pauline-Pauline, guess what
Katherine has just been saying tt
, me! Katherine, my Katherine now
for she has promised at last to be my
wife,"
: Pauline sprang up with little joy
full cry.
J, ooh, Jack, has she really? Oh,
: am so glad! Dear, dear Jack, yol
cannot know how glad ami"
I ooh, yes, can" the young fellow
said, laughing and coloring, "for l an
so glad myself" Then for the frs
J, time he noticed Pauline's tear-we
}, lashes. mot crying, Pauline-surel.
( not crying?"
Y Pauline laughed nervously.
Il don't know but / shall-for Joy
e Let me go, Jack; want to find Kath
erine."
f And she rushed out of the room II
Z search of her sister.
Katherine was in the parlor, gazin
e abstractedly out of the window at tn
@ snow-filled street. She turned abou
(, as Pauline entered.
e "Oh, Katherine, Jack has just toll
y me! He is SO happy. Are you?
L Pauline threw her arms about he
It sister, and looked affectionately int
n her face.
e "Of course am, silly pate! Jack
d dear boy, and with money enough [
G make one very comfortable. Ate
= all, that is the chief consideration"
+ Pauline's arms fell heavily to he
% sides.
ID 20 Katherine!" she said.
There, you needn't look so woebt
lie gone. OF course I'm fond Of Jack, an
g do not doubt we shall make a mos
= devoted couple" And Katherine Der
with a softened look in her beautifl
eyes to kiss the grave young face.
l. So 1t had all come about as Paulir
once thought it never could. Jack
t. happiness will not say Katherine
rt revealed to her the sad longing {
IN her own heart Whether Wilton Elit
'p loved her or not she loved him wit
all the strength of her nature. A
u the winter wore into spring she VOL
dered vaguely II his promise to CON
IN again would ever be fulfilled, or IL
,h the great crisis through which he hs
e. passed he had lost all thought OF It
1t and her. She was glad that the pre-
In arations for Katherine's wedding
June took so much of her time, ar
worked feverishly until even Katie
i" inc was compelled to bid her take
DIS rest lest she fall i'll. And then can
tie the first sweet month Of spring
ed March, not cold and stormy as was
wont, but warm and bright.
Daily Pauline stole away to walk
the river, where the brown sedi
re grasses were changing to pale