The record-union., 1898-02-27
tiresome, unsatisfactory things. so when
she says, Come, / am ready" he fol-
lows her obediently.
CHAPTER II.

LICK, VINO was that letter from YOU
received this morning." asks voice
sweetly.
|. 1t is one week later and Miss Hast
lings, attended by her faithful satellite,
Dick Jones. is in the farm house parlor.
She sits in big chair, her arms clasped
loosely behind her small, curly head and
smiles upon Dick whom she has by turns
bullied, coaxed and threatened into
state of abiect submission.
No explanation has yet taken place,
though to do Mr.. Jones full justice 1t
must be owned that he has made one or
| two feeble attempts at it. But no sooner
has he felt that the eye of Miss Hast
ings was fastened upon him in angry
surprise. then his courage has oozed
away and ne has promptly beat a mas
| terly retreat.
Letter." he now says vaguely. What
letter? oh, er-yes, now l remember:
funny should have forgotten it; it was
only a letter from my lawyer-nothing
important in it, assure YOU
rs that SOP queries Miss Hastings.
| thrusting one foot forward and examin-
| ing the toe of her tan shoe with critical
! interest Il never knew before that law
yers usually wrote their business letters
on pale blue paper and used silver
SEAL
| The heart of Mr.. Jones sinks within
him. nevertheless he responds airily.
| "Oh, that one was from my sister"
Your sister," shrieks Miss Hastings,
sitting bolt upright to look at him.
why, Dick Jones, you always told me
| that you We're an only child, with no
living relative but your aunt"
We'll, you see'' says Dick, inwardly
wondering if Ananias were any more
fertile of invention than his own miser-
| able self; 1.-The only reason l haven't
| told you of her before is that she isn't
really my sister; she's only my half sis
| ter; she's been travelling in Europe and
l haven't seen her, nor heard Of her
for years"
Mr.. Jones thinks this bit of fiction
made up on the spot masterpiece and
| f1atters himself accordingly. But Miss
| Hastings is plainly not satisfied and
continues to ply him with questions UNI
| til in sheer desperation he cries out:
'Oh, come now, Harry, can't you ever
| let up On the subject? I've told you
all there is to tell about her; can't you
| let her drop? Let's go take a walk
NO, thank you" responds Miss Hast
| ings decidedly, I'm not so desperately
| fond of walking that l care to go out
when the thermometer is ninety in the
shade, as I'm sure it must be to-day. 1t
| would be simply ruinous to my COM
| plexion. Beside with another of
her engaging smiles before which Dick
| invariably goes DOWN. I'm very much
| interested in your sister with just
- IL ii T1,,f &c,
her name. please"
| "Maude," responds Mr.. Jones, briefly.
well, l can't say that 1 am partic-
ularly enamored of the name, but as
| the immortal bard of Avon says, what's
| in name, anyway? I'm sure she
must be very nice if she's anything like
| you, I'm sure / shall like her. Do tell
me all about her like nice, good boy"
| Miss Hastings began to look inter-
ested and inqusitive, so much so in fact
that Dick suddenly remembers that he
| expects an important letter on the even
| ing train and must go at once to the
Postoffice. He arises and even gets as
| far as the door, when Harry's voice.
| with a little laugh in it, arrests him.
You silly child; don't you know that
! the evening mail isn't distributed until
| : O'Clock, and that it is now only .?
There isn't the least particle Of use OF
you trying to get away from me, be-
cause shan't let you. Come here and
sit down." pointing to the stool at her
| feet, and talk to me. II you don't
shall think that you have ceased to
love me-" Thus admonished Mr.. Jones
obeys meekly and seats himself in
|
Now, Dick" begins Miss Hastings,
| in her most persuasive tones, running
| her fingers lightly through his hair,
the very first thing 1 want you to do
| is to show me Maudes letter" Mr..
Jones writhes uneasily but his agita-
ton passes unnoticed.
You see" continues his tormentor,
I'm particularly anxious to find out
| just what sort of a girl this newly
! found sister-in- law -to-be of mine is.
One can always get a fair estimate OF
another's character through their let
ters Don't you think SOP She holds
out her hand as she speaks. Mr.. Jones
turns upon her a look Of speechless
appeal.
Come hurry, I'm waiting" with
| little impatient toss of her head. Mr..
Jones is still silent and motionless.
VERY well,'' says Miss Hastings with
the light of desperate determination in
/ her eyes, Il shall give you until I count
| three to produce it. If you do not give
it to me then / shall search your pock-
cts for it,
| Mr.. Jones has had sufficient expert
ence with Miss Hastings within the
4 4 RI no 40
keep her word. nevertheless he still
hesitates To give that letter up
would mean that now indeed all is lost
"One," she says slowly, solemnly.
i But I haven't got it with me-" des-
perately.
Two"
TIL
ooh, we'll here it is, if you must have
it, but. remember, if there's anything
in it you've only got yourself to blame"
and he hands over the blue envelope
with the air of a martyr.
| Miss Hastings receives it suspicious
| ~ and taking it out of the envelope at
which she does not cast glance, COM
mences to read aloud: my dear, dear
Dick
Hem" isn't that coming it rather
| strong for a sister, But Dick is ut
terly incapable of answering and Har-
| riet reads on I'm going to begin
right away by telling you how much
miss you, and how hard it is for me
| to be separated from you for even
| few short weeks. Only to think /
could have been with you in the eoun-
| try, instead of in this uncivilized little
mountain town, if aunt Sophia" = II
thought your aunt's name WAS Mary"
! ,av,ro q oh