Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-05-30
The Mother Of MedOra
BY Kate NJ. Cleary.
'I{KI ELL. wouldn't look so tragic

Copyright 1901. BY Authors syndicate.l
yes YOU would" sighed Ne

| yellow braids back over her snoui
der. leaned forward in her low, bed
room rocker, and with a round chiu
popping on a pink palm gazed into
the sparkling fire with dark, solemn
eyes.
you shouldn't have become en-.
gagged to him in the first place, as
serted Nell.
THAT'S easy to say!" Medora
Verne exclaimed in some exaspera.
ton. "How's a body going to help
becoming engaged to a fellow who
| haunts you like your shadow, and
is the only presentable man within a
month of miles, and who makes the
other girls furious by giving you
alone his persistent and fiattering
attentions?"
Nell Harmon's plain, pleasant face
looked back at her grayely.
"But you weren't in love with him,
dear!"
Medora gazed meditatively at the
slim feet on the fender. Fairy feet
they were in their pretty boudoir
slippers Of blue silk and swansdown.
IL didn't know anything about
being in love then" she confessed,
meekly.
"And-you do now?'
Medora nodded, her white brow
ruHling into a perturbed little
puoker.
"Who is he? Do I know him?"
4 series of rapid little mods from
the girl in the blue kimona.
ut isn't Reuben Dever?'
81 should say mott" Indignantly.
Hes fftyl"
Tit can't be Gregory BowersF
"Nell-that childl" A disdainful
toss of the yellow braids. "He isn't
grown mp yet"
81 can't think Of anyone else IN
less II might be Dave Rogers"
Miss Verne raised heavenward a
pair Of appealing eyes.
"May the Lord give you sense!"
she petitioned. Dave Rogers! That
imbecile,"
Harmon's pretty room save the wills.
pering of the fire and the purr Of
the family cat. A sudden suspicion
caused Miss Harmon to sit upright
to fash at her guest suddenly IL
lumined glance.
"Medora-it's never Maurice"
The face in the flooding fireshine
kindled rosily. The lids dropped over
the bue-black eyes. The reply came
in a whisper.
Eyes it's Mauricel" she uttered
the name tenderly.
"Well!" gasped Nell Harmon. Her
great establishment held her silent.
"My-my brother! l never dreamed
Does he know?"
"Oh, YOU stupid-thing How
should | know-if he didn't He had
to tell me hadn't he? That's how |
came 70 find out I was in love!"
"Oh!" breathed Nell, and found no
further word to say. But the flood
gates OF Miss Vernes confidence
were set wide.
"And here Maurice adores me-has
Tor five years, he says, but I'm sure
it can't be that long, for / was only
n short dresses then. And" miser-
ably, "I'll die without Maurice-I
NOW | shalt And here I'm engaged
to Thomas Elder-a fussy, finical,
tiresome. old-young creature! He
won't let me off. I've tried TO make
him hate me since | found out that
Maurice was the only man in the
world for me. But he won't! He
thinks I'm perfection-an win al.
ways be perfection, and that mamma
will be perfection when he meets
her, She's to get back from Europe
on Saturday. I've told him she must
live with us. T. tearfully, "know
most men detest a mother-in-law-
and mamma wouldn't leave her own
house for any man alive - nor
even for me! He says" in a despair
ing tone, 'he-he hopes sol I've told
him she has no money. Think of
that! You know what mammals in
come is! He declares that doesn't
make a particle of difference. | said
she-she was-was bad-temperedl
Oh, Nell! Think Of my sweet mother
being bad-temperedl He vows that's
impossible if she's my mother!
Nell-whatever am I to do?"
"Well, of all the sublimated Sap
phiras I've ever met you've turned
into the worst. Medoral II that's
the effect of love on you. l pity
Maurice! There-therel You little
silly! As if | wouldn't give-oh,
what wouldn't | give to have you for
sister! Harkl Come in. Keturah!
Keturah came ina tan. stout. red
faced woman, with the aspect of q
grenadier and the stride Of an
| Amazon.
Are you ready. Miss Nell? Shall
brush your hair now?"
Not for ten minutes. thank YOU"
Nell answered, politely.
When the door had closed behind
Keturah the visitor drew the folds
Of her japanese negligee around her
with a fastidious little shudder.
II can't congratulate you on your
taste in choosing a maid. Nell, That