Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-01-11
'''WOuldn't Wie-eh?''

:
IL Whereat Clarice would smile ador:
ingly at her lover, and the little 6-year'
old on his knee would cuddle her vel,
low head closer and stroke the shapely
hand that held her. But that; was be-
fore Clarice, chagrihed at some fancied
Indifference, had given three %consecu'
tive dances to another man. Will
Eardsley had reproached her. Clarice
had fared up hotly, saying that she
was tired Of his tyranny, and Muriel
the little sister, had looked on in half
frightened astonishment when Clarice
drew the beautiful, glittering ring from
her finger and handed it back. -
/ Half an hour later Clarice, on her
knees before q big, low chair in .her
room, was suddenly conscious Of a pair
Of soft little arms twined around her
neck, of a wistful small face close to
hers. 70. II ~ IL $G>I>s
Hes gone, Murielv' she cried and
broke down, sobbing. Hes gone-for:
every' :. + 4. (. T.. s 4 <; tsf
The little girls big blue eyes roved
over her sisters lovely, tear stained
face. do you care much, Clarice?". .
>"Do care? She was looking down
on the pictured face in the locket she
held-a good face. with grave. gentle
eyes and a kind mouth. Il shall care
all my life" N.'.1:| ,ssz*%.x:.'.
'Better do what have to when Pm
bad," the child advised grayely-"bet-
ter go and 'pologize.'' -. 4 -.
"Oh, couldn't do that!'' The lOcket
shut with decisive little click. She
sprang to her feet and began to dress
for dinner mot ever, Muriel"
Aluriel sat and watched her with a
little air Of pensive perplexity.
Hes dear!' she remarked ''Do you
remember the night / hurt, my foot. an
he tarried me all the way home? Do
you remember the time nursie got sick
when he went for the doctor? Do you
remember when Brother Tom came
nome from college. an papa was as
angry as could bean mamma cried,
until Willie stood up an said it WASH t
Toms fault really? Do you remem-
ber?"
'*Don't l. thought" said Clarice She
was fastening her gown, with nervous
fingers =. ., -:
You were horrid to him, weren't
you?" -. = ....<. /..~..
"Abominablew admitted the big sis
ter of Muriel. 49,, -, .
The latter went down stairs. She
walked with grim determination. She
sought out her brother in the library.
She asked: Il.
"Tom, does you love me hard?"
Harder than anything in the
world said Tom. IS. ~
'Then you will take me now to ----?''
She named famous Chicago hotel.
"Why. my bird?' -: y,
''That," Muriel grayely assured him,
lis secret" :;"G5 :@ - 49,: :. "a
''I'n take you, lovev' he cried gayly.
And he did. :. (.
The clerk came smilingly from be-
hind the high desk to listen to the
inquiry Of the little maid: &c.. ~ ~
'You stay here. Toni she said to
her tall brother, and swept away with
much dignity in the wake of the bell
boy. ..-.>,+~. '-,~->~..,>r :..-;S =.
viii Eardsley looked up In unmiti-
gated establishment at the vision on
the threshold of his room-a little girl,
all in tan broadcloth, with a big pic
ture hat of sapphire velvet framing her
wide eyed face. Il
"Muriel" he cried, looking up from
his task of putting lot of jacquemi-
nots in vase before a photograph on
the table-the picture of lovely,
laughing face. ~. +
TITS me!'' assented Muriel. "Why
were you putting flowers before
Clarice's picture? Is it because-for
the same. reason-she was crying over
your picture in> her locketY 80 Hy~E@.
"Crying?' He caught her in his
arms. Was she crying, Muriel?' r
"Dreadful! She said she was going
to be sorry forever an ever. l thought
I'd have Tom bring me to tell you,
cause you tarried me home when Il
hurted my footv' - =. NJ M X ns~
"You darling!' cried Eardsley, ecstat-
ically, but irrelevantly. :s>s X r. r. "a
That night after her lover had left,
Clafice came softly in and knelt by the
bed of her small sister. She was smil-
ing She looked happy. i:I:.44.:
What" she asked, .'did you say to
Will this afternoonY' -. s.< 81
:Muriel meditated. 81 dess that's a
secret she decided with much com
posture. He is dear, isn't he? Dood
night! '-Pittsburg Press. -. :. :5 st.
: y: ~ Chinese Humor.> /,