The Cook County herald., 1901-06-22

wonderful delightful possibility
took Theos breath away. What if
he had only been waiting for this good
luck to say to her the words she had
hoped SO long to hear him speak some
day! Dot heard the news rapturously
Rod she cried, we've got to cele-
bratei'' s, !. l-,@s@.,.s.
"Surely!" laughed Merrill. u He and
Dot were great chums. I'm going to
take you all to the stheater tonight.
The last act is bore, SO we'll cut it
! out and drop into Lucy's for supper
and whirl on our way home. NV
sister gives little dance, you know.
You got cards. Won't you come?''
"Of course we will!' replied Dot.
Catch us refusing!"
"And-Miss Marsh?" -
l'.She never goes anywhere Theo-
dosia interposed quickly. ~ S.
"She isn't asked to many places. :"
put in Dot. t'she's young enough and
pretty enough to like a good time,
Why, she's three years younger than
you, Theo Wait minute, Rod TIL
go ask her" : | ,s
Before Theo could interfere, Dot
all elbows and angles as sixteen is apt
to be-was flying up the stairs. She
came back rueful and depressed. ",~-
Jasmine won't go. She says to
thank you ever so much for thinking
OF her-but she won't co.
IT am very sorry" said Merrill in a
low voice. He locked hurt and dis
! appointed. In short time he took his
leave. When he drove up that even
ing he noticed 4 blacl1-clad form leav-
ing the Brinker residence. Something
familiar about it drew his attention
Wasn't that Jasmine Marsh?''; he
asked himself as she vanished in the
shadows of the winter night. He put
the same question to Dot when she
met him in the hall. She lifted a
flushed little face that showed traces
! of tears. III
Yes. Theo got mamma to pay her
a month extra and send her away at
once. I don't know what's got into
Theo. Because Jasmine has to sup
port her brother who is at school out
OF her earnings, Theo seems to think
Jasmine must need money badly
enough to steal!" @ III II. 49,.
Whats that, Dot?"99 Rod cried,
sharply. "Did you say-steal?"
Dot nodded. "Theo thinks Jasmine
took the stone out of her ring. i don't
care how hard up Jasmine Marsh was
she wouldn't do a thing like that!''
! mo, she wouldn't. Dot! ? There was
a ring of emotion in his voice. She
wouldn't for a kingdom!''
Dot flashed upstairs and into Theo-
| dosias room. 55 s .ss@s Ia Il
Hurry up!'' sne cried. Rod is wait
ing. Are you going to screw your feet
| into those slippers? You'll never do it
in month of Sundays! They're two
! sizes too small for youdo make
haste!'' S=s4 1 #e. *.3s.s. &s${5t Hi 81 ssss
Ia A final frantic struggle with her new
kid slippers, a grab for her flowers a
clutch at her opera bag, and Theo was
on the landing was walking down the
stairs as unconcernedly as she could.
She fancied Rods manner was stiff and
cool. Her physical torture, however,
blighted all mental impressions. The
| pecially She whispered to Dot that
| she. was afraid she could not dance in
them. There's something in one,'
she began. 3ss s
! Dot cut her short with scant sympa-
thy. There is. It's your foot-and its
twice the size it ought to- be to ft ia
a number three slipper! s she declared.
Why don't you kick it off ~
Theo took her advice. She Wriggled
her foot out Of the kid covering When
they were about to leave she thrust
her foot around in fumbling Is and in
effectual search for it. Merrill and his
friend noticed her embarrassment.
hat is the matter r. he asked.
courteously Have Won lost any
thing ~
TIL i her slipper, &, & explained Dot the
terrible. It was too tight. She took
It off to rest her foot. I'll get it for
you, e heo..',,
How me. said Merrill. He went
down on one knee, found the cause