The suburban citizen., 1902-06-21
I'm IRlAM," said Mrs. Oldfeld,
INN there Is just one more
letter to write. l have
n 1aft ~ ti1 tba In 81 bppo11sa

NA 'tnere is just one luOAS
letter to write. l have
n left it till the last because
It will let you into a family secret; a
gery happy one, dear
The mother smiled fondly at the
handsome daughter, who sat in low
chair at her side. The girls face
aushed, she bent her head over note
book which lay in her lap, and turned
pencil nervously between her fingers.
The soft autumn breeze from the open
window blew her brown hair into ten
1rils, and It clustered softly about her
white neck. The mother sat for a mo-
ment, watching a rosy flush ebb up
20 the white forehead
"Is there no chance for Arthur, Mi
iiam z" she asked gently.
The girl lifted her head with IN
naughty gesture-it was an odd move
.nent which characterized her as a
child. The mother had often laughed
at it in the little girl; now the pose
seemed TO belong superbly TO the tall,
splendid woman. Miriam looked into
the loving eyes bent upon her and
shook her head with perfect decision.
Mrs. Oldfeld smiled.
Well 20 the letter, dear" she said.
address it to Robinson W. Hawley,
Esq, 242 ST. James Building, New
York"
AIiriam's fingers moved Quiyeringly
across the paper
my Dear Mr. Hawley."
'Irs. Oldfeld paused and put her
hand across her eyes as IL she were
thinking.
This is not an easy letter to write,
Miriam. 1t is hard to give away one
of your own, no matter how much you
trust a man."
The girl sat gazing into the sunshiny
garden.
1T is just like one Of mothers droll,
original little tricks to break the news
TO me in this fashion," she thought.
"Mother never does anything as one
would expect her to-" A smile lowered
about her lips while she put into rapid
shorthand characters her mothers die
tation.
II can assure you, my dear Mr.. Haw-
ley, of the complete surprise your let
ter brought to me. OF course. [ say
yes, since the happiness of one so near
and so dear to me is bound up in such
an answer No one so well as | can
tell you how wisely you have chosen a
wife The loss in our home of one who
fc vi I iVo
but know that when give to you my
sister Elizabeth, I"
Miriam dropped her p>nc,l and sazed
at her mother with a whitening face
She sprang suddenly to her feet. The
notebook fell to the floor
Mother she cried, with a long
sobbing breath, "do you mean Eliza
beth-our Elizabeth"
"Yes, dear" said Mrs. Oldfeld
'hadn't you guessed it?"
"My--aunt-EljZabeth The girl.
question was piteous whisper.
"My daughterw cried the mother
''what is the matter?"
Miriam had sunk upon the low chair
The mother drew her gently to he
arms as if she were a child again ant
caressed the ripping brown hair.
Doesn't 1t make you happy, Nj
riami" she asked II think it would
dear, If you knew him as well as W
do"
"He is-he is not worthy OF Aun
Elizabeth" cried the girl passionately
Miriam, what do you know abou
Mr.. Hawley? You have never me
him"
81 know-but nobody is good enoug
for Aunt Elizabeth. Mother, pleas
excuse your private secretary. Tr
going for n tramp. I've got to be use
to being left alone in the family"
Mrs. Oldfeld sat gazing down tn
country road after the retroating fgur
of her daughter. Miriam was a crea
ure Of moods, occasionally thoughtful
but oftener merry and radiating SUI
shine. WAS it Jealousy" thought th
mother wonderlngly. Her sister, Eliz;
beth, who was only two years oldl
than her own daughter had come in.
her home at their mothers death an
the children had grown up togethc
with such a bond OF affection as eyis
between few sisters. Mrs. Oldfold ha
rare wisdom ic the trS3ing of chi
dren. In Elizabeth she found one ter
perament The child cared for nothlr
but music. SO every advantage ha
been given her. Her own daught
had shown such a wonderful love (
housekeeping that in her training II
mother carried out some thorough
original ideas. AS soon as the lit
girl learned to write intelligently 81
had proudly taken the place Of IN
mothers private secretary. When il
vitations had to be sent out they wei
written in a big, bold, childish ham
The housekeeping accounts were ba
nnced each week IN the Same VI