The suburban citizen., 1902-06-21
HER MOTHERS
PRIVATE SECRETARY
BY HONOPA.
BY HOMO p A.

| ness Of an experienced bookkeeper
Social notes and family correspondence
were frequently trusted to the enthu-
siastic little girl. Before she went into
high school she had begun to make her
self indispensable TO her mother, from
whom club circles and society eXacted
! large dues. In school the girl added
eagerly to her other studies a portion
of a business education and a domestic
! science training. Her one thought was
how to make herself as valuable rs pos.
sible, her mothers private secretary.
She had returned from her four years
at college with a polse Of manner and
m executive ability in household and
social Affairs which astonished even the
mother Her nature was a large gem
erous, gracious one. and Mrs. 0ldheid
felt puzzled over the girls strange out
burst Of feeling. She was sure she was
too graat-hearted for jealousy; it could
not be that. 1t must be the thought of
parting. she wished now that she had
broken the news more tactfully. She
Lad imagined Miriam would accept it
.
to write the letter to Mr.. Hawley her.
self She sighed while she folded the
sheet aad put it lingeringly in the en-
yelope 1t hurt her to think of the
breaking up of the home circle and of
AIiyiam's grief.
The girl returned from her tramp In
time for luncheon. The bracug fall
air and wind had blown a magnificent
color into her cheeks and whipped the
rebellious strands of her hair into clus-
tering curls, but there was a new
thoughtfulness and a shade Of trouble
about the glowing face which the
mother felt rather than saw. She did
not speak again of the prospective we'd
ding, tactfully setting it aside for other
topics Late in the afternoon Mrs. Old
field drove to the depot to meet her
young sister, who was returning from
a few days visit in Boston.
do not speak to Miriam OF the en-
sagement," said Mrs. Oldfeld, while
the horse logged leisurely homeward.
"Why?" asked Elizabeth. with sur
prise.
"She feels the breaking of slsterly
ties far more than had any idea she
would. / have seldom seen her give
way so completely as she did to-day,
Let her come to you to talk it over
when she feels like IT,"
That night Miriam came. Elizabeth
sat curled up in a big chair before a
cracking wood fire She was luXu-
rious creature. who loved warmth and
color and beauty. She had tossed q
few sticks Of driftwood among the
= glowing embers. Long tongues Of blue
and green fame sho. up like weird
illumination. Miriam drew low chair
q In front Of the hearth and wrapped her
arms about her knees. 1t was another
childish pose which had clung to her
9 Elizabeth smiled when she noticed It.
II suppose you are very happy, Ellz
abethT said the girl slowly, land
ought to say all sorts of lovely thing;
, TO make you-happier. That is the Gus
tom, is it not?'
, "Yes. only l want you to feel youl
: congratulations, Miriam. You will,
think. when you come to know Robin
as we'll as do"
Tell me all about it-where you me
. him. when you were engaged and
everything"
. Elizabeth smiled happily.
- 81 met Rob two years ago In SvitZ
!. erland. when your mother and l wer'
= coaching with the Hamltons. wen
back to my studies in Paris. We cor
!. responded In friendly sort of way un
: til last spring. One afternoon when
left Marchesis he was waiting for mi
:, !, on the sidewalk l had fancied him il
America; could not believe for a min
ute it was Robin. That evening h.
= asked me 10 marry him. We agreed L
keep it 4 secret. He is associated Fl
, business with an old uncle who doe
- not want him 10 marry, and I-"Eli2
abeth laughed blthely-"well, | ha
talked so idlotically for years abou
=. being welded to my art that I-well,
- did not feel like announcing our en-
~, elgemont Immediately. did not tel
y. even sister Anna"
is "When did Mr.. Hawley go to Paris? Z?
n asked Miriam slowly
y. early in April" said Elizabeth.
n. 'It was in March, wasn't IT, that tn
70 papers told Of your inherlting Grand
ID mother Weirs's fortune"
or "Shame on you, Miriamw cried th
IF elder girl, angrily. She jumped fror
10 the chair and drew herself to a full
~ slender height.
le elizabeth, do not be angryW plead
le ed her niece. Il want to be quite sur
pr the man who takes you away from ou
u home is worthy of you"
-o He is.' said Elizabeth decidedly
4 "My money does not come into Rob
i. consideration. He will be a wealth
d. man himself at his uncle's deat1