The Jennings daily record., 1902-07-05
HER MOTHERS
PRIVATE SECRETARY.
BY ON ORA.

q siastic little girl. Before she went int
high school she had begun to make he,
Q self Indispensable to her mother, fror
whom club circles and society exacte,
large dues. In school the girl adde,
eagerly to her other studies a portion
of business education and Il domestic
science training. Her one thought wa
| how to make herself as valuable as DOS
sible. her mothers private secretary
: She had returned from her four wears
at college with 4 pOiSe of manner ant
an executive ability in household anC
social affairs which astonished even the
mother Her nature was a large. gen.
| erous, gracious one. and Mrs. Oldtield
Ielt puzzled over the girls strange out
burst of feeling. She was sure she was
TOO great-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
had imagined Miriam would accent it
with delight. She turned TO her desk
to Write the letter to NIr Uawley her
self. She sighed while she folded the
sheet and put ii lingerincly in the en-
breaking up of the home circle and of
Miriam's grief.
The girl returned from her tramp in
time for luncheon. The bracinc fall
air and wind had blown q magnificent
color into her cheeks and whipped the
rebelliOuS strands of her hair into clus-
terlng curls. but there was a new
Il .G,
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
feld drove to the depot to meet her
young sister. who was returning from
Il few days visit in Boston.
do not speak to Miriam of the en-
said Mrs. OldtielG. while
the horse logged lesuraly homeward.
"Why?" asked Elizabeth, with sur
prise.
"She feels the breaking OF sisterly
ties TAR more than l had any idea she
would. | have seldom seen her give
way so completely as she did today.
Let her come to you to talk it over
when she feels like it,
That night Miriam came. Elizabeth
sat curled up in 4 big chair before n
'iackllng wood tire. She was n luXu- ,
lous creature. who loved warmth and ;
'olor and beauty. She had tossed q -,
eW sticks of uriftwOOd among the
lowing embers. Long tongues Of blue ,
nd green flame shot up like weird =
ilumEatlOn. Miriam drew Il low chair
II front OF the hearth and wrapped her +,
rms about her knees. 1t was another
hlldlSh pose which had clung to her,
elizabeth smiled when she noticed it. 3
suppose you are very happy. Eliz- :
beth: said the girl slowly. land l
ught to say all sorts Of lovely things e
o make you-happinr. That is the Gus.
ON. is it not?''
Yes. only | want you to feel your a
Miriam You will. I h
hlnk. when YOU come to know Robin
s well as ] do"
Tell me all about it-whcro Won mot n
I'M, when you were engaged and V
!,
Elizabeth smiled happily. \
Il met Rob two years ago in Switz fl
riand, when your mother and [ were S
'achlnG with the Hamiltons | went s
lck to my studies in Paris We cor Il
in friendly sort of way I'm.
last spring. One afternoon when I il
1t MarchesTS he was waiting for me
l the sidewalk. l had fancicd him in
could not believe for a min.
~ al,
'ked me to marry him. We agreed to is
'ep 1t secret. He is associated in ll'
lslness with an old uncle who does lt
1T want him to marry. and I--"E!iZ. w
'eth laughed blithely-'well. I had
liked so idiOticaily for years about III
ing welded to my art that I-wcu. | IL
Il not feel lik" announcing our en- 81
cement Immediately. | did not tell III
en- sister Anna" We
When did Mr. Hawlcy go to Paris?" - -
ked Miriam slowly 90 90
Early in April" said Elizabeth. ",
1t was in March. wasn't it. that the -
pers told of your inheriting Grand ~
other WeirSs fortunp:"
Shame on you, Miriam" cried the ~
Ter girl, angrily. She jumped from
chair and drew herself to a full.
nder height. IL.
Elizabeth, do not be angry! plead flo
her niece. Il want to be quite sure th,
, man who takes YOU away from our .
ne is worthy of you" ot
He is said Elizabeth decidedly. ne
" money does not come into Rob's
lsideration He will be a wealthy I
n himself at his uncle's death tiv