The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1903-07-17
A FAMILY W00TNG'

rcopyright. 1902. by T. c. Nrcclurc1
Htacdune passed over his coffee cup
fer the second time and helped himself
to a third biscuit from the enyeiopinR
folds OF the napkin on the taboret
The gas log was purrIng cozily. Arc
ma of the rich Java berry permcated
the room. The soft light threw shad
uws, the kind in which CupIds love t.
pest.
The room Itself was one of tlsOs,
dream places calculated to WOO bnch
cIor away from his sordId ;seIf-silk!
curtains, dclicately tinted walls, books
that looked MS IL they had rare tales t.
tell and chairs that invited with armS
Outstretchcd.
NIacdune Inhaled the fragrant atniHS
phere or content and was happy. With
out Intending to make nm inventory he
permitted his eyes to wander from one
flung to another. His glance eventual
~ gravitated to the girl. All. here was
the piece de resistance! What Other
could have worn SO pretty gown OF
worn pretty gown so well2 Who but
a genius feminine could have arranged
every fold and founce Just where II
would most favorably set or tho charm
Ing figure?
Miss Wright was looking at him.
and the victory, almost complete, was
won by her eyes, like masked batteries
behind the dropping lashes. He asked
a hesitating question that brought
reasonably prompt reply. The coffee
urn and the gas log blInked knowingly
at one another.
Four months from the day that Mac.
dune went from the golf links into the
Wright home for a bit of conversation
and u sip OF coffee he was riding west
ward with her on a Pullman, looking
happy indeed
Mrs Macdune beamed over the din
ing car table Mt him. She poured the
coffee and plunged a sugar loaf into
its amber bath with merry little
smile and an air of domestic proprie-
torship.
'Claire." he said. do you know that
little luncheon over the gas log that
October afternoon was one of the
things that convinced me you were the
signpost pointing me along lifc's high
way? The coffee and the tialiy biscuit,
you know. thought any girl who
could set little repast like that was
worth a princes ransom"
The bride thoughtfully snapped
few bits of rice from her travelling hat.
Here was strong temptation to be
met and conquered and she only three
hours n wifei
Jack" she said at last. my sister
Edith made that luncheon. am SO
sorry. 1 know no more about cooking
IT, : / do about Arizona politics"
. elk laughed reassurtnEly.
II was going on to say that the cook
ting was n comparatively small matter.
You see. the pretty little den was ar
ranged with such exquisite taste.
knew n girl who could hang those pie
lures In just those places would make
any man on earth wife worth hav-.
ing"
She looked out of the window.
haze obscurcd the flash OF forest and
meadow, and when she turned to him
again her lip was trembling. But hon
esty won again.
"Oh, Jack. am awfuIIy sorryI My
sister Flo arranged that room while
was IN Buffalo last spring. They all
say my taste is despicable when 1t
comes to arranging things"
AIacdune seized her hand.
''Forget what I said. 1t was only
cooIishness You know. Claire. that
the real motive was yourself; your
gowns too. why, Claire, you are the
envy Oh AAl thG BlLAS Al NSWAAs
could plain old peasant like me fan
to fall head over heels In love with
You?"
"Jack, don't; oh, don'tI" she pleaded.
"Oh. jack, my sister Ethel makes all
my gowns and plans them too"
Having INDUCED in the brutal care
Iessness of being specific, Macdune
would have protested that he loved her
for herself, her personality, her sweet
sympathy, her smile. her voice, but he
feared she would arise and say, Alas
they, too, are all borrowedr' Here he
was, poor man, welded to girl who
could neither cook nor sew.
''It seems, Jack" she said after a
painful silence, that you have married
my sisters by mistake" She made q
pathetic attempt to smile.
The tear in her voice melted him COM
pletely,
''ClaIrep' he exclaimed.
az feel like prisoner ut the bar,
she hurried on. 'The charge Is obtain
ing a husband under false nretenaes
a.,