The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-06

to the Miss Wyatts because 1T brought
the New York letters. From the time
that Mary Wyatt had become Mrs. Amos
Forsyth until just before her death.
more than thirty years later, there had
never been a break IN the correspondence
save when the sisters were together. At
last there had come an anxious Monday
evening when no letter reached them, and
later few hurried lines from Mary's son
john, with whom she had lived since his
wife's death, telling of the illness of his
mother, then telegram saying that ali
was over, and finally that desolating gap
that can never be bridged.
Il suppose you have a letter for me"
said Miss Letitia, as Lucy came in with
the Monday evening mail.
1T is for Deborah this time
THAT is very strange. 1t is Johns turn
to write to me-
Miss Deborah opened her letter and gave
an exclamation of surprise.
L hope there is not any bad news?"
Lucy asked anxiously.
mo. They are all we'll. John is propo-
sing to bring all the family on to spend
the summer with u.s.
upon my word, that's very cool!' ex-
claimed Miss Letitia. ''It is very strange
he did not write to me when it is my
turn, and l am the Oldest" she added
II suppose he wrote to me because / am
housekeeper. You can answer the letter
if you like"
II have enough letters of my own TO
answer, thank you. 1 should think Es
Their would have the sense to see that II
may not be convenient for us to have
two grown people and two children and
a nurse and baby to spend the summer"
''She has, and Miss Deborah read an
extract from the letter.
Esther tells me we are althogether too
big a family now to inaict on you, and
as her fathers house is not large enough
to receive us she proposes our going to
Mrs. Homer Newhalls boarding house,
but told her my aunts would feel deeply
hurt if we didn't come to them. OF
course, if for any reason it is not conven-
lent, you will let us know frankly. /
long to have you all see Mary. She IS
beginning to walk and take notice, and
yesterday she electrified me by saying
papa"
John is a perfect fool over that child"
Miss Deborah observed. MARY is thirteen
months old. and ought to nave said papa
weeks ago; Lucy said papa and mama
himself-and boys are not usually so for
ward as girls-began to talk when he
was
For heavens sake spare us those rem
iniscences," said Miss Letitia. What are
you going to write to John?"
"Oh, suppose they will have to come;
but what on earth can we do about Mr..
Gray / don't see. Jack and Lilly will
tease him outrageously, poor creature, and
he is used to such placid life"
81 declare, Deborah I believe you put
the cats comfort before that of your own
family. 1 am used to placid life, too"
Miss Letitia remarked.
''You can protect yourself. If the baby
were only a little younger 1 shouldn't
mind so much. but as soon as a child is
big enough to walk it is big enough to
get into every kind of mischief. Dear
fascinating little thing! l long to see
her, but / would rather see her at the
distance of Mrs. NewhalPs boarding
house."
Then why don't you have the courage
of your convictions and say so to john
"Letitia!'' Lucy cried reproachfuly.
"You wouldn't have the heart to let them
go to boarding house when we have
four spare rooms!"
1--WE can manage the room we'll
enough" said Miss Deborah. Eve can
give them the three south rooms open
ing together
80 you are planning to have me move
out of my room?" Miss Letitia asked.
why l thought you could move into
mine, and I would take the little ROOM
1t would be SO much more comfortable
for them to have connecting rooms and
an open fire."
Miss Deborah had known her sister for
more than fifty years, and her faith IN
the inherent unsefshness of human ma
ture was SO great that she could still
make proposition of this kind.
"Letitia would never be happy in any
room but her own,'' said Lucy, who had
knocked her head against her sisters lin
itations too often not to recognize them.
Its no matter if they don't have con-
Meeting rooms. The nurse and the baby
can be across the hail.
Il am very sorry about poor dear Mr..
Gray" said Miss Deborah, reverting to
her pet. 81 know Eat naughty baby
will pull his tail and make him very
unhappy, and as for Jack and Lily"
John is dear fellow Miss Letitia
interrupted, "but like all men, he is sell
fish, 1t never occurs to him to look at
things from any point of view but his
own
They were coming, actually coming at
last. Miss Deborah had gone to the sta
ton to meet them. and Miss Letitia and
Lucy were waiting in the parlor, which
was gay with wealth of roses arranged
in bowls and vases by Lucy's skillful
fingers 1t was not often that she was
allowed to follow her own taste entirely,
even in small things, but the Others had
been so busy with larger decisions that
they had left the cutting and arranging
of the flowers to her.
''My dear, you have real genius for
fixing flowers said Miss Letitia. She
always recognized perfection when she
saw it, but her praise was given so rarely
that her words brought glow to Lucy's
heart.
At last there was a sound OF wheels on
the gravel, then came gay laugh and
shrill voice voice called out. Mr..
Gray! What an awfully funny name tor
him. I thought he was person when