The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-10-06
ADlsILLUSION
Rs BELLE MANIATES
ssHR. KENNETH says your mother
must spend the winter in Phoe-

ssD r. KENNETH says your mother
must spend the winter in Phoe-
mix, Rene"
ooh, really, papa?"
Her lifted face. winsome and winning,
was full of interest.
"And where is Phoenix, papa? In
New York;"
why, Rene!"
He gave a perplexed little laugh, then,
raising his voice, called:
Roger, come here!"
A square-shouldered, thick-set man
of some 80 and more years came from
the little reading-room into the library.
His gray, dark-lashed eyes wavered
slightly in their placid steadiness when
they rested on the slight, young form OF
his friends daughter.
Good evening, Renee"
Good evening, Roger. Papa has
called you to witness an expose OF my
geographical ignorance"
"She asked if Phoenix was in New
York, Grant! thought you would ap-
preciate that, and locate the place for
her"
Rene would naturally think the
place. if of any importance at all, was
in New York" said Grant. 81 know If
she were called upon to draw a map OF
the United Stateb, New York would
cover five-sixths Of the allotted space.
Really, Rene, were you not Joking when
you asked where Phoenix was?"
NO" she pleaded. 81 know have
only recently finished but it's so many
years since I studied geography"
"Phoenix is the capital Of Arizona"
"Really?" she asked. 81 didn't even
know Arizona was state"
Don't you suppose territories require
capitals and government"
why did papa think my ignorance
would appeal to you? Is that where you
go when you are out west?"
Yes; my ranches are near Phoenix "
Really? And are we all going
papa?"
mot I. There are things doing at
present in Wall street, and the cruel
code of finance admits of no leave OF
absence. Of course, Marie will attend
your mother and you will accompany
them"
"Oh, dear. And had planned to have
such good times this winter"
Rene, you can't always have good
times for your objective point?"
81 will see that you have good time
out there, Rene" said Grant.
ooh, are you going, Roger? That
makes it better"
Thank you, Rene. I will show you
on the map where you are going"
He found an atlas and opened to a
map of the United States.
Nov, let me see you find Arizona,
Rene"
Her index finger travelled quickly
westward, paused at North Dakota, lin
gered in Wyoming, faltered at Nevada
phantly at Arizona.
There! But what long way; clear
across a continent"
at is quite leap for Rene, in more
ways than one. From New York to
Arizona-a daring Transient" said her
father.
Mortimer was essentially man of &C.
ton, and before the week was ended
his languid wife, her meek and mild
maid, Marie, his reluctant daughter and
his substantial friend were en- route
to Phoenix. They were all travelled
travellers and passed six days comfort
ably and pleasantly in Pullman.
as this it," cried Rene, in, dismay as
they filed out of the car one night. fol-
lowed by heavy-laden, well-fed porter
NO" replied Grant, this isn't it.
This is Ash Fork, where we have to wait
about three hours and then take a
branch road in to Phoenix. Well get
there about two o'clock in the morn
ing"
Roger Grant! Did you make up the
name OF this place? Is it really Ash
Fork"
Eyes. Why not?"
"It's so delightfully."- wild and woolly.
l am going to drop papa and Lucille a
letter from here while we wait. I will
send dayless and dateless epistles, for
l have lost all track of time"
The wait and the ride from Ash Fork
to Phoenix quelled Rene's ever vivid
vivacity, and she was ready quietly and
quickly to go to bed when they reached
the apartments Grant had secured for
them in the family of some acquaiu-
tances of his, Mrs. Mortimer not being
equal to hotel life.
At II o'clock the next morning, radi-
ant and refreshed, Rene flashed upon
Grants vision with meteoric brightness.
Aren't you ashamed" he said, re-
,proachfully, ito let your sick mother
be up and dressed before you?"
"My sick mother! wish she were
ick!"
"Rene!"
ooh. now don't be so stern and scowl-
ing, Roger. You are the only person
know who takes me literally and seri-
ously. Perhaps that is the way you take
everything, and perhaps it's as we'll
some one takes me that way. Now
papa would have known intuitively
what meant. Mamma isn't really sick,
you know. She just thinks she is, and
DR.. Kenneth would order her to any
place she might suggest. meant that