Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1904-08-18
rcoxr1xurp.I

to love her. AS it is, it is useless for
me to think of her as friend. 1t was
good of her to pay me visit, though,
and l enjoyed every minute Of it,
And what about Frank? Did he
not say lot of sweet things to you"
Alice colored.
ooh, he is nice enough" she answer
ed, land tried to make me believe he
had fallen in love with me, but it won't
do any good. am sure his managing
mamma will marry him to some thin
girl with fat purse"
so that is the way the wind blows,
my sweet sister, is 1t? And yet my
possible future law partner has been
humming Ben Bolt nearly every day
for the past two months! You must
have smiled on him very sweetly when
he was here"
Please do not say any more about
him, Bert" she answered with little
pain in her voice. "He is all right, but
I am too poor and too proud to satisfy
his mother, SO that is all there is to it,"
Then she added in self protection,
Tell me about the island girl heard
you fell in love with on the yachting
trip and for whom you deserted the
crowd" Albert looked confused. cit
is true, Bertie," she said quickly. 81
can see 1t in your face. That explains
your short letters. l shall feel more
desolate now than ever"
"Alice, my sweet little sister," he re-
piled, resolutely drawing his chair near
and taking her hand, ut is true, and I
intended to tell you all about it, only
I hated to do it at first and SO put 1t
OF. She is more than pretty, she is
beautiful. and the most unaffected and
tender hearted girl ever met. But
you need not worry. She is so devoted
to the two old people who have brought
her up as their own that she will not
leave them for me as long as they
1--we" M
Then he frankly told Alice the entire
story OF his waif Of the sea and how
she had refused to yield to his plead
ing.
And now. sweet sister," he said at
last. s'I have plan to unfold, and I
want you to consider it well. i am
now earning enough to maintain q
home, and I am tired of boarding
house life. Itis not likely shall mar
ry the girl love for many years to
come, and there Is no need for us to be
separated in this way. I think 1t is
bestathat we close the house or rent it
for the present, and you and Aunt Su-
san come to Boston. I can hire pref
ty nat, and we can take down such Of
the furniture aswe need and store the
rest What do you think Of the plan"
"Oh, Ishall be so glad of the change,
Bertiel 1t IL so desolate here. and
dread the long winter. But what can
I dosin. Boston? I4cannot be idle"
will mot housekeeping for me be
occupation enough7" he answered,
smiling, 'or you might give music
lessons and study shorthand. need
q typewriter even now"
''But what will Aunt Susan think Of
the change? And 1t will be such
change for her"
"She will get used to It," he an
swered.
Then, as Alice began to realize what
1t meant to bid goodby to the scenes Of
her childhood, the old home, the great
trees in front, the broad meadows, the
brook that rippled through them, the
little church where every one greeted
her with smile, and the grand old
hills that surrounded Sandgate's
peaceful valley, her heart began to
sink. Then she thought Of the pleas
ant woods where she had so often
gone nutting in autumn, the old mill
pond where every summer since baby,
hood she had gathered lilies, and even
those barefooted school children Of
hers.
Il shall dislike to 60. after ALL" she
said at last, ''but perhaps it ia best.
shall be homesick for spell. but
then shall have YOU" Then she
rose and like big baby crept into
her brothers lap, and, tucking her
sunny head under his chin, whispered:
"Oh, IL you were never going to be
married, BERTHE. would leave II all
andstry to hescontented. ! could come
up here every summer, could notf"
Then she added disconsolatelys "But
youwill get married soon. Your beau
ttful island girl will not keep you
waiting so long"
mo sweetheart and no wife shall
ever lessen my love for you, Alice,
who have been my playmate, my com
panion and my confidant all my life"
When they had discussed the pro-
posed step in all its bearings for a halt
hour Albert said: Come, now, sis
sing little for me. am hungry to
hear you once more"
She complied willingly, and, as the
piquant voice of Alice Page trilled
the list from "Lily Dale to "Suwanee
River and back to "Bonny Eloise'
and "Patter Of the RAIN Albert lazi