The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-03-28
TWO PAIRS
BY Martha
McCulloch- Williams
cspIshL 1904. hy NAaha MecascsA. William.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

| nunureu uoilarS. And her do
and her cat! | call that a shame,
burning shame" Amy Watts said, hold
ing out her hand to Jocelyn, ostensibl,
sympathetic. but with gleam Of sat
sfaction in her eye.
81 don't" Jocelyn said stoutly
"Aunty Berintha never promised I,
make me her heir. She did all sh,
said and more-gave me my educatio,
with lot OF frills in the way Of ex
tras-dressed me well and gave m,
also chance Of earning her money
I wouldn't take it,
why, IL don't understand" Am,
began. Jocelyn laughed softly. ''Th,
earning would have been easy-to som,
girls" she said. 'It only meant bein,
a missionary. You see, aunty felt that
she herself ought to have gone-sh,
thought she had heard call that way
but her terror Of men and water wal
such she never could venture TO an
swer II. She wanted me TO fill the gar
which she thought she had left in the
ranks, Then, too. the poor old dear
knew I'd spend her money II l got II
without the missionary career in hav,
ing good times. And she did so hate
good times! She simply couldn't be
happy unless she was very miserable.
You stayed with her nine years" !"
Au,v sold O., n ,,of,e, ~ ou,o To,.>i-,,
smoothed out her black gown and said
cheerfully: "Yes, and I'm glad Of II.
Toward the last she chung 10 me pitt.
fully-called me her comfort, and all
that But 1t broke me all up to have
her ask my pardon for the will. as
though l had right to be hurt over 1t.
I've lived so useless, child. l had to do
a little good at the very last she said
So her dear missionaries got everything
but the place. and the family silver
they went to Challoner down In Tex.
as, the last Of the name She hoped he
would come back to live ON the place.
Somehow. In spite Of all her cranki-
ness, she kept the feeling Of race. I'm
not real blood kin OF hers, you know
only her stepmother's grandchild."
when Is he coming this TexanT
Amy interrupted.
Jocelyn laughed rogulshly. Not at
all, ! suspect. Amy-Mamy. You'll have
to put up with Frank Palmer after
all, for even If Mr. Stephen Challoner
should come he Is likely to bring
Mrs. Challoner along Early and often
is the Texas motto when it comes to
matrimony, and he's all of thirty-five."
Frank has no eyes now for any
body but you" Amy said. trying to
mask spite with playfulness and sue
ceeding rather ILL.,
Jocelyn gave her keen look. In,
wardly she whistled, a favorite trick
of hers In case Of great surprise "Un-
less you take that back right straight
I'll bundle you out, neck and crop"
she said severely, but with twinkling
eyes. 81 don't deny grudging Frank to
you. What woman could? But you
have possession, which is nine points
of the law, not to speak OF vested in
terests. You two were betrothed in
the cradle, I've always heard, by your
respective fathers"
oh that was all joker Amy said,
but blushed and bridled delightedly.
Amy was pretty enough girl unless
Jocelyn were by to put her out of
court. Jocelyn was tall and twenty.
light on her feet, lithely rounded, ng-
ure Of grace, vital everywhere, most
Of all in her peach tinted face and
laughing eyes In the three weeks
since she had come home she had sub
Iugated half Of LynnviIle- women no
less than men. What wonder that she
had swept Frank Palmer off his feet!
He was rich mans only child, spoil
ed Of course, but a decent fellow
enough, dutfful to his father and ten
1erly affectionate toward his invalid |
mother. He had intended to marry |
Amy on purpose to please his mother, |
who was fond Of the girl and had |
grown to depend on her greatly. Now
be had decided she would be much |
'onder Of Jocelyn before six months
we're out. How could she help 1t?
While the two girls talked Of him he
was saying this to the sick woman,
Who answered him with only silent
,boking sobs and wringing Of wasted
lands The silence irEitated him to
he point Of action. He went out of
he house far from gently and swung
llong the tree bordered street, eyes
lown, so intent upon his errand he ran
airly into a tall, sunburned fellow who
TODD irresolute upon a corner
"No harm done; rather good" the
tranger said In answer to his apollo
Hes "At least | reckon so. II gives
ne chance to speak to you without
eeming like confidence man. ought
0 be ashamed to say 1t, but the fact is
IN lost-lost In Lynnyille, where
vas born long time ago. The Lynn
lille ! remember was another sort Of
lace-used to be public square,
rhere the turnpike went down toward
he river, with a market house and
They've gone out to meet the rail-
oad," Frank explained, smiling In
pite of himself.
The stranger said, HIM" then
lunged into the middle Of things with
Say, what sort Of proposition is this
'rai0 pirl-.Miss Jocelvn9 You're hound