Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1905-04-14
TWO PAIRS
BY Martha
Mcculioch-W Williams

ing out her hand TO Iocclyii. Ostenslbly
sympathetic, but with a CLEAN OF sat
isfnctiOn in her eye.
II don't" Jocclyn said stoutly.
"Aunty Berintha never promised 10
make me her heir. She did all she
said and morc-gave me my education
with a lot OF frllls In the way OF ex-
trus-dressed me wen and gave me
also a chance Of earning her money.
I wouldn't take IT.
"Why, IL don't understand" Amy
began. Jocelyn laughed softly. "rhe
earning would have Beer easy-to some
girls" she said. 1T only meant being
n missionary. You see. nunty felt that
she herself ought to have gone-she
thought she had heard n cnll that way
but her terror OF men and water was
such she never could venture TO an
Ewer Il. She wanted me to al the gnp
which she thought she had left In the
ranks. Then. too. the poor old dear
knew ia spend her money n | got Il
without the missionary career IN hav.
ing good times. And she did 70 hate
good times! She simply couldn't be
happy unless she was very miserable"
you stayed with her nine years"
Amy said In Il voice OF awe. Jocelyn
smoothed out her black gown md said
cheetfully: Yes. and I'm glad OF Il.
Toward the last she chung to me pitt
~fully-called me her comfort. and all
that. But Il broke me all up to have
her ask my pardon for the will. as
though had a right to be hurt ovcr II.
I've lived 50 useless, child. / 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 wen to u Challoner down IN Tex
as, the last OF the name. She hoped he
would como 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 grandchlld."
"Whcn is he comIng-thls TexanT'
Amy interrupted.
Jocelyn laughed rOgulshly. "Not at
all, I suspect. Amy-Mamy. You'll have
TO put up with Frank Palmer after
all, for even II Mr.. Stephen Challoner
should come he is likely to bring n
Mrs. Challoner along. Early and often
is the Texas motto when It comes to
matrimony, and he's al Of thirty-nve."
Frank has no eyes now for any
body but you" Amy said. trying to
mask spite with playfulness and sue
ceeding rather III.
Jocelyn gave her a keen look. In.
wardly she whistled. n 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 twInkllng
eyes. II 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
tereats. You two were hetrothed i'm
the cradle, I've always heard. by your
respective fathers"
"Oh. that was all n joker Amy said.
but blushed and brldled dellghtedly.
Amy was a pretty enough girl unless
Jocelyn were by to put her out OF.
court. Jocelyn was tall and twenty,
light on her feet. lithely rounded. a fig
IRE 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
Jugated half Of Lynnville-wOmen no
less than Q What wonder that she
had swept Frank Palmer of his feet!
He was a rich mans only child, spoil
ed OF course. but a decent fellow
enough, dutIful to his father and ten
derby 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
he had decided she would be much
fOnder Of JOcelyn before six months
were out. How could she help it,
While the two girls talked OF him he
was saying this 20 the sick woman.
who answered him with only silent
choking sobs and wringlng OF wasted
hands. The silence lrritated him to
the point OF notion. He went out OF
the house far from gently and swung
along the tree bOrdered street. eyes
down. so intent upon his errand he ran
AAhNJ AANy q TAIL hhANAAANM ANAA0M III
stood irresOlute upOn q corner.
"NO harm done; rather good" the
stranger said In answer to his apollo
giles. AT least l reckon so. Il gives
me a chance to speak to you without
seeming like a confidence man. / ought
to be ashamed to say II. but the fact Is
I'm lost-lOst In Lynnyllle. where !
was born a long time ago. Tie Lynn
Vile | remember was another sort OF
piaee-used to be a public square,
where the turnpike went down toward
the river. with a market house and
cOurthouse7-
They've gone out to meet the rail-
road" Frank explained, smiling in
spite OF himself.
The stranger said, "H'm!" then
plunged into the middle Of things with:
Say. what sort OF proposition is this
Craig girl-Miss Jocelyn? You're bound
to know her II you live here"
'she's most adorable Frank an
swered, smiling.
The stranger looked at him. also
smiling. but shrewdly. Its plain she's
run her brand on YOU. young man." be
said. 80 Jon up and tell me who you
nref And how you're hxedf No harm
meant. I've got a good reason for ask
Inc A. ,nw..t. Nl.ft.... H-. -.