Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-10-03


won't wonder at it when you hear the
new sweethearts Sarah-Susan
Miss Sarah-Susan Gum"
Billy turned all colors. Connor his
chum, laughed eXplosively and said as
soon as he could speak: BILLY. | call
that positively immoral! You had bet
ter be counting twins. How ever will
you fix it? You may propose to Susan
and be rejected or accepted by Sally
You may even be married wrong
Think, too of being always a mere
gunners nate
"Shut upw Billy interjected, his face
scarlet, but grinning in spite of him
self "Wait till you've seen her at
least Mother makes fun of her names
because she can't find fault with her
any way else. And Sue isn't to blame
She didn't name herself or choose the
family she had to be born i'm
"No, but you do choose the family
you marry into" Mrs. Wheat cooed
She was less than twenty years older
than Billy and still very pretty and
very lively woman.
Connors thought her stunning. So
did his Uncle Tim. Harking back sud-
denly I'm his mind to something year
old, he whistled aloud and asked alb
ruptly: Say, Nanny Wheat, is 1t the
same way with Tim? Did you turn
him down because you wouldn't be
Mrs. O'Toole?"
1t was mammy's turn to blush. The
blush made her younger and prettier
than ever. "Who says | had the
chance to be Mrs. O'Toole?" she began,
but stopped as both the youngsters
growled derision and unbelief.
Tim was the worst ever" ConnOrs
said decidedly; couldn't eat or sleep;
used to hang out of the windows all
prom week just TO stare up the street
toward where you were staying: in
the greatest fidget. too, to get his place
fixed up new. And then, after he'd
walked about with you one teeny half
hour, he quit-cut out everything eX-
cept my allowance and scooted across
the pond with just half steamer kit
Don't say you don't know why, mann
N.Y. 1t won't do any good-nOt with
us two. We know. He wented-be
cause you scented him. Poor old Tim!
You have a heap on your conscience,
nanny! How could you do it?'
Don't you understand Larry, dearT'
nanny said. still blushing. 1T was
all On your account. | couldn't bear to
suppiant you" Her eyes laughed, but
Larry COnnors saw under the laughter.
IF that was your game you went
blind" he said. Don't you see, Tim is
so near the years of indiscretion-they
begin at forty-five-he'l sure fall vic
tim somehow somewhere. You ought
to have taken him, nanny. Then. in
deed. my future would have been Sc
cure"
Where is he? Have you heard from
him latelyf" nanny asked. her eyes
suddenly downcast.
Larry shook his head. He was tear
ing around toward the midnight sun
thought maybe the icebergs would re
mind him of YOU" he said. But that
was six months back-long enough for
him to be buried or married.
He always talked of Ireland"-
nanny began. signing family.
But he didn't care for it unless you
were there 20 see it with him." Larry
interrupted. Il think I'll cable him to
come back right away. Maybe he will
be ready To sacrifice himself for your
whim-carry off the adorable Gum and
so save Billy"
81 had rather-almOst-she had Billy"
nanny SAID inconsequently. Tim
is dear but-'IIon. Mrs. Timothy
O'Toole" Dear me. could cry when
/ think of it. Why wasn't he born
something elseY
smith. Jones, Brown or Robinson"
Larry commented.
Mrs. Wheat got UP and walked quick
ly away.
Billy went 10 the window. Larry,
staring after the vanishing lady. was
amazed to see her head droop and her
bosom swell. Clearly she was on the
point of sobbing. He followed her soft
~ and said as she flung herself on a
couch: Tell me. nanny. You're play
ing n game. What is it?'
How did you guess?" nanny said.
speaking very low. with her finger on
her lip. You mustn't ever let Billy
guess it," she said. ''He doesn't know
about our money. 1t came TO me from
my uncle. the dearest. straltlaced
soul. He thought second marriages sin
ful-splritual bigamy. he called them.
So | kept my fortune. which will be
Billy's fortune. on condition of remain
ing always n widow. Now you see
why had to send Tim away"
AS IL he cared for your money!
And he'd never let Billy lose" Larry
said exultantly. But he bent his head
reverently to kiss mammy's hand as
he added: But. oh. you are brick!
You made up all this about the name
to blind that blessed boyY"
II had to-.there-there wasn't any
thing else. Tim was such n gentle
man." Mrs Wheat said. smothering a
sob. "You won't tell him. Larry. but
all this teasing over his sweethearts
name is just to keep him from suspect
ing. don't really oppose him. although
| think he is making n mistake. He has