The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-07-13
A Tangled Family

were fSAtu, the sViNdHtS sulhVht aii'
the widows son and daughter, Charlie,
and Mile. just of age. imagined thei
prospects biishted.
"Oh, George, what shall doo' SALE
Mrs Beyerley-which was the LADY,
new name--ready to cry.
Don't mind EN-, my dear!' said hel
husband, with a great, rolling laugh
They're only children; they'll grow
wiser as they grow older.
But the squire's determined good hui
NOR aggravated his stepchildren more
than any amount Of positive opposition
would have done. and they made nc
effort to conceal their feelings.
Il never, never can call that man
! father" said Mile.
My dear. he doesn't want you to. =
said Mrs. Beverley.
Il can't endure the sight of hint
pouted Mile. And Charley says ex'
actly the same thing"
Charley is disobedlent, migrate
ful son. sobbed Mrs. Beverley,
But here Mr. Beverley himself came
to the rescue.
Young people" said he. 81 don't OBJ.
ject to yon making yourselves as mis-
cradle as you like but you mustn't tor
ment your mother. I'll have none OF
this"
Mile lost no time in carrying this
revolutionary speech straight to her
brother
Very we'll" safd Charley, coolly;
"se'll accept the challenge"
"Ill not submit to his tyranny"
said Mile. I've got a plan
so have 7. said Charles; 'lots Of
EN-; only they don't seem to work
when I try to put them into practice
I've been writing to Louise Vane
said Mile.
1T seems TO me as If | had heard
the name before, now that you men.
ton it, said Charley, rumpling up His
brown, curly hair. But why should I
you write to her?-and what has she
to do with our affairs?"
"She sympathizes 50 thoroughly .
with me- said Mile. she considers
second marriages as sinful. as | do.
And she has asked me to come to her
and stay as long as please There
is a nice hotel in the village. Charley;
and her father Is very hospitabIe.
And there Is fine supply OF shooting,
Louise writes, and plenty of agreeable
society"
Net . bad idea" said Charley, re-
dectiyely.
Louise Vane received her former
with effusion.
Her father. stately, middle-aged
spoke few kindly words
Of welcome.
oh dear" said Mile, when she
was alone with her friend Il do hope
We shall not disturb Mr. Vane"
Nothing dIsturbs papa" said Lou
sc. He win never think of noticing
uch chicks as We are. Every old maid
Ind widow in the village has tried to
marry him ever since poor mamma
lied"
How dare they?" said indignant
iillie. Il think the legislature ought
o pass law against second marriages.
they are wicked, sinful; an outrage
N civilization"
"Ot course they are" said Louise.
But don't worry, darling. Remember
hat you are with me now"
Three months of happiness at Vane
odge followed. Mile and Louise
cad their fayorite authors together.
nd worked hideous screens and i'm
ossible portieres in crewels,
But one day Mr. Vane called his
aughter into his study, with a serious
ace. and when she came out she was
rowned in tears, and fed straightway !
} the haven Of her dearest friends {
pom.
Darling" cried Mile, what is the
latter? Tell me. beseech you" d
The worst that could possibly hap d
en-. cried Louise, tragically. Papa s
going to marry again"
Mile crimsoned to the very roots d
her hair. Il
He told me so himself" said Lou Il
e. 81 never stopped 10 ask him who
was that was to desecrate our happy e.
tfbg NUM- JASA AiAoptu NY MINUS ~
Id cried: Papa! and ran away. 8
bbing as II my heart would break.
b. and I had so hoped that. when I b
as married. we could stay on here
ST the same: but with a stepmother.
course. nothing viii ever be the
me-" VI
You married. Louise?" cried Mile. ri
Didn't he tell you? But It only d,
opened this morning. Charley has nj
ked me to be his wife"
But" fatered Mile. IF your step e.
other loved You very much indeed"
"Fiddlestlcks!" said Louise: as IL %
stepmother could love one, Oh. 7 ~
te her already, And YOU too. nv By
or wounded gazelle. will be driven d.
IN your refuge. II | could only 81
er you a home" VI
It's so good Of you. darling," whis- n
red Mile. But don't really ~
Ink that It win be necessary. BE- ell
use. because" sti
You're not engaged 20 be married. ot
%" almost shriekei Louise. struck DO
tn a certain consciousness in her wi
ends face b.