Smyrna times., 1906-10-24
A Tangled
Family.
By Clara Jayne.


new husband. The Vanstone relations
were .vexed, the servants sulked, and |
the widows son and daughter, Charley |
and Millie, just of age imagined their
prospects blighted-
ooh, George, what shall DEP" said
Mrs. Beverly-which was the lady's
new name-ready to cry.
"Don,t mind 'em, my dear!" said her
husband. with a great rolling laugh.
''They're only children; they'll grow
wiser as they grow older"
Young people," said he, "I don't
object to you making yourselves as
miserable as you like, but you must Mt
torment your mother. I'll have none
of this
Mile lost ne time in carrying this
revolutionary speech straight to her
brother.
every WE'LL" said Charlie. eoolly;
"we'll accept theehallenge."
"I'll not submit to his tyranny,
said Millie. Give got PLAN"
$50 have l." said Charley, "lOts of
'em; only they don't seem to work
when try to put them into practice. +"
'I've been writing to Louise Vane,"
said Mile.
SIT seems to me as il 1 had heard the
name before, now that you mention it,
said Charley, rumpling up bis brown,
curly hair. ''But why should you
write to her?-and what has she to do
with our affairs?"
"She sympathizes SO thoroughly
with me, said Mile. "She considers
second marriages as sinful as l do.
And she has asked me to come to her
and stay as long as please. There's
a nice hotel in the village, Charley;
and her father is very hospital And
there is fine supply of trout and de-
lightful shooting, Louise writes, and
plenty of agreeable society"
mot bad idea," said Charley, re-
fectively.
''Oh, George, what shall we do?"
cried Mrs. Beverly, turning pale when
she comprehended that her children
were gone.
"Give 'em their heads" said her
husband, composedly drinking his
coffee. Never drive young colts with
too tight rein. They'll be glad to
come back in six weeks or less.''
Louise Vane received her former
schoolmate with effusion.
Her father stately, middle-aged
gentleman, spoke a few kindly words
of welcome.
"Oh. DEAR" said Millie, when she
was alone with her friend, 81 do hope
we shall not disturb Mr.. Vane."
Nothing disturbs papa" said
Louise. "He will never think of NO.
ticing such chicks as we are. Every
old maid and widow in the village has
tried to marry him ever since poor
: mamma died"
! GLOW dare they?" said indignant
r Mile. II think the legislature ough
; to pass law against second marriages.
8 They are wicked, sinful; an outrage OF
. civilization"
'Of course they are," said Louis
But don't worry, darling. Remembe
that you are with me now"
: Three mouths of happiness at Van,
. Lodge followed. Millie and Louis
read their favorite authors together
and worked hideous screens and i'm
possible portieres in crewels.
,, And all this time neither she no
g Charley wrote line to Mrs. Beverley
One day Mr.. Vane called his daugh
l. ter into his study, with serious face
= and when she came out she wa
{. drowned in tears and fed straightwa,
Le to the haven of her dearest friend
room.
"Darlingl" cried Mile, "what
the matter? Tell me, beseech you.
1.-THE worst that could possibl
happenl" cried Louise tragically
- "Papa is going to marry again."
HE told me so himself" sal
Louise. never stopped to ask hil
who it was that was to desecrate GU
happy, happy home. l just clasped m
by hands and cried, 'Papal' and ran ava,
on sobbing as if my heart would breal
Oh, L had SO hoped that, when wa
al married, we could stay on here JUS
- the same; but, with stepmother, O
he course, nothing will ever be the samel
a. you married, Louise" cried Mil
fe ee lie.
80 didn't he tell you? But it onl
'h' happened this morning. Charley ha
asked me to be his wife,
But" faltered Mile, eff you
n stepmother loved you very much i
deed"
"Fiddlesticksl" said Louise; g
il stepmother could love onei Oh
the / hate her already And you, to