The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-09-01
A Tangled Family
BY CLARE JAYNEs


lar gossip of the season, yet no one
could solve the problem and no one
seemed entirely satisfied except the
new husband. The Vanstone RELATIONS
were vexed, the servants sulked, and
the widows son and daughter, Charley
and Mile, just of age, imagined their
prospects blighted.
"Oh, George, what shall dor said
Mrs. Beverley--which was the lady s
new name-ready to cry.
Don't mind 'em, my dear!" said her
husband, with great, rolling laugh.
They're only children; they'll grow
wiser as they grow Older
But the squire's determined good hu-
NOR aggravated his stepchildren more
than any amount of positive opposition
would have done, and they made no
effort to conceal their feelings.
81 never, never can call that man
father" said Millie.
my dear, he doesn't want you to,
said Mrs. Beverley.
81 can't endure the sight of him!"
pouted Mile And Charley says ex-
actly the same thing"
"Charley is a disobedient. migrate
full son." sobbed Mrs. Beverley.
But here Mr.. Beverley himself came
to the rescue.
Young people," said he, II don't OBJ
| ject to you making yourselves as mis-
cradle as you like, blt you mustn't tor
ment your mother. I'll have none OF
this
Millie lost no time in carrying this
revolutionary speech straight to her
brother
very WELL" said Charley, coolly;
"we'll accept the challenge"
"I'll not submit to his tyranny,
said Mile. s'I've got PLAN"
so have IT, said Charles; lots OF
EN-; only they don't seem to work
when try to put them into practice
1--WE been writing to Louise Vane,
said Mile.
1T seems to me as If I had heard
the name before, now that you men
ton it." said Charley, rumpling up his
brown, curly hair. But why should
you write to her?-ald what has sht
to do with our affairs?"
"She sympathizes so thoroughly
with me-" said Mile. She consider!
second marriages as sinful, as | do
And she has asked me to come to he
and stay as long as / please. Their
is a nice hotel in the village, Charley
and her father is very hospitable
And there is a fine supply of shooting
Louise writes, and plenty of agreeable
society,""
Not bad idea," said Charley, re
fectively.
Louise vane received her forme
schoolmate with effusion.
Her father, a stately, middle-age,
gentleman, spoke a few kindly word
of welcome.
"Oh, dear!" said Mile, when sh
was alone with her friend. Il do hop
we shall not disturb Mr. Vane."
Nothing disturbs papa" said Lou
Use. HE will never think of noticin
such chicks as we are. Every old mai
and widow in the village has tried t
marry him ever since poor MANN
died"
How dare they?' said indignan
Mile. Il think the legislature ough
to pass law against second marriages
They are wicked, sinful; an outrag
on civilization"
! ''Of course they are" said LOUIS
"But don't worry, darling. Remembe
that you are with me now
Three months of happiness at Van
lodge followed. Mile and Louis
I, read their favorite authors togethe
and worked hideous screens and in
, possible portieres in crewels.
! But one day Mr.. vane called hi
daughter into his study, with seriou
, face, and when she came out she wa
n drowned in tears, and fled straightwa
! to the haven of her dearest friend
J, room.
"Darling," cried Millie, what is til
: matter? Tell me, l beseech you."
I THE worst that could possibly hal
g pen." cited Louise, tragically. "Par
I is going to marry again."
D Millie crimsoned to the very roo
Of her hair.
: He told me so himself" said Lol
G Use. 81 never stopped to ask him WI
it was that was to desecrate our hapr
+" happy home. just clasped my hant
and cried: 'Papa!' and ran ava
+ sobbing as il my heart would brea
Oh, and I had so hoped that, when
:, was married, we could stay on he
: just the same; but. with a stepmothe
d of course, nothing will ever be ii
q sams!"
e "You married. Louise?" cried MILF
q Didn't he tell you? But it on
happened this morning. Charley hi
i asked me to be his wife"
l. But" faltered Millie, eff your ste
8 mother loved you very much indeed
'Fiddlesticks!" said Louise; .as
a stepmother could love one! Oh,
= hate her already! And you. too. n
e poor wounded gazelle. will be driv,
from your refuge. If l could on
offer you a home"
Its so good of you, darlingi" viii
= pered Mile. But don't real
!. think that it will be necessary, b
: cause, because"
You're not engaged to be marie