The L'Anse sentinel., 1907-05-18

They're two of Sis sweethearts,"
said Mrs. Vaughan. with laugh. a.
Jack Read and James Bell went past
the gate. looked after them with
surprised disapproval.
"Sweethearts!" cried. why. the
child has only just put her hair up"
Mrs. Vaughan laughed again.
|. "She's 18, you know. had a couple
Of proposals before ! was her age"
She matched q skein of wool critically
against the light. For the matter of
that. believe they both propose to
her about once e week" She settled =
upon ..ha skein and resumed her work.
1T seems only The other day that you
used to call her your little wife. /. :.
Well. well! =. You were always fond
of her."
"Of course" agreed. "Of course
l am. Little girls are like kittens.
They ought not to grow up. It makes
one feel old" I sighed.
"Old maids and old bachelors are
always older than other people" Mrs.
Vaughan inspected the skein again, az
II she mistrusted 1t. why don't you
marry. George?"
You aren't available" pointed
out. She threatened me with a knit
ting needle. H%
MY age relieves me from the neces-
sity of boxing your ears"
my age relieves me from the neces-
ssty of having my ears boxed"
you are o boy to me-" She shook
her head slowly. :;
"You don't look go" protested.
I'm 40 next week. You are 33.
aren't your nodded. How old do
you feel?"
Anything from rs to 100 I think
Sis has kept me young. ! shall miss
her II she goes and gets married" We
had been friends since she was q
baby.
you won't try to persuade her not
to, will your" Her mother laid her
hand on my arm.
"You over-rate my powers Of per-
suasion."
II am not SO sure OF that. She
thinks great deal of what you say"
''Umph!" got up and took my hat.
I'm afraid my reign is over. Anyhow,
she hasn't told me about the sweet
hearts. Good-by."
"Good-by." Mrs. Vaughan held my
hand a trifle longer than usual. "You
will miss your little playmate.
George" she said, gently. you've al
ways been so kind to her; so very.
very kind. She'll never forget; but
=. Time flies doesn't It, ri were
you / should replace her by wife.
There are lots of nice girls"
I'm afraid l should be hard to
please. Sis and Sis mother have set
my standard. Bless them! Good
by!"
Then l went. AS was going slow
ly down the front path Sis swept In
at the gate. She caught me by the
arms and tried to spin me round. The
dignity of her years had not fully
come upon her.
my dear mani" she cried, you're
looking as solemn as funeral What
is the matter with your"
"Sweethearts!" / said.
She opened her eyes wide. She has
wonderful eyes and splendid long
lashes.
you haven't" she cried. III It's
that horrid Miss Mellor I'll never
speak to you again. Then i be-
heve it's Miss Gray? I saw her talk
ing to you after church on Sunday.
and you wouldn't take any notice Of
me. She isn't bit nice. So there!"
II didn't say my sweethearts," re-
marked. She had the grace to blush.
Mother has been talking nonsense
to you" She poked stone with her
parasol.
as It nonsense, Kiddie?" always
used to call her that. But suppose
you won't tell me your secrets now?"
She chivied the stone through the
gate and into the gutter.
"You don't want to know my secrets
now" she said, with an air of griev-
ance. II suppose that Miss Gray
her hat doesn't suit her." She nodded
aggressively.
Miss Vaughan has new hat, OBJ
serve. She used to show me her new
hats before she was grown up. ). +.
wish yon hadn't grown up. Kiddie."
well, pretend haven't" she pro-
posed. Lets go down the lane and
flsh for tiddlers;'" She laughed and
took my arm. do you remember
when l fell in the pond?" laughed.
too.
Don't do that today. can't pre-
tend you're little enough to carry
home. 4. About those sweethearts.
Kiddie?"
which," she inquired, innocently.
Tell me about all of them"
We've only an hour and o half"
She laughed wickedly. under her
breath.
"Then tell me about Jack Read and
| Jim Bell. Which II IT."
"That IL the difficulty" she stated.
(which do you Ike besti"
! There's birds nest somewhere
about here" she observed irrelevantly.
Three speckled eggs!"
(which do you preferr'
"They're all alike"