The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-07-27
The Third
Person
BY Owen oliver.

surprised disapprOval.
"Sweethearts!" | cried "Why, the
child has only just put her hair up"
Mrs. Vaughan laughed again
Shes IS, you know. had a couple
Of proposals before ] was her age.
She matched skein OF wool critically
against the light. For the matter oi
that, ] believe they both propose tC
her about once a week" She settled
upon the skein and resumed her work
1t seems only the other day that you
used to call her your little wife.
Well, welll You were always fond
of her.
"of course" I agreed. "Of course
| am. Little girls are like kittens
They ought not to grow up. 1t makes
one feel Old sighed.
"Old maids and old bachelors are
always older than other people, Mrs.
Vaughan inspected the skein again, as
II she mistrusted 1t. why don't you
marry George?"
,"You aren't available" pointed
out. She threatened me with a knit.
ting needle.
My age relieves me from the neces.
sity of boxing your ears"
MY age relieves me from the neces.
sity of having my ears boxed"
You are boy to me-" She shook
her head slowly.
"You don't look 30" | protested.
I'm 40 next week You are 33,
aren't you?" / nodded. How old do
you feel?"
Anything from 25 to 100. l think
Sis has kept me young. / shall miss
her If she goes and gets married" We
had been friends since she was a
baby
You won't try to persuade her not
to. will your Her mother laid her
hand on my arm.
You oyerrate my powers Of per.
suasion'
81 am not so sure OF that. She
thinks a great deal of what you say"
"umph!" | got up and took my nat.
I'm afraid my reign is over Anyhow,
she hasn't told ME about the sweet
hearts. Good.by."
"Goodby." Mrs Vaughan held my
hand trife 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 1t. II | were
YOU should replace her by a wife
There are lots of nice girls"
I'm afraid / should be hard to
please. Sis and Sis mother have set
my standard. . Bless them! Good.
by"
Then / 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 a funeral What
Is the matter with you?'
"Sweethearts!" / said.
She opened her eyes wide She has
wonderful eyes and splendid long
lashes.
You haven't" she cried. "If it's
that horrid Miss Mellor I'll never
speak TO you again. Then be-
lIeye it's Miss Gray? | 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 a stone with her
parasol.
rs 1t nonsense, Kiddle?" 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, 81 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 you hadn't grown up, Kiddle." !
Well pretend ! haven't" she pro. I
posed, Lets go down the lane and
fish for 'tiddlers;'" She laughed and
took my arm. do you remember
when | fell in the pond?" | laughed,
too.
Don't do that to-day. / can't pre-. /
tend you're little enough to carry
home. About those sweethearts,
"Whlch?" she inquired innocently.
"Tell me about all of them"
We've only an hour and half"
She laughed wickedly, under her
breath.
Then tell me about Jack Read and
Jim Bell Which is it?"
THAT is the difficulty" she stated.
Which do you like best?"
There's birds nest somewhere
ibout here" she observed irreleyantly
Three speckled eggs!"
Which do you prefer?"
They're all alike"
Your sweethearts?"
mo, the eggs" She laughed fri.
imphantly, and | had to laugh too.
You mean You won't coDide in me
low?"
she studied my face, under her long