The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-01-11
The Choice
of a
Destiny.
I By Florence V. Mead. 5
Observation-Disclosures
8..g..p.. s,l,,g,

's''s''s' s''S ST
There's no denying that Frances
is the life of this club, and it won't
! be half so much fun to 80 without
her!" said Marian Ward.
That's so, agreed Ruth Pember
and Alice Bean, and the other five
girls nodded their heads in doleful
assent.
do you suppose it would do any
good if one of us went to Frances
mother and set the case urgently be-
fore herr"
The faces Of the girls Frightened
preceptibly. but a froWn between
Marion's eyes deepened little i
am impressed with the brilliancy
of my suggestion as muct as
any of you" she went on after
moments pause, but who is going to
be the spokesman? Mrs. Mattocks is
a dear, and I'd be awfully proud OF
her if she were my mother: but she
is so dignifed and sad and knows so
much that | confess I'm wee bit
afraid of her. You know they say she
can pick up a Vergil and read it right
off, and it's been thirty years since
she went to school!
Ruth Pember, who could not even
remember her yesterdays review les
SON clasped her dog-eared copy OF that
poet With groan. Il move we go in
body, and that Miss Marian Ward
be appointed to present
~? Mercy, no! | decline the honor
emphatically. You do it, Ruthie, dear
You have such a sweet voice and such
an insinuating way of twining your
self round ones affections" saidMar-
ian, in honeyed tones.
Ruth titled her pretty head in af-
fected scorn.
Il presume that might be termed
polite way of calling one serpent,
she retorted. 81 am quite imperyious
to your hattery, Miss Ward, but, ac-
customed to being ground under the
| heel of the oppressor, | meekly sub
nit. I'll do anything If only Frances
can go. Come, then, before my courage
weakens;" and the eight members OF
the "Nine-Pin Club turned toward
the Mattocks home
AS they were ushered into the lib
rary a young girl rose from the lounge
to greet them. There were marks OF
recent tears round her eyes, and q
grieved almost a surly oppression
spoiled the beauty OF The fresh young
face
81 can't go, girls she began.
Ruth interrupted her: Perhaps you
can We've come eight strong, to-
plead for you. Even the hardest heart
must soften at the sight of so much
beauty in distress"
She tried to speak lightly and nat
urally, but her manner seemed forced,
and she started nervously as there
was a sound of the soft rustling Of a
womans skirts in the hall, and Mrs.
Mattocks entered the room. She was
slender little woman, the pallor OF
her face intensified by the simple
widows dress she wore About her
delicate mouth were lines Of fatigue
as well as of decision, and the girls
wisely surmised that the matter oc-
cupying their thoughts had already
been discussed between Frances and
her mother
Nevertheless, Mrs. Mattocks had
scarcely concluded her greetings be
fore Ruth burst forth impetuously:
20 Mrs. Mattocks, can't you let
Fances go just this once? We are
going to have such a lovely time, and
it will be so incomplete without her
Just think how kind it is of Mrs, Pow
ers to invite the whole club to the con
cert! All our mothers have said we
may 60 Mama didn't want me to at
first, because it was in the middle OF
the week, but leased her into it,
It was Mrs. Mattock's turn to flush
slightly.
Il have no wish or intention t
appear to criticize your mothers &C
lions by mine, and ! am very sorry
to disappoint you, as we'll as Frances
but | cannot think it best to ALLOW
her to so. 1t comes Wednesday even
ing, and Frances has several import
ant lessons to prepare for Thursday.
There was a finahty about Mrs
Mattocks's words, and especially he
manner. that was extremely discourag
ing to further argument, and the girlt
drew an inward breath of relief wheI
Mrs. Mattocks tactfully changed tht
subject to one less personal.