The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-03-02

tnen l went away rev weeks.
could not stand it here, and now that
/ am back it is worse than ever. ]
despise myself for caring, but hate
Norman Cady for being near her. ]
thought if / told you, perhaps just
putting it into words would wear of
some of my anger and help me forget
her. Elsie, be good to me and help
forget her. Will.you?"
The girl touched his arm with her
hand.
"You should go to her and have it
out in words. There may be some
mistake"
"There is no mistake. She was
simply playing with me. Elsie, you
were always my comrade, be SO now
in time of need" Elsie laughed, but
it hurt her little.
Very well, John, come to me
whenever you want to. We will talk
and walk and you shall try to forget.
will not fail you"
March was gone and April had had
her last day of grace. It was the
evening before May day. Elsie,
happy hearted. was waiting on the
porch in the twilight. John was to
come. Now he nearly always came.
They were going for another walk in
the spring twilight to wander across
the green hills and back along the
roadways in the white moonlight.
Elsie thought only of the moment.
but she could not help a little throb
Of gladness that he so seldom spoke
of Rose. She did not, as at first, re-
gret the coolness that had spung up
between her and Rose. Nothing
seemed to matter but being happy
without thinking why, John called
her "sister" half jokingly, but with
entire affection, and while he some
times wandered off inconsolately by
himself he seemed content to be with
her. And so she waited. As she
waited her fifteen-year-old brother
called distressingly from his room:
ISIS, for goodness sake get my
good coat from the closet in the hall !!
I'm goin' to be late to that party"
Elsie went to the dark closet and
emerged with coat. She knocked
at his door.
"Oh, come on in and help me with
this fool tie Great snakes, if you
haven't got the wrong coat Just
like girl Haven't worn that old
thing since winter r. He snatched
it from her impatiently upside down.
A letter fell from the pocket.
Elsie picked it up, and as she
glanced at the address her face went
white.
"Terry What is this p
At the sound of her voice he turn
ed to look, and then stood stricken
with tardy penitence. 1t was ad-
dressed to John Copeland, and in the
lower left corner was inscribed in
Roses hand, Kindness of Terry"
Terry stared and struggled with the
refractory tie.
"a pretty mess Rose gave me
that months ago, and I promised to
take it straight to John. And like
fool forgot |" Then he cheered up.
".Well, they're off anyway now.
Probably she'll be glad he never saw
it. I will take it back to her tomor-
row." He wondered at the strange
brightness of his sisters eyes, at the
extreme whiteness of her face.
"Gee Not even Rose can touch
you for looks, Sis. I don't wonder
that John - She turned from him
as Johns whistle sounded below. She
still held the letter.
'I shall give it to John. 1t is his.
I shall tell him you forgot. L"
Then she went down to John.
He sat contentedly on the porch
with his hat pushed back on his fair
head. He looked careless and happy
enough. At her approach he rose.
Ready, sister?" Her smile was
odd, and she held the letter out to
him. She spoke as if she had been
running
"John, take this into the parlor and
read it. No one is there. told you
there was mistake. 1t is to you
from Rose. She gave it to Terry,
and he forgot it. 1 just found it in
the pocket of his winter coat" John
did not know he almost snatched it
from her hand. When he came back
from the parlor his face was shining.
"Elsie. you are an angel You
have the heart of sister ! You have
given her back to me. She did love
me. She does L"
Elsie smiled and gave him brave
little push.
"Well, you silly boy, go to her this
minute p
He snatched her hand and pressed
it hard. Then he went from her
with an eager swiftness that he had
never shown in coming to her. She
knew it-she had always known it,
but nevertheless it was not easy to
see. And under her breath she
whispered bravely:
"The heart of sister I'
WEDDING sUPERsTITI0Ns.
A bride who finds spider on her
L.