The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-06-14


Mrs. Castle was saying, with a wor-
ried look on her motherly face, "or
that Virginia is disobedient. They are
simply too silly for anything. Mushy,'
the boys call them. and the word fits
very we'll. Instead OF having a good
| time with the crowd as they always
did, they prefer 10 sit around by
themselves at parties and Virginia is
getting so dreamy that you have to
speak two or three times before she
realizes shs is on earth"
"Oh, WE'LL" said her sister consol-
ingly. "all girls have those spells. |
| remember how Bob Lane and | used
to think our folks cruel and unsympa-
thetic because they ruthlessly spoiled
our cherished plans by sending US
away to school. Virginia will get over
her foolishness in good time and be
able to laugh at herself. Don't take
1t to heart So"
It's all very well for you to take
| that view, for your girls are too small
to give you any trouble yet; but just
wait a few years. Vrginias health
4 anu ltSSOH1 EutltI Nllllt bic 10 iilODlub
around, and really have to force her
to eat when she and Herbert have had
a little tiff. ! wish they would fall out
and scratch each others faces as they
! did years ago. Then maybe this non
sense would come TO an end. always
think of Editha when | see her, for
she moped just like that when she
was Virginia's age
"Editha! The very person! Send
| for her to come and spend a month
with you, and If that doesn't bring
Virginia TO her senses nothing will.
II will mean a lot of hard work, but
you will be repaid for that. / am
sure"
In less than a week Mrs. Castle was
able to announce .carelessly at the
dinner table that Cousin Editha and
her family would visit them next
week. Mrs. Randolph narrowly
watched Virginia without seeming to
do so, and saw just what she expected
in the pretty face OF her niece.
Cousin Editha!" said Virginia. with
a pleased look. II haven't seen her
since the day was flower girl at her
wedding. She was just II then-as
old as | am now-and ! was ten. DO
you remember, mamma, how perfect
ly beautiful she looked?"
Yes, she was a lovely bride" said
Mrs. Castle. Unless you eat more
supper, Virginia cannot allow you
to go TO the lecture this evening"
How many children has she ?" ask
ed Mr.. Castle. Three or four?''
Three" answered his wife. Tive
boys and a baby girl"
The whole family had been instruct
ed as TO behavior and these plotters
against Virginia determined to do or
die during the weeks to follow. Even
Rob promised to tear himself from the
delights of baseball. If by so doing
Virginia could be made to act with a
little common sense as he expressed
II.
A few days later Cousin Editha and
her family made their appearances.
Give me the baby, EIDE" said a
young man who had conducted two
small boys in dirty linen suits down
the car steps. The brakeman will
carry your luggage"
"Ede," Virginia looked in disgust
at the innocent young man. bat her
disgust changed TO astonishment a
minute later when her mother kissed
| the pale young woman with her hat
on one side of her head and told her
how delighted they were to see them
all. Was il possible that this was the
beautiful bride OF seven years ago?
| The long train. exquisite veil and
| white flowers with which Cousin
Editha lad always been invested in
yirginia's memory faded away before
this tirei. thin woman and her little
family.
And This is Virginia." said Cousin
Fditha, as soon as the boys had been
packed in the surrey and the baby on
Mrs. Castles lap. You're quite a
young lady, Virginia. and pretty one.
too. Nc, Carlos, mustn't whip the
horsiel Jack. stop pulling at the lines.
| Those children were clean when we
| started, auntie, but only for a few
minutes. suppose I'll have to take
| the baby She's cutting teeth and fear
fully cross. Yes. mamma is well as
usual. but she always seems tired.
She helps me a little with the chill
| dren and-Jack. have spoken to you
for the last time, If you touch those
lines again III spank you as soon as
we get 20 aunties."
Virginia sat silent during the short
| ride. Cousin Editha's husband had
walked with Rob, leaving the surrey
for the ladies and children, SO Mrs.
Race had the whole care OF the lively
infants. Mrs. Castle sat with her in
the back seat and Virginia had the
two boys with her in front, so there
was little chance for her joining in
| the conversation IL she had wished to.
| Her cousins sharp, tired voice grated
| unpleasant on her ears as she remem-
| bered the soh low tones that had re-
| sponded so unsteady 10 the momen-
tous questions the day she had been
the flower girl.
| ulrlo haorst haep vary wall natoly