The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1907-05-23


lack Read and james Bell went past
the gate. looked after them WIN
surprised disapproyal.
"sweetheartg," ! cried. Why, the
child has only just put her hair up.
Mrs. Vaughan laughed again.
"she's IS, you know. had couple
| OF proposals before | was her age.
| She matched skein OF wool critically
| against the light For the matter OF
that. | believe they both propose to
her about once a week" She settled
| upon the skein and resumed her WORK.
ut seems only the other day that you
used to call her your little wife.
Well. well. -. You were always fopd
| OF her."
"Of course" agreed. "of course
| I am. Little girls are like kittens
! They ought not to grow up. IT 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 it. why don't you
marry, George?"
| You aren't available" l pointed
| out She threatened me with 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 &c." | protested.
"Pm 40 next week. You are 3S,
aren't your" nodded. How old do
you feel?'
Anything from rs to 100. think
Sis has kept me young. ] shall miss
her IL she goes and gets married. We
had been friends since she was
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 a 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 trihe 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, If / were
you | should replace her by wife.
There are lots of nice girls"
I'm afraid | should be hard t.
please. Sis and Sis mother have set
my standard. +. Bless them! Good
BY"
Then l went. AS l 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 man. she cried, you're
looking as solemn as funeral What
is the matter with your"
"Sweethearts," | said
She opened her eyes wide, She ha:
wonderful eyes and splendid Ions
lashes.
you haven't" she cried IF I'll
that horrid Miss Mellor I'll neve
speak to you again. Then be
lieve it's Miss Gray? l saw her talk
ing to you after church on Sunday
and you wouldn't take any notice o
me. She isn't bit nice. So there.
II didn't say my sweethearts," I re
! marked. She had the grace to blush
Mother has been talking nonsens
to YOU" She poked a stone with he
parasol.
rs 1t nonsense Kiddie?" | Away
used to call her that But l suppos
you won't tell me your secrets now?
She chivied the stone through tn
gate and into the gutter.
you don't want TO know my secret
now" she said. with an air of grie,
ance. Il suppose that Miss Gray
! her hat doesn't suit her" She nodde
. / aggressively.
. Miss Vaughan has a new hat, | oil
, serve. She used to show me her ne,
hats before she was grown up.
wish you hadn't grown up. Riddle,
Well. pretend l haven't" she pr,
posed. Lets so down the lane an
: fish for 'tiddlers;'" She laughed an
, took my arm. do you remembe
!. when | fell In the pond? laughe,
' too.
+ Don't do that to-day. | can't DR.,
tend you're little enough to carr
home. About those sweetheart
Kiddieg"
which, she inquired, Innocent,
. Tell me about all OF them"
!. We've only an hour and half
She laughed wickedly. under he
s breath.
Then tell me about Jack Read an
Jim Bell. Which is it?''
That is the difficulty" she stated
Which do you like best?'
There's birds nest somewhe,
: about here" she observed Irrelevant
Three speekled eggs,"
Which do you preter?"
They're all alike"
Your sweetheartss"
mo, the eggs" She laughed II
y