Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-06-20

TleO look on HeT HOJueTly ldCS, vi
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 good
time with the crowd as they always
did, they prefer to sit around by
themselves at parties and Virginia Is
getting so dreamy that you have to
speak two or three times before. she
realizes she is on earth"
ooh, WELL" said her sister, consol-
ingly "all girls have those spells. I
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"
TITS all very well for you to take
that view, for your girls are too small
to give you any trouble yet; but just
wait few years. Virginias health
and lessons suffer while she is moping
around, and / really have to force her
to eat when she and Herbert have had
little tiff. I 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
1t will mean lot of hard work, but
you will be repaid for that, I 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
pleased look. Il haven't seen her
since the day l was flower girl at her
wedding She was just IL then-as
old as I am now-and was ten. Do
you remember, mamma, how perfect
ly beautiful she looked?"
Eyes, she was a lovely BRIDE" said
Mrs. Castle. Unless you eat more
supper, Virginia l cannot allow you
to 80 to the lecture this evening""
How many children has she?" ask
ed Mr.. Castle. "Three or f0ur?"
l ~
| boys and 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
little common sense" as he expressed
it,
A few days later Cousin Editha and
her family made their appearance.
Give me the baby, Ede," 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, but her
disgust changed to establishment
| 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 it possible that this was the
beautiful bride Of seven years ago?
The long train, exquisite veil and
white flowers with which Cousin
Editha had always been invested in
Virginia's memory faded away before
this tired, thin woman and her little
family.
And this Is Virginia." said Cousin
Editha, as soon as the boys had been
I packed in the surrey and the baby on
Mrs. Castles lap. You're quite
young lady, Virginia, and pretty one,
too. No, Carlos, mustn't whip the
horsie! Jack, stop pulling at the lines!
Those children were clean when we
started, auntie, but only for few
minutes suppose I'll have to take
the baby. She's cutting teeth and fear
fully cross. Yes, mamma is we'll 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 I'll spank you as soon as
we get to 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 If she had wished to.
Her cousins sharp, tired voice grated
unpleasant on her ears as she remem-
bered the soft, low tones that had re.
sponded so unsteady to the momen-
| tons questions the day she had heen