Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1908-02-07

NAhdC Biuhi l. hnOW II POA
tended something. She also wore
cheerfully anxious expression, like
that of a candid child who comes to
confess the larceny of sugar, but has
taken the precaution of eating the
sugar first.
What is it?" I asked.
I'm afraid" replied mamma, you'll
be put out when 1 tell you I've in
vited the Castles to eat dinner with
us Thanksgiving day"
Mammals words had been spatter
of cold water in my face; but after
a gasp or two, I came out bravely.
There's no reason in the world we
shouldn't have them, If they'll come"
l said, in matter-of-course tone; 'it
would seem rather queerer not to
have them than to do so.'
Dear, I'm so glad" cried mamma.
Il don't want to hurt your feelings or
bring up your troubles, but thought
being Thanksgiving we ought to for
give-and living next door-and II
would be the first time for years one
didn't ask the other to dinner
though we know Laurin didn't treat
you right-and it's so nice and good
OF you to agree to have them"
was 90, and Lii, my younger sis
ter, considered me hopeless spinster
with an ancient romance.
We had lived next door to the Cas-
ties since Laurin and were old
enough to exchange bits of ginger
bread and carry on doughnut deals.
Mr.. Castle and poor papa had been
business friends, and at the present
time, Lill and the youngest Castle
wore locks of each others hair.
And in the face of all this, Mrs. Cas-
tie had chosen, year ago, to be cross
grained about Laurin and me.
He was about starting out west
then, to practice civil engineering, and
though his mother had not disparaged
me, personally, she had counseled, i'm
plored, entreated and begged of him
to wait few years before snarling
himself up in an engagement (that
was her eXpression), on the ground of
- his extreme youth, although he was %
six months older than l was at that
time.
Merlin was not the only man who
was ever cajoled out of his own iudg-
ment by woman, and Laurin at last
acceded to compromise His moth
er wanted him to wait until he was
25, but he would concede only a year,
proudly assuring her that he could
safely trust his Sylvia to be faithful to
him for that length of time, even
without a definite understanding, and,
as he recklessly offered to prove to
her, without so much as letter pass
ing between us during the year.
maintain that in this the young man
would have been taking some chances,
had not his Sylvia been thoroughly
posted about the whole business by
the confidential relations of Mamie
Castle to Lill. But had not doubt
in the world that Mr.. Laurin had
counted on that very betrayal by his
younger sister to put him on the
right footing with his Sylvia.
At first l rather resented his cool
and one-sided arrangement, but after
awhile l missed him too acutely to
think of that, and could not have
even the solace of letter. Not that
he would have written very often un-
der any circumstances, for Laurin
would rather chop cordwood than
write letters. He had only written
once to his own folks since he start
ed on his western trip, according to
Mamie.
The silken tie of friendship be-
tween mamma and Mrs. Castle waxed
afN II -f.,f- IA
reached Thanksgiving, when Maj.
Perkins, who had just returned from
a Salt lake trip, exploited the news
that Laurin was married.
There seemed nothing on which to
prop any hope of mistake. The major,
on his outward trip to Salt Lake, had
seen Laurin, though only for few
minutes between trains, at the depot
in Laramie; had shaken hands with
him, and Laurin had told him that he
had come to meet the train just ar
irving from Denver, and that his wife
was on board 1t.
Nothing had been heard from Lau-
rim since And so Lii and Mamie
came to regard me in the light of a
disappointed elderly spinster, and
mamma nipped Mrs. Castle frostily
when they met. AS that stately lady
was apparently too much crushed to
resent this treatment with any spirit
whatever, my good little parent thaw-
ed at the Thanksgiving season, and,
her invitation being graciously ac-
cepted, the smoke of the peace pipe
cheerily assembled.
AS | welcomed Mrs. Castle on
Thanksgiving day, l noticed some new
worry lines in her forehead. She
squeezed both my hands fervently.
sylvia" she whispered, Il heartily
wish l had never meddled with you
and Laurins romance, though l only
did so because you were both so