The Mena weekly star., 1908-07-09

Her Pretty Niece.the Thayers.
 It's so hard for man to look after child" sighed Mrs. Jones, reaching for her embroidery cotton. We must keep an eye on Elaine,"
 'tndeed we must!" agreed the chorus heartily.
 And they did. Elaine got cookies at the Smith house and cake at the Joneses', incidentally acquiring an at. tack of indigestion.
 "Of course, you know best, MT. ahayer." said Mrs. Smith, pausing in the door of Elaine's room on one of the times she had run in to see the invalid, but are you sure you require her to eat the proper foods? Maybe that is the trouble!"
 I'm sure I don't know" confessed Elaine's worried father. "I guess she just eats what she wants and lets it go at that. 1 don't suppose it Is the best thing for her. To tell the truth, however, I'm not quite sure that I know what is best in the food line"
 That was how good-natured, bustling Mrs. Smith began making out menus for the Thayers' cook. When her pret. ty niece from the west came to visit her and developed amazing skill in manufacturing desserts and salads for the Smiths 1t was only natural that she should frequently send in portions to the lonely man and the small girl next door.
 I'm not a matchmaker" she said severely in reply to a remark of her husbands, but it's nearly year since his wife died, and I don't know better man, and he has plenty of money. l don't see at all why you are laughing,"
 It was about this time that Mrs. Jones began shaking her head over the careless manner in which Elaine braved bad weather in clothes which were too thin or otherwise wrong.
 That child certainly will have pneumonia, MT. Thayer," she said one day when she had met father and daughter on the front walk.
 T thought she'd better wear her heavy coat" confessed Thayer, but she didn't seem to want to do so. She said she felt warm enough"
 Do you know why?" asked Mrs Jones in a whisper which excluded Elaine. Because she likes the bright buttons on this onel You must be firm, Mir. Thayer, Children are up tc all sorts of whims and tricks, By the way, l know your sewing girl comes next month-would you like to have me pick out some ginghams for Elaine? I don't want to be officious but"
 That would be mighty good of you Mrs. Jones' Thayer said heartily. "Ii you'd just buy what you think she needs I'd be more than grateful"
 Inasmuch as Mrs. Jones unmarried sister, who was staying with her, was skillful with the needle, perhaps it was not unnatural that the prettiest dress Elaine had. thin white one with lots of lace, should have been the work oi Mrs. Jones sisters own hands instead of the sewing girls.
 ''I don't like to say anything" said Mrs Smith on discovering this, but that was actually designing. A man is so helpless in such a situation Anyhow, Mrs. Jones sister never would make the mother to that poor child that Abby would, if Abby is my own niece. She's so fond of children And Elaine seems to like her so much l must have her make an extra custard pie today and I'll send it over"
 Its only for the sake of Elaine, Mrs. Jones said when her husband re preached her for laying snares for the feet of the lonely Thayer. T really don't care whom he marries, provided 1t is some one who will look out for that poor, neglected childi"
 MT. Thayer," remarked Mrs. Jones with dignity, lis very appreciative man and realizes the spirit in which we do things for the child. A man Is so helpless!'
 Thayer was polite to both Mrs smiths niece and Mrs. Jones sister