Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-08-20
A Question Of Diplomacy

When Mrs. Hardiman received her
sisters letter telling her all about Kath-
leens unfortunate affair, her match
making instincts were up in arms. OF
course, as Constance had said. Kathleen
was mere child in years, only II.
But girls Of II sometimes developed
very grown-up feelings!
She did not answer her sisters let
ter at once; to her thinking, hasty
Judgment was one of the cardinal sins.
And she waited to think matters over
thoroughly before committing herself
However, at the end Of the week her
first impression remained UNMARRIED, and
she sat down and penned the follow
ing:
pine Grove, Fla, May II.
my Dear Constance l have been
turning things over In my mind since
the receipt Of your letter, and while
the outlook does seem a bit discour-
aging; am sure 1t cannot be altogether
hopeless.
why not let me have Kathleen for
a couple of months? The country is
simply magnificent this time of the
year, and although, naturally, 1t will be
rather lonely compared to gay New Or
leans, still the contrast may do Won
ders toward bringing the dear girl out
of herself l don't believe anyone could
brood In a garden spot like this.
by the way, an old friend of mine
is coming down from Chicago to spend
the summer with me. Her son, splen-
did young fellow Of %, is to meet her
here for a weeks visit. They are ex-
tremely exclusive people, and, although
not at all wealthy, will doubtless short
ly inherit considerable fortune from
the boys godfather, I think it is. He
is d cranky old fellow (S0-odd), who
refuses to settle penny on his protege
until ne marries and settles down.
"Now, don't think for an instant
that l am planning a catch for our lit
tie girl-nothing OF the sort. But,
from experience, it seems to me that
the best antidote in the world for a
lovesick maiden is to get her away
from old associations and interest her
in new ones-if only temporarily.
Mind you. not word Of this to
Kathleen.
LET me hear from you AS ever,
PAT"
Three days later Mrs. Hartman held
her sisters reply In her hand. Kath-
leen would be delighted to come. 1t
was the very thing, Of all others. Six
or eight weeks among the Florida pines
would certainly be the salvation Of her.
The girl seemed 90 be on the verge OF
melancholia. Had she realized the
depths of her feelings, her mother
wrote, she would have thought twice
before taking the step she did But
now that the break was over, 1t was
thing left to do was to put disappoint.
ment behind and q brave face TO the
front Kathleen would realize some
day that she was acting for her best
interests and happiness.
Patricia Hardiman could not press
a smile She recalled Constance's OWL
headstrong youth; her runaway mar
riage to a dasbing young officer Of the
Conferedacy In defiance Of family and
convention. And Kathleen was man.
times her mothers child. She meant
to do all in her power to win the cir
away from her attachment, If in trutf
1t was as unfortunate as Constance hat
written. But she had her own doubt:
about the success of her plan. She wa.
a great believer in matrimony, but she
wanted, above everything else, to Sc.
the right ones mated. And she wantet
to be the one 20 bring it about, tool
It was an afternoon of June. pal,
and sweet with orange blossoms. Row,
upon rows OF the waxen-leaved tree
made a garden grove down below tn,
rose lawn.
Mrs. Hardiman came out OF the ter
race, f1rourishing slip Of yellow pape
In her hand.
Old Mrs Ogden, seated on twtste,
oak chair, looked up with question
Ing smile.
NY niece VIII be here on the 6 2