The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-06-15
HIS DIPLOMACY

arms. OF course. as Constance had
said, Kathleen was a mere child In
years, only II. But girls Of IL
sometimes developed very grown-up
feelings!
She did not answer her sisters
letter at once; to her thinking, hasty
judgment was one OF the cardinal
sins. And she waited to think mat
ters over thoroughly before COM
mitting herself.
Pine Grove. Fla, May II.
my Dear Constance:
"why not let me have Kathleen
for a couple of months7 The coun-
try is simply magnificent this time
OF the year, and, although, natur-
ally, It will be rather lonely compared
to gay New Orleans. still the con-
trast may do wonders toward bring
ing the dear girl out of herself.
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. a splendid young fellow of 25,
Is to meet her here for q weeks
visit. They are extremely exclusive
people, and, although not at all
wealthy, will doubtless shortly in
herit considerable fortune from
the boys godfather. think It is.
He is cranky old fellow (S0-odd) 1,
who refuses to settle n penny on his
protege until he marries and settles
down.
Mind you, not q word Of this to
Kathleen.
Let me hear from you. AS ever.
pat"
Three days later Mrs. Hardiman
held her sisters reply in her hand.
Kathleen 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.
II was an afternoon Of June, pale
and sweet with orange blossoms.
Rows upon rows Of the waxen-leaved
trees made a garden grove down be-
low the rose lawn.
Mrs. Hardiman came out on the
terrace and iourished slip OF yellow
paper In her hand.
Old Mrs. ogden, seated on a
twisted oak chair. looked up with
questioning smile.
620 train," the other announced.
sinking down opposite, "and that
horrid old Billy is laid up again
with his everlasting rheumatic.
Do you think Claud will be here In
time to-"
Mrs. Hardiman stole a narrow
glance into the brown, strong face,
with It's keen. expressive eyes and
firm but smiling mouth. Surely
Claude Odgen was a man worth no
ticing.
my niece is arriving on that 620
could manage the bays. this after
noon?"
"oh, yes,"She said. 81 think l
can manage them fairly we'll"
He pulled out his watch.
I've just an hour to make It," he
said; II suppose I'd better be get
ting out of this toggery."
The train was as usual, late. The
passengers stepped out on the plat
form. There were two or three
drummers, an old lady in black and
Anally--
Surely there was something oddly
familiar about the cut of the brown
tailor-made gown, the gracefully
draped veil that cascaded about her,
dainty shoulders, the military carri-
age of the slender young figure.
"Claude!"
S'Kathleen!"
He hurried her on to the trap,
and In a minute they were whirling
off through clouds of dust.
But thought you were on board
the Silver Star, en- route to Austria
lia!" she exclaimed when she found
breath to speak.
THAT was all bosh, Kathleen.
never had any intention of putting
the ocean between us. After the way
we were broken up thought I'd
Just hang around until you were OF
age"
Poor mamma! She firmly be-
lieves that she knows my own mind
better than do myself.
"And suppose l were to tell you
that / was about to become very
wealthy?
ut would make no difference
whatever in my"
Somewhat to the girls surprise he
deliberately turned the horses heads
and drove back the other way.
Claude! You're going wrong
mo, am not. Providence had q
great big hand in dumping us down
here together like this. And we
haven't any right to fly in the face
OF Providence. you know. was
told that long ago, when / was a
mere kid"
What is this funny little place?'
TITS the county courthouse. Hold
the reins a second. I've got to get