Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1908-02-29


tended something. She also wore a
cheerfully anxious expression. like
that of candid child who comes to
confess the larceny of sugar, but has
taken the precaution of eating the
sugar first.
What is it?" ! asked.
I'm afraid" replied mamma, you'll
be put out when / 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
q gasp or two, | 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; iii
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 1t
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 %, and Lii, my younger sis
ter, considered me a 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, Lii and the youngest Castle
wore locks o. each others hair.
And in the face of all this, Mrs. Cas-
tie had chosen, year ago, 70 be cross
grained about Laurin and me.
He was about starting out west
then, to practice civil engineering, and
me, personally, she had counseled, I'M
plored, entreated and begged of him
10 wait few years before snarlng
himself up in an engagement Chat
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 judy
ment by woman, and Laurin at last
acceded to compromise. His moth
er wanted him TO wait until he was
20, but he would concede only year,
proudly assuring her that he could
Col, Ia, o.
him for that length of time, even
without q definite understanding. and,
as he recklessly offered 10 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 ILL. But j had not a 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 / missed him too acutely to
think of that, and / could not have
even the solace of "a letter. Not that
he would have written very often I'M
der any circumstances, for Laurin
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 waved
thin after Laurins departure. It
reached Thanksgiving, when Maj.
Perkins, who had just returned from
Il Salt lake trip, exploited the news
that Laurin was married.
There seemed nothing on which to
prop any hope Of mistake. The major.
seen Laurin. though only for Il 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 az
irving from Denver, and that his wife
was on board it.
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-
cd 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, ] noticed some new
worry lines in her forehead. She
squeezed both my hands fervently.
Sylvia" she whispered. 81 heartily