Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-08-25
A Question Of Diplomacy
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When Mrs Hardiman received her
sisters letter telling her all about Kath-
leen's unfortunate affair, her match
making instincts were up in arms OF
rour~--. as Constance had said. Kathleen
waS a mere child In years, only II.
But girls of II sometimes developed
very grown-up feelingsl
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 tho 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 it cannot be altogether
hopeless.
why not let me have Kathleen for
q couple Of months1 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, a splen-
did young fellow Of Is, 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 a considerable fortune from
the boys godfather. think it is. He
L. a cranky old fellow (SO-odd), who
refuses to settle penny on his protege
until he marries and settles down.
"Now, don't think for an instant
that am planning 8 catch for our lit
tie giri-nothing OF the sort But,
from experience. It seems to me that
the best antidote In the world for
: lovesick maiden Is to get her away
from old associations and interest her
In new ones-k only temporarily.
Mind you, not a word OF this to
Kathleen
~Let me hear from you As ever.
"PAr."
Three days later Mrs Hartman held
Der sisters reply In her hand. Ksth-
ka Aalt &ad 60
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 20 be on the verge OF
melancholis- Had she realized the
depths Of her feelings. her mother
before taking the step she did But
now that the break was over, Il was
lucky for all concerned. And the only
thing left to do was 20 put dissppoint-
msnt behiEd and q brave face to the
front. Kathleen would realize some
day that abe was acting foe her best
interests and happiness
Patricia Hardiman could not press
q smile She recalled Constance's own
headstrong youth; her runaway mar
rfage to dashing young officer Of the
Conteredacy In defiance Of family and
convention. And Kathleen was many
times her mothers child She meant
10 do all IN her power to win the girl
away from her attachment, II In truth
II was as unfortunate as Constance had
written. But she had her own doubts
about the success OF her plan. She was
a great believer In mstrimony, but she
wanted. above everything else, 10 see
the right ones mated And she wanted
TO be the one to bring II about, too!
1t was an afternoon Of June. pale
and sweet with orange blossoms. Rows
upon rows OF the waxen-ieaved trees
made a garden grove down below he
rose lawn.
Mrs. Hardimsn came out Of the ter
race, frourishfng slip OF yellow paper
m her hand.
Old Mrs Ogden. sested on a twtsted
eak chair. looked up with question
Ing smile.
-ary NIECE Va BE- here ON the 9 -