The Marshall republican., 1909-10-08

CHARLES to elope!"
Mrs. Dimes laugh rumbled forth SO
contagiously that to save me I could
not help echoing 1t softly.
That's Just what | am thinking Of,
DEAR" she said. ITO think of his mag
lining that he had to fly from poor me
like that! It's SO funny! Oh, do try
to see how very funny 1t is, Henriet-
ta," and she sobbed in her enjoyment
of the affair.
1T is absurd and unforgivable," said
Miss Winstanley austerely.
The large hand frightened over hers,
and Mrs. Dimes tones became serious.
You are not to hold 1t against him.
Promise me that. Take It out of me,
but don't spoil his happiness by cen.
surfing him. I'm the one to be pun
ished, for anybody can see that the
fastening is entirely due to me. I
suppose If had any vanity I'd be get
ting my punishment right now, but,
unfortunately, my sense Of the humor-
GUS outweighs my vanity and can
on]y-only-oh, Henrietta, for good.
ness sake, Taught"
\ faint-a very faint twinkle lit in
Miss Winstanley's hurt eyes.
ut is absurd for him to run away
from us like this" she said. For you
know, Hannah, I was arrayed with
YOU"
Her friend nodded warmly, laugh
ter dancing over her face and in and
out among the copious chins.
She is really a charming girl" I
put in.
Who is she, anyway?" asked Mrs.
Dimes. ITO think Of my not asking
that before!"
Miss %Streeter," said /; "a cousin
of Mrs. Jack Ankony."
Not Cecilia Streeter! You don't
tell me! Why, Henrietta, dry your
eyes; this match was made in
heaven. She was born for the bishop.
rio. Think how she looks the part"
so I am always reminding Miss
Winstanley," I ventured.
Then that's all she ever does"
walled her sister.in-law miserably.
"Oh, by no You greatly mis-
Judge her." Mrs. Dimes %contended.
"She is calm, l grant you, but a bish.
ops wife should be calm. No, really,
since your brother wouldn't have me,
l don't know where he could have
done better. Besides, she's prodigious.
ly rich, you know. What! You didn't
know? Oh, yes, immensely so. MY
poor little dot looks small beside hers.
She doesn't talk about 1t, but"
Does she talk about an%ything?" /
inquired.
Mrs. Dimes shot me an amused
glance over her friends head.
SILENCE is an excellent qualification
for a bishops wife, I'm sure, Mr.. Twin.
ing; then she isn't always getting her
self and the diocese into trouble.
Now, see here, Henrietta, considering
her looks and her reserve and her
money, surely you might forgive her
for letting your brother run off with
her"
Its very good of you to try to
cheer me up" Miss Winstanley re.
sponded, vaguely.
And It's downright foolish of you
to hold out against so beautiful an ar
ransement. To my mind this is as
admirable a match all round as | have
known Of In a very long time. So DO
cheer up and be glad. Don't you
agree with me, Mr.. Twinlng?"
Most heartily, as Miss Winstanley
knows" said I.
That little lady was not, however.
ready to yield herself at once to the
sudden situation.
ITO run away" she moaned: "at
Charles age!"
but don't you see that it's a great
commitment to me?" smiled Mrs
iines. Let me get that much out of
It,, won't you? 1t shows how much
confidence he has in my getting what
want. You see, he didn't know
what brought me to America, and, fol-
Oil the heels of my proposal to
him, 1t really seemed, you know, that
| was coming to marry him, whether
Or no. You can see for yourself how
poor dear man must have felt.
Did he imagine, / wonder, that If
everything else failed l should kidnap
him? Well, | forgive him even that.
And ] want you to forgive him, Hen
You must. That's a good,
sister. And now It's quite
time we came back to our mutton.
Tell the mar to drive us to the Hem
Ingrays', will you, Mr.. Twining? If
you don't feel up to going in, Hen
rietta, I'll go alone, but one Of us
must certainly see Barbara at once"
Then you may let me down at the
street corner of the
said /. I'll get along back
% the Office"
AS the carriage stopped, Miss Win
bent forward. looking eagerly
after a fast.disappearing figure.
Isn't that DAM" she cried. "Can
you overtake him? He is the one to
AXE her the word"
| sprang out and caught up with
him within the block, although he was