The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-01-13
Converting
GWendOlyn
By MARTHA COBB SANFORD.
Copyrighted. 1893. by Associated
Literary Press.


Eyes, indeed eorroborated Mr.
Rand, '.at your age, Gwendolyn, your
mother had settled down-she wasn't
running around after all the young
men In the neighborhood."
"Oh. daddy" demonstrated Gwen.
dolyn. Il think you might be little
more gallant"
well, well. the young men weren't
all running after her. them" amended
Mr.. Rand, softening at the hurt loon
in Gwendolyn's big brown eyes. But
1t doesn't look we'll either way. I
can't understand where
Mother was brought up in con.
vent, you remember. I'm the product
Of coedueation," yentured Gwendolyn
In explanation.
Him." reflected Mr.. Rand. THAT
may be the reason but the remedy Is
your Aunt Abiatha"
Gwendolyn gave little gasp Of APP
prehension.
Yes, my dear" continued Mr.. Rand,
send you down to Florida to spend
the winter with your Aunt Abiatha."
''She will teach you the things a
girl Of your age ought to know, daugh-
ter" added Gwendolyn's mother dole
fully. things which | have somehow
failed to make you take an interest
In"
.'In other words, I'm to be sent to
convent" exclaimed Gwendolyn as
she swished out Of the room her head
high In air, but her eyes glistening
with unshed tears.
Aunt Abiathas spacious, old fashion.
ed house merited kinder verdict than
glance. Once up in her coy bedroom,
however, with Its chintz covered four
poster and French windows opening
out on to little rose covered porch,
the girls heart melted in spite of her.
self, and she threw both arms around
Aunt Abiatha, completely submissive
for the time being.
But after the novelty of busting,
sewing and cooking began to resolve
itself into routine Gwendolyn suddenly
baked.
"Now | know how to do all these
prosaic things, Aunt Abiatha," she ar
gued, whats the use of doing them
day after day? There are SO many
real live things to do in the world.
Let's give garden party or some
thing, Aunt Abiatha Are there any
male Inhabitants In Centerville that we
could hire to come, do you Think
"Gwendolyn. my dear, how you talk!
or course there are" Aunt Abiatha
was startled into admitting. "Theres
young Jack Hayward for one"
whats he likeT
VERY thoughtful and polite" replied
Aunt Abiatha loyalty HE comes OF
one Of our best families"
poor thing!" muttered Gwendolyn.
what did you say, dearT
II asked what he does for a livingp
prevaricated Gwendolyn unblushlngly.
'Why, he manages his fathers es-
tate, Of course. He's Il country gen
tleman."
"Oh," commented Gwendolyn indif
ferently, she must be very provin-
cial kind Of person. | don't think l
should like him"
well, Of all things, Gwendolynw
bristled Aunt Ablatha. "Of course
you'd like him. Every one does. I'll
ask him to call"
An afternoon or two later rs Gwen
dolyn was reclining IN the hammock
on her little porch engrossed In nov
el she became suddenly conscious that
the front doorbell had been ringing for
some time. On the veranda below she
could hear Aunt Abiatha rocking to
and fro.
THE front doorbells ringing, Aunt
Abiatha" she called, jumping up. III
It's that polite and thoughtful young
country gentleman please don't dis
turb me. I'm In the midst Of an aw-
fully exciting love story"
A hearty masculine laugh followed
Gwendolyn's declaration.
1t aroused her curiosity, but also her
Indignation, and she re-esta blished her
self in the hammock, determined not
to display the slightest interest, what
ever happened.
But the next thing she heard startled
her into sitting posture.
Now. Aunt Abiatha, will you intro
duce uss,'
Gwendolyn, walking to the rail Of
the porch, could hardly believe her
eyes. There, on the roof of the veran-
da, not ten feet away from her. sat
an extremely good looking young man.
And there on the lawn stood Aunt
Abiatha. the picture of dismay and
dIsapproval.
"Gwendolyn," she called up, "this Is
Rand. l never saw such goings on In
my life. Go right into your room,
Gwendolynw
Gwendolyn did not bulge. She only
laughed and laughed, until Aunt Abba
tina finally Joined in.
But such a triangular situation was
not over encouraging, especially since
Aunt Abiatha refused to leave her an
gle Of observation. so eventually they
all adjourned to the downstairs veran-
da for afternoon tea.
$50 you're climber, Mr. Hayward p
Gwendolyn observed archly, taking ad-
vantage Of Aunt Abiatha's absence in
the kitchen.
"Given sufficient incentive = yes"
Jack answered lightly. II couldn't
stand down there below, you know,
and let fellow In book get ahead
Of me-"
Get ahead Of you?
well, absorb your interest to the ex.
clusion Of real human being" ex.
planned Jack.
You took an awful risk" laughed
Gwendolyn.
"Oh, that was nothing" Jack boast.
ed. I'm used to all sorts OF athletic
stunts. you know"
"That isn't the kind Of risk meant
exactly" Gwendolyn enlightened him.
"Well. how did you like himYs beam
Cd Aunt Abiatha after the callers de-