The log cabin Democrat., 1909-11-13
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mat s bad, murmured the colonel with sympathetic solicitude whats the trouble? Couldn't you get a sec tion?"
 "I have my reservations, but don't know whether I shall go tonight"
 Maybe I'm stupid, Millicent, but confess don't know what you mean"
 Really, there's no reason why you should, Bertie. That's why I was so anxious to see you-in time, so that I might explain to you-might put you on your guard"
 "Yes?" the colonel submitted; he never hurried a woman.
 I'm going to visit dear Amy-you remember she was married two years ago and lives in Pasadena; she has a dear little baby and the loveliest home. It's charming. And she was so delighted with your wedding gift. it was so original. Amy never did care for costly things; these simple, unique gifts always pleased her. Of course, my main objeet is to see the dear child, but shall not go tonight unless Aunt Rebecca Winter is on the train. If for any reason she waits over until tomorrow l shall wait also"
 "Ah." sighed the colonel very softly. not stirring a muscle of his politely attentive face; and does Aunt Re- becca expect to go on the train?"
 They told me at the Pullman office that she had the drawing-room, tho stateroom and two sections. Of course, she has her maid with her and Archi-"
 Does he go, too?" the colonel asked, his eyes narrowing a little.
 Yes, she's taking him to Cali fornia; he doesn't seem well enough, she thinks, to go to school. so he Is to have a tutor out there. I'm lit. tie afraid Aunt Rebecca mollycoddles the boy"
 Aunt Rebecca never struck me aS a mollycoddler. I always considered her a tolerably cynical old Spartan. But do you mean there is any doubt of their going? Awfully good of you to wait to see if they don't go, but I'm sure Aunt Rebecca wouldn't want you to sacrifice your section"
 Mrs. Melville lifted shapely hand in Delsartian gesture of arrest; her smiling words were the last the col. onel had expected. Hush, dear Der tie Aunt Rebecca doesn't know I am going I don't want her to know un- til we are on the train"
 "Oh, sec a surprise?" But he did not see; and, with a qulet intentness, he watched the color raddle Mrs Mel villes smooth cheeks.
 Hardly" returned the lady "Ths truth Is, Bertie Melville and 1 are worried about Aunt Rebecca. She, we fear. has fallen under the influence of most plausible adventures; I sup pose you have heard of her com panion, Miss Smith!"
 Cant say have exactly" said the colonel placidly. but his eyes mar rowed again. Who Is the lady?"
 q thought am sure Melville must have written you. But Oh. yes, he wrote yesterday to Boston. We'll, Der. tie, Miss Smith is southerner; she says she Is South Carolinian, but Aunt Rebecca picked her up in Wash ington, where she was with kink of cousin of ours who was half crazy. Miss Smith took care of her and she died''-she fixed a darkling eye on the soldier-"she died and she left Miss Smith money"
 "Much?"
 "A few thousands That Is how Aunt Rebecca met her, and she pulled the wool over auntie's eyes, and they came back together. Shes awfully clever"
 Young? Pretty?"
 "Oh, dear, no. And she's nearer 40 than 30 Just the designing age for woman when she's still wanting to marry some one but beginning to be afraid that she can't. Then such creatures always try to get money. If they can't marry it, and there's no man to set their caps for they try to wheedle 1t out of some poor fool womanl" Millicent was in earnest, there was no doubt of that; the sure sign was her unconscious return to the direct expressions of her early life in the middle west.
 And you think Miss Smith is try ing to influence Aunt Rebecca?"
 "Of course she is; and Aunt Re becca is S0 Rupert. And often while people of her age show no other sign of weakening intellect, they are not we'll regulated in their affections; they take fancies to people and get doting and clinging. She is getting to depend on Miss Smith. Really, that woman has more influence with her than all the rest of us together. She won't hear a word against her Why! when l tried to suggest how little we knew about Miss Smith and that it would be better not to trust her too entirely, she positively resented it. Of course I used tact, too. I was so hurt, so surprised!" Mrs. Millicent was plainly aggrieved.
 The colonel, who had his own opinion of the tact of his brothers wife was not SO surDrispd. hut hS