The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1910-01-06

IL does sound little strange
doesn't it?" Mrs. Evans said merrily
"That is another reason why Ton
changed my name. Marian and ar
first cousins, you see, and were givel
the same name"
and as Marian is the elder, sin
had first claim" Tom broke in, anC
Marian gave his nearest ear a playful
tweak.
1t was a happy family party, anC
Horace felt himself yielding to it.
charm, and losing his sense of EN-
barrassment. No two women ooulc
have been more different than these
two the Marian of his dreams anc
this flesh-and-blood Marian. One was
small and dark, with a glowing red
rose beauty, the other was tall, well
developed. a daughter of the century,
with hair smooth laid and deep blue
eyes Yet they had one thing in
common, their voices 1t was difficult
to tell which cousin was speaking I'M
less the face was seen, and Horace
found his heart responding with dan
gerous frequency whenever the sec
ond Marian spoke. 1t brought back
all the pangs of three years back,
when he was poor, and obscure Now
he could offer Il woman more than
Tom, and he knew he had developed
in other ways than in the direction of
his bank account Still, as he had
then underestimate himself, so did
he now, and hesitated as the weeks
slipped by, for the little romance con-
tinued through the summer, and Mrs
Evans, to say nothing of Tom. helped
it on with all her heart.
The summer drifted away, leaving
beautiful memories of delightful days.
and yet Horace knew he was storing
up for himself such unhappiness as
he had never known before, if he was
not to succeed. He had loved the
Marian Hastings he had thought Mrs
Evans was, but when he met her
cousin he new that the latter was
his ideal, for outside of his admiration
for Nell Evans, he had always pre-
ferred blondes; he himself was very
dark, and tall women to those of
small proportions
rs he never going 10 speak?" Nell
asked Tom more than once. but Tom.
remembering how hard it had been
for him to realize that he had won
Nell, sympathized, and longer TO give
comfort, but did not know exactly
how to administer the dose.
Matters were in this state when
Mrs. Nell resolved upon a master
stroke. IN do it," she decided, and
shook her pretty head, although /
suppose it is going outside the limit
of the law, but then AIS fair in love
or war" and she laughed softly, and
made her plans, not even taking Tom
into her confidence.
That very afternoon, delightfully."-
warm Sunday in early September, she
to get Horace and Marian
into the little summer parlor with
windows opening on the side veranda. /
Then when they were absorbed in |
each other, although sitting in that
somewhat silent communion which
comes to those who are mentally
mated, she stole up on the veranda.
carefully gathered the floating ends
# the lace curtains into her be-ringed
title hands. A moment later she
airly scuttled back to the main YER
nda where Tom was blissfully nap
ing, and picked up the book she had
bandoned. She did not see a word
the printed words, however, and :
he was as pale as death, this COR
eous little rose, until she heard a !
ing, thrilling scream. 1t was what I;
he had been waiting for. /;
wake up, Tom, quick" she cried /
making her husband. Marian is |:
something has happened" /
Tom was on his feet in an instant, !:
ld the two ran into the house, guided !:
2 the screams, which were loud and !:
sistent. Throwing open the door of !;
Ie summer parlor Nell gave a little !:
'bbing laugh, and then dropped her i;
cad on her husbands arm, shaking |:
it'll laughter. i;
Marian was standing, her skirts i:
avn about her, gazing with terror !;
ION a spider, while Horace was lean 4;
g back in his chair laughing until II
irly faint i:
do stop" he pleaded between II
sps. i:
"A spider does make me so nervous. Il;
n afraid l will kill it by mistake, i;
d yet can always feel them crawl II!
g on me-" and Marian stopped Il;
roaming long enough to shudder. Il:
Tom and Nell were silent, and Nell Il:
We a glance toward the lace cur Il:
ms. They were still floating, al II;
ough their lower edge was slightly I:
lged, Il;
Don't scream any MORE" Horace II;
ID very gently, although his voice ::
S a little weak from excessive
lghing. Marian, Pm awfully glad #;
u showed me that there is a weak II
1t in your armor, for now l am not HI
aid any longer You come right Il:
re and sit down. There are no Il:
ders here, but me, and you must Il:
zen to what / am going to tell Il:
l." Il: