The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-06-24

Hope had longed for them to be
friends again. how strongly she had
advised their making up their foolish
quarrel.
you are both young and high tenn
pered." she had pleaded again and
again. but therell come a time
when you'll be old and remorseful un-
less you make up now. Why. you
are made for each other, Elsie. You'll
never be happy with anyone else. nor
will David. He's a splendid young
fellow. Don't I know? Wasn't with
his mother the night he was born.
and haven't watched him grow up
from baby to man? And haven't
watched you grow up, too? And love
you both. I've tried to have you care
for each other because I felt that was
as 1t should be. And now you've let
that little trollop Of Doris Kennedy
come between you! Oh. know what
folks say about me-that am med
ding of matchmaker"
"Peacemaker, aunt Hope" Elsie had
laughed, TREMENDOUSLY.
We'll. then, peacemaker. hope
am. Blessed-you know what the
Bible says. But amt sure of that
unless you'll let me make peace be-
tween you and David!"
Some day." Elsie had half prom
ised. That was a year ago. Then
they had met at aunt Hopes fu-
neral and had not spoken. Afterward
David had gone back to the city to his
work and Elsie had gone hers in the
little country town. AS far as she
knew now, her romance was ended.
There was no aunt Hope to advise
and gently smooth away the Difficult.
ty. But, oh. the sweetness and the
bitterness Of It fingered with her like
mingled myrrh and honey. She had
loved David-she loved him still-and
must go on loving him as long as she
lived. But she had the Bennett tenn
per. He had 1t. too. far back some
where, a couple Of generations ago. a
certain marriage had made them kin.
She would not give up. Neither would
he. And 1t was all because she had
not liked his city cousin, Doris Ken.
nedy. and he had! Perhaps down in
her heart Elsie had been a bit jeal-
Gus of the blonde young woman who
looked as If she had been run in an
exceedingly slender mold. and had
never so much as bent her back since
an effect obtained, 1t was said, by
means of an exacting dressmaker.
Elsie was far too natural to admire
| Doris immobility. loads OF false hair
and layers of pink and white powder.
And she had told David SO In a none
too pleasant way.
But her heart is all right" he had
argued. stoutly. Doris is a good girl.
The trouble is. you are envious Of
her. that's ALL"
'Envious!" cried Elsie, scarlet
with rage. So the quarrel had be-
gun.
AS she sat there now In the empty
room Elsie owned to herself sadly that
she had been unreasonable. After all,
Doris was Dayid's own cousin and
older than he. There had been no rea.
son In the world for her being jealous
as she had been; res. she had to ad-
init that now.
| IF only had listened to aunt
Hope. II only l had let her make
peace as she wished"
A crash at the back of the house
startled her. A window had fallen.
She sprang to her feet Steps were
coming toward her through the house
heavy steps-a mans. Now they
were In the kitchen-now the dining
room. She plunged toward the door
that opened into the little front entry.
1t was locked. She tugged at 1t fran.
tically. Heaven! To be shut In this
house with a tramp. Still Juggling,
with futile desperation, at the unyieid.
ing door she looked back over her
shoulder just as the invader appeared
In the parlor door-a tall young fel-
low in a respectable ulster. who
looked almost as white and shaken as
she knew she was.
'Elsie." he exclaimed. Great
Scott!"
David" she gasped. And half fell
against the supporting door. They
stared at each other. the color slowly
| VAIN " buIu AoCcS.
did you get in at the pantry win
dow. too?" Elsie asked. when she
could.
He nodded.
Il remembered that aunt Hope was
always going to have 1t fixed and
never did. What are you doing here.
Elsie?" He came close to her.
What are your"
Il came because I had to. I felt
as II ! was being called"
David! That's Just the way I
felt"
Their eyes sought each others,
awe-struck. wondering. Then their
hands met
Forgive me. Elsie. was wrong,
he faltered
Forgive me. David. I was wrong,
too"
They chung together.