The Washington herald., 1910-06-22
CHAPTER XII.
l Make a niscorerr.

Really, I have left Aunt Selma rather
out OF it, but she was important as a
cause. not as result; at least at first
She came out strong later. believe she
was very nice old woman, with strong
likes and prejudices. which she was per-
fectly willing TO pay for. At least. only
presume she had likes: I know she had
prejudices
Nobody ever understood why Bella con-
scented to take Betty's place with Aunt
Selma. AS for me. I was too much en-
crossed with my own affairs TO pay the
invalid much attention once or twice
during the day 7 had stopped in to see
her. and had been received frigidly and
with marked disapprovai was In dis
grace. of course, after the scene In the
dining-room the night before had stood
| like naughty child. just inside the door,
and replied meekly when she said the
pillows were overstuffed, and why didn't
have the linen slips rinsed in starch
water? She laid the blame of her illness
on me, as I have said before, and she
made Jim read TO her in the afternoon
from book she carried with her, Goals
OF Fire on the Domestic Hearth, mark
ing places for me to read.
She sent for me that night, Just as I
had taken off my gown; so I threw on a
dressing gown and went IN. To my hor-
ror. Jim was already there At a ges-
ture from Aunt Selma. he closed the door
into the hall and tiptoed back beside the
bed. where he sat staring at the figures
on the silk comfort.
Aunt Selina's first words were:
Where's that fibberty-gibbet?"
Jim looked at me.
''She must mean Betty" / explained
she has gone 10 bed. think"
Don't let her in-this room again." she
said, with awful emphasis. "She is an
infamous creature.
"Oh, come now, Aunt Selma" Jim
broke IN; shes foolish. perhaps, but
she's a nice little thing" Aunt Selina's
face was a curious study. Then she
raised herself on her elbow and taking
a fiat chamois skin bag from under her
pillow. held it out
My cameo breastpin," she said sol
emily: my cuff buttons with gold rims
and storks painted on china in the mid
die; my watch. that has put me TO bed
and got me up for forty years. and my
money-S5l0.40 with the doors
locked under my nose Which was
ambiguous, but forcible.
but, good gracious, Miss Car-Aunt
SelinaT I exclaimed, you don't think
Betty Mercer took those things2"
No she said grimly; I think I
probably got up in my sleep and lighted
the FIRE with them, or sent EN- out for
walk" Then she stuffed the bag away
and sat up resolutely IN bed
Have YOU made up?" she demanded
looking from one 10 the other of us
Bella, don't tell me you still persist in
that nonsense"
What nOnsense?" asked. getting
ready TO run
THAT you do not love him"
"Him?'
James" she snapped irritably. DO
you suppose I mean the policeman"
| looked over At Jimmy She had got
me by the hand, and Jimmy was max
ing frantic gestures TO tell her the whole
thing and be done with it. But I had
gone too far. The mill Of the gods had
crushed me already. and I didn't propose
10 be drawn out, hideOusly mangied, and
held Up as an example for the next two
or three weeks, although II was clear
enough that Aunt Selma disapproved OF
me thoroughly, and would have been
glad enough 70 find that no tie save the
board of health held US together And
then Bella came in, and you wouldn't
have known her. She had put on a
straight white wooden wrapper, and she
had her hair in two long braids down
her back She looked like a nice, wide
eyed little girl In her teens. and she had
some lobster salad and a glass OF port on
a tray When she saw the situation she
put the things down and had the nasti-
uagS' 70 SfaU and ffufpu
I'm not blind Aunt Selma said. with
one eye on the tray. you two silly
children adore each other; I saw some
things last night"
Bella took a step forward: then she
stopped and shrugged her shoulders. Jim
was purple.
I saw you kiss her in the dining-room.
remember THAR Aunt Selma went on.
giving the screw another turn.
1t was Bella's turn 10 be excited. She
gave me one awful stare. then she fixed
her eyes on Jim.
Besides" Aunt Selma went on, you
told me to-day that you loved her. Don't
deny II. James"
Bella couldn't keep quiet another In
slant She came over and stood at the
foot of the bed.
Please don't excite yourself, dear Miss
Caruthers," she said. in a voice like ice.
Every one knows that he loves her; he
simply Overflows with II. lit Is quite
a by-word among their friends They