Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-07-21


You'd better buy what you need
new. never had any patience with
this idea OF gathering up old rubbish
just because it's old And then there's
the microbe theory; It sounds reason
able and there's probably good deal
in it."
"Horrorsl The garret's probably
full Perhaps there are some in those
love-letters," Zelda laughed: her
mirth was seemingly spontaneous. and
bubbled up irrelevantly
If there's anything of mine up here
for heavens sake burn it right away
And now clean yourself up and come
out with me. You must show yourself
or people won't know you're in town.
And come home to luncheon with me
afterward."
I'D like to. Aunt Julia, but really
mustn't. Father comes home to lunch
con-"
"oh, he does. does he? Well, he has
had a good many meals alone and the
shock wouldn't kill him"
He's perfectly splendid He's just
as kind and thoughtful as can be.
didn't know that anybody's father
could be so nice"
Mrs. Forrest rose and swept the gar
ret disapprovingly with her lorgnette;
and there may have been an excess cf
disapproval that was meant for some
thing else. Julia Forrest was wom-
an without sentiment, for there are
such In the world. The lumber room
did not interest her, and she was anx-
ious to get out into the sunlight She
was too indolent by nature to have
much curiosity: she was not a woman
who spent all her rainy days poring
over lavender scented trifles and weep-
ing over old letters. She was born in
this old house, and she had played as
a girl in the wooded pasture that once
lay east of it, Her fathers fields were
now forty-foot lots, through which
streets had been cut, and the houses
that had been built up thickly all
about were of a formal urban type.
The Merriam homestead was to Julia
Forrest merely an old, shabby and un-
comfortable house, whose plumbing
was doubtless highly unsanitary. She
had been married there; her father
and mother had died there; but the
place meant nothing to her beyond the
fact that 1t was now her niece's home
1t occurred to her that she ought to
see Zeldas room, to be sure the girl
was comfortable; but Zelda did not in
vite her in when they reached the Sec
ond floor.
The letters were beautiful; they
wrote lovely letters in those days"
Zelda persisted ironically: Il wish
could have some half as nice"
do get your things, Zee; it's fine
outdoors and the outing will do you
good"
I'm very sorry, but can't go this
morning. | have lot to do. I'll be
freer after a little.
You're foolish, very foolish. When
shall I see you, then?"
"Tll be along late in the afternoon
some time"
And then stop to dinner"
Very sorry; but father will expect
me. It doesn't seem quite kind to for
sake him-when he's so nice to me-"
Il suppose not but bring him along.
We're all an unsociable lot. They say
the Marriams and their connections
are queer-I don't like the word. Your
uncle and I want you to raise the fall
len reputation of the family Do be
whatever you do"
"Oh, l shall be that-commonplace
even"
Don't come down in those clothes!"
Mrs. Forrest was descending the stairs.
"All right, Aunt Julia. Good-by!"
When the front door had closed, Eel
da sat down on the stairs and laughed
softly to herself
"Oh, Polly" she called.
The black woman shuff1ed slowly in
to the hall and looked up gravely at
the girl.
Polly, 1 wish to see the footman
the moment he returns to the house.
And the buffers work is very unsatis-
factory; l shall have to let him go.
And please say to the cook that there
will be pie for dinner until further no.
tice-apple- pie with cheese. And the
will be received by My
Majesty on the lawn at as usual, and
largess will be distributed. VIII you
execute these commissions at once,
Polly? Stand not on the order of your
She laughed down at the
amazed colored woman and then ran
swiftly up stairs.
She did not pause until she reached
the candle-lighted table in the gar1et {
and knelt before it. with her face
against her mothers little book, and {
sobbed as though her heart would 7
break.
Ito be continued.)