The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-02-05
0 G o @ O o o o 0 Q Q o o 0 o o
G THE DAILY STORY o
9 g
Q c C coo 0 Q c c @ Q Q Q O 9
cousln serena's pIpIomacy
lBy .Ieannetle WaIdenl

pitality, which was free enough To liz
sliire affection in both lne flin-loying
and the lonely; nor even for her sym
pathy-a sympathy as sweet and ten.
der as mothers, wife's or a low
er's, as occasion required. she was
loved for all these things, or. more
IN Serena bore hef title universally;
Tor, as she possessed no visible fam
iiy connections, she extended a spir-
itual cousinship to all who knew her.
She had just dismissed young and
very happy pair who had come 10 tell
her OF their discovered bliss. She had
gwen them her blessing and box OF
Ger best nut Judges. Signing softly,
she returned 10 her open fire of glow
ing cordwood sticks. With another
sigh, as she snuffed the two wax tap
ers on the tiled mantel. AS the light
iootfalls Of her departing callers
cracked down the newly frozen snow
OF her b,oad front walk, Cousin Ser
ena sighed again 1t was not a re-
mlnlscent or an egotistical sigh; IL
had no tremor of regret II was
rather, the Alexandrian breath OF am
bition and desire for more young low
ess difficulties TO conquer. For Cous-
in Serena had never yet failed in un-
r;,yeling the most heait-breaking com
'!lications or in overcoming the most
fclocious lions of opposition isins.tAe'
paths OF her youthful and confldins
fliends.
Even as she sighed therescame a
knock at the outer door. She, opened
ne door TO disclose a girls face, with
nazel eyes and roseleaf cheeks, fran
cd in white, beaded fascinator.
Do come in. Susanna cried Cous-
IN Serena, heartily. w
And Susanna, no less eager, enter.
ed. As they, sat down by the fire
Cousin Serena began quickly TO talk
of the approaching party, for she di-
vined that it was just then the subject
nearest Susanna's S heart. That open
ed wide the gates of confidency, ever
. ar where Cousin Serena was the list
eneT. An uncle had arrived at the
home OF Susanna; one OF the strange
end unexpected sort Of uncles, who
d.op down upon you and behave as II
they had known you all your life: Il
tanned uncle with twinkling eyes,
>quizzical mouth and iron-gray hair
Well? 1t was remarkable how
quickly Cousion Serena knew all
about that uncle But the point?, How
did he concern the party?
He insisted upon coming; upon be-
ing Susanna's escort OF course, the
party was to be at Cousin Serenas,
practically all the parties were. And,
o. course. II would not be so ridi-
culcusly out of the way for Uncle Ep
h7aim TO go 10 a young folks party,
but joe Susanna's Joe--had not
quite recupefated from having been
deserted at ithe Halloween pa.ty He
would regarddIncle Ephraim as H.
text rather than necessity.
Cousin Serenas calm gray eyes
blinked thoughtfully for an instant.
W hile her thick, soft hand went TO the
girls arm in confident earess. 'I'll
send for Joe early to come and help
NE. can keep him busy" Her voice
was full and gentle. THAT will make
il seem accidental for YOU to come
TIL your Uncle Eph. And then, Wen
be able TO arrange for Joe TO take
you home
A confident nod of Cousin Serena S
slightly doubling chin indicated a fore
knowledge of Uncle Ephraim's charac-
Ter. Ii was always so with her, She
could read the disposition of balky
horse by being told on which streer
I, had Ia. me- nd
She always knew whether to PEE
scribe sugar, ground oats or s'ngelns
lit was usually sugar.
Susanna rose in a flutter of bright.
eyed gratitude. For an instant the
mirror of her happy mind cleared to
IN image OF Cousin Serenas inner
self.
Cousin Serena she murmured,
casting an arm about the woman's
waist, why don't you-didnt you,
mean--eye Keen company with any
one?" Then suddenly her arm drop
ped and her voice. TOO as though con
fused By The inaptitude of the sugges-
ton.
Into Cousin Serena's round face and
good gray eyes there came look ui
wonder, whisked away presently BY
twinkllng humor, while Susanna re-
sarded deprecatingly, il fondly. The
plump figure of her friend.
True, Cousin Serena, could be call
ed stont. but IL was a firm, well
rounded stoutness, which seemed TO
give corporeal expression TO hels
broad, reliable soul. aud she may nor
have ben particularly graceful, ex
cept with the graces of capabillty.
But as Cousin Serena turned to the
freight again after Susanna had
slipped back into the starry picture
Of the night, she sighed again. This
time il was a contemplatiye sigh be.
tween lips that were parted in
fsintly self-conscious smile and as
she stood there for time, notion
less, there fitted through her practi-
sal mind memory. or. perhaps, the
shadow of an experience. But she
vas sure that she saw a level and
shining path stretched out for the love
career of Susanna and Joe.
And we'll did she manage to fulfill
this prophetic confidence For the
nex, evening" or, mo.e accurately
speaking. the following midnight as
she stood again in her bgoad doorway
watching a stream Of gay young
guests pour out into the white crisp
ness of the night one, alone. Of the
remained behind. For a
long time Cousin Serena stood, arms
aklmbO. al her threshold watching