Gilpin observer., 1911-07-27


manner which seemed to set her be-
yond all youthful folly. 1t was only
when she was alone with Edith that
she showed the child in her.
One of US has to seem grown up"
She could explain to Edith, "and you are
such a baby that l have to put on an
extreme amount of dignity"
Edith smiled II am not such
baby" she said. but you have more
courage than 1, Vicky; l do not be-
lieye that you are afraid Of anything"
Yes l am" vicky admitted. Il
am afraid of George Miller, Edith"
The color famed into Ediths face.
why. why should you be, Vicky?"
she demanded.
He always looks at me as If he
could see through me-" Vicky con-
fessed, "and l feel as IL l ought to
be in short dresses and wear my hair
In pig-tails.'
He does not make me feel that
way" she said
Vicky's short nose was up in the
air "Of course not, he's in love with
you, Edith"
Il hope not said Edith gravely.
Why not? Vicky demanded.
Because l don't love him." was the
response
And he loves you. Isn't that just
the way of it? All the good things
come to you and you don't want them,
while L
Edith looked at her in establishment.
why, Vicky Osborn" she said Il don't
see why you should care.
Il DON'T" said Vicky bravely, but
George Miller is too good to be hurt"
She said the same thing to the
young man that evening when he
came out white-faced from talk with
Edith.
81 want you to be happy. George"
she said
You are a nice little thing, vicky."
he told her. and we've always been
good chums. But cannot come here
any more"
vicky looked after him forlornly. Il
couldn't tell him the TRUTH" was her
thought, that Edith cares for some
one else"
She found Edith in tears on the
porch. Il am not going to sympa-
thize." vicky scolded; you ought to
love him, If you don't"
But there is Richard" Edith
faltered.
He cannot hold a candle to
George" Vicky said.
f~I believe you are in love with him
yourself, Vicky."
Vicky turned on her, her eyes blaz-
ing DO you think I'd love a man
who didn't care anything for me?"
But that night she cried herself to
sleep, and in the morning she rose
early and went for a walk through the
garden and down the road which led
to the river. Her big dog. Laddie,
followed her She talked to him on
the pier while watching a fisherman
drawn in the nets with the mornings s
catch.
Edith has always had everything"
she said. She's the pretty one and
the popular one. l wouldn't care.
Laddie. If she loved George; I'd give
him up, but it is such a pity to have
so much devotion go to waste"
In silence she watched boat shoot
placid pond.
It's George" vicky said. and rose.
ready for flight.
He saw her and waved to her.
Don't you want to go for a row." he
asked.
Vicky consented, and with Laddie in
the stern they turned down stream.
| There was a little inn on a wooded
point There they had breakfast. tel
ephoning to Edith that they would be
back at noon.
All that morning George poured the
tale of his troubles into Vicky's sym
pathetic ears And Vicky listening
said within her soul: "It isn't Edith
that he really loves. it's what he
thinks Edith Is"
Yet she dared bring him no disillu.
sion, for she could not break faith with
her sister.
When she reached home she found
Edith In fever of excitement. Rich
ard wants me to marry him." she said
He has it all planned, we are to live
in his college town and he will finish
his studies and have me for his in
spiration.''
Nothing that Vicky could say or dc
could influence Edith. and so It hap
ened that the young and irrespons
ible pair were married within the
month. and thus Vicky was left alone
Since the death OF their father and
mother the two girls had been chap
eroned by an old aunt whose feeble
ness made her poor company for a
young and eager girl. Vicky packed
her things and went to the city. She
took a small studio ir an old building
down town, and there she painted In
company with half dozen other art
lists.
There was one man, Russian. who
scrutinized her pictures and gave her