St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-07-12
ny JANE OSnoRNE


her uncle's face In the lamp Light as
he sat reading his evening paper
exactly as be had read It six nights
out of the seven ever since she could
remember. Finally, as Cornelia kept
her fine gray eyes intent upon his
weather-worn face, he looked up.
'sWhy, Cornie," he asked, why
didn't you go with your aunt and
Myrie to the social? You're no hand
to miss an evening out"
you see, Uncle Frank" Cornelia
began, looking straight into his face.
Il want to talk to you alone. It Is
something you will understand better
than Aunt Nellie, I think"
Mr. Davis looked puzzled. you
aren't thinking of getting married 2"
he suggested with lack OF convic-
ton, for the idea was quite prepos-
ferrous.
CorneIia laughed. Uncle Frank,
who In the name OF common sense
could any one marry? There hasn't
been man in Stanton we could marry
since we we're children. You know
there isn't any chance here. That's
Just what wanted TO talk to you
about"
There are several fairish sort Of
young men," suggested Mr.. Davis con-
templatively. There's Davy Little
and young Ashley
YES" interrupted Cornelia- Il knew
you would say that. but they aren't
the kind Myra could marry. They
have always farmed 1t right here. You
know, Uncle, Myra is one girl in q
hundred"
''Yes-yes, you're right" unused Mr..
Davis with humility as he watched
the smoke from his pipe circle slowly
above him. She's most too fine for
a farmers wife"
"And she is twenty-five" added Cor
nelia.
You must be going on twenty-nine,
Cornelia," exclaimed Mr.. Davis.
Cornelia was not interested In her
self She bent intently over the table
towards him.
1--WE been thinking that maybe l
ought to do something for Myra," she
said, TO give her a chance. She
doesn't seem quite happy Cornelia
took a quick breath and came out
with the surprise. Maybe l could
take her away for season where she
would meet some people and have a
chance
The look OF expected annoyance
came over her uncle's face
"Corne ella, my girl" he said. IT am
not as rich as would ike to be.
can give you fair sort of home here,
and you more than pay me for what
little it is worth, but when 1t comes
to travelling about-a season here and
a season there-it Is too much
Cornelia laid her hand affectionate-
ly on her uncles. Now, you listen"
she said soothingly. "Myra and have
a couple of thousand dollars that
father left US and / was thinking that
l might take half Of that and go on
with Myra to q really tip-top place.
She could have few nice clothes, SO
she wouldn't look out of place. 1t
would all take lot of money, but
when you think of what 1t might do
for Myra it seems worth while"
''You mean she might marry a rich
city fellow?" asked Mr.. Davis.
1T might lead to it; yes
For a few minutes the two sat in
silence. Finally Mr.. Davis rose and
walked slowly around the room, paus-
ing behind his niece with his strong
hands on her shoulders.
."I guess you have got the right idea,
Cornelia," he said, "but how are you
going to tell your Aunt Ne1lie?"
'Tve thought of that" Cornelia as
sured him. "We-you and I-mightn't
be able to convince her, but will let
Myra think that have set my heart
on going, that it is all for my sake,
and that you approve. Then she will
agree, and II she wants to go Aunt
Nellie will agree. You know Aunt
Nellie would do anything for Myra."
Mr.. Davis looked at his niece In adj
miration You've been doing some
deep thinking, NIECE he said; "and l
guess it is all for the best
So far Cornelia's plan had worked
better than she had hoped and the
task of winning over Myra and her
aunt was comparatively simple Myra,
who had at best the sort of indifeer-
ence and unwillingness to think for
herself that went with her kind of
DAINTY pIetllASSS, OU0E6Q Neither Op-
position nor enthusiasm. In fact, Cor
neHa felt a touch of Disappointment
that the plan she had spent so much
time In working out, and which would
cost so much of their small inheri-
lance, should be met with such I'M
affected indifference on the part Of
Myra.
Things progressed rapidly. The
thousand dollars was withdrawn from
the savings bank where 1t had been
resting for the past twelve years, and
1t was carefully apportioned-so much
for clothes, SO much for travelling ex-
penses, so much for board at the ho-
tel at the sea shore where CorneIia
had decided to go. and so much for
spending money. In this planning Myra
took her usual lack OF interest and
even when 1t came TO getting the
wonderful wardrobe she was blissfiYI-