Morris tribune., 1912-10-18
What
E 2can0e OF
.lAA.lVaretta (
a Case of Too Many
Lovers
By CLARISSA MACKIE
By CLARISSA MACKIE

silence mere TOO.
"Where is that girl?" fumed Alvaret-
Ia Winton's mother as she looked into
the bedrooms and then made another
search Of the lower hOor
The Wintons were still asking that
question at 6 o'clock that evening, for
Alvaretta the pretty daughter Of the
house had disappeared as suddenly and
mysteriousIy as though the earth had
opened and swallowed her up.
Neighboys had joined the anxious
family and perhaps a dozen were sit
ting and standing around the untasted
supper which Mrs Winton had some
how managed to place upon the table.
AlVa WintOn. the widows only son,
was nervously excited over his sisters
disappearance.
"Can't you remember where you saw
her last, MAJ" he asked for the hun
dredth time since 3 o'clock that after
noon.
Mrs. Wint0n sank into a chair and
turned her Redeemed eyes upon her
son. ITS the Queerest thing, now that
I think Of it," she answered him for
the hundredth time ''She made some
remark to me while | was frying
those doUghnuts, and what with the
blue smoke in the kitchen and the sput-
tering of the hot lard, l didn't sense
half Of what she said" She smiled
deprecatingIy at the faces turned to-
ward her.
"Well. ma, what was the half Of
what you did hearT' patiently insisted
Alva.
"She jest ran in through the smoke
and asked me if she could go some
where or do something, and l says, as
/ often do to AIvaretty, oh. yes, run
along, do child; only don't be too late!
She kissed me and went off, and that's
the last I've seen of my daughter" "
Then Mrs Winton broke down and
cried for the first time that trying aft
ernOon.
THAT'S all the clew we got to go on.
Now, suppose each one of you take a
street and go to every house and ask
If my sister has been there or if any
body has seen her since noon. We'll
all meet here at 8 o'clock" Young AL
vas voice quivered.
'Where you going, AlvaW asked Cy-
rus Jenkins.
"Down among the stores and along
the river" said Alva, dropping his
voice at the last word so that his moth
er should not hear
If l could only meet Irving DENLY
he might have seen her." mused the
troubled youth as he made his way to-
ward the stores which were grouped
around the postofice.
Irving DENLY was the youth In the
drug store who was deeply in love with
pretty AIvaretta Winton. He bored
her to death with his attentions, for
Alvaretta had already made her choice
and was engaged to Dave Bemis, who
worked in the railroad Office in the
city.
So Alva's first inquiry was made at
the drug store, where Irving's pale,
freckled face became elongated with
surprise at the question.
"Alvaretta lost? Pshaw, you're josh.
ing me!' he laughed incredulously.
tits the solemn truth, Irving.
thought maybe you'd seen her go past
or something. | thought you might
like to help find her." ended Alva. dis
appointed.
"Of course would! Let me see-I
did see AlVaretta abOut-why, it was
on my way back from dinner. 1t must
have been | o'clock, She had on that
blue dress she wears and white hat
remember because she looked great
and l wondered where she was going, "
confessed Irving, reddening to his
hpmely ears.
(which way did she go?"
straight up the hill"
That's something I've learned" said
Alva. drawing breath of relief
you're the first one who's seen her
since before dinner"
At O'clock Alva was hurrying to-
ward his home anxfously hoping that
~~A@AN VA bhC OI1ACI udu U0cU
more successful than himself in find
ing news Of his missing sister. Be
Hond the statement Of Irving DENLY
that he had seen AIvaretta going up
the hill that led to the railroad station
there had not been single clew. Per
haps 1t was because the hour between
IL and is sacred to dinner in Little
River. and thus no one had observed
Alvaretta. Inquiry at the station was
useless. for when Irving reached there
he found it closed.
Perhaps Alvaretta would have re-
turned home when be reached there
This thought hurried his steps home
ward -....
Eyes as anxious as his own dues-
toned him when he entered the din.
ing room once more. He shook his
head slowly and then told them what
little information he had gained.
AS he finished speaking the door
opened quickly and admitted Dave
BenAis. Alvaretta's sweetheart. Els