The Red Cloud chief., 1912-05-23
ReSurreCted
Romance
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ny LILLIAN E.SwEETSER
BY LILLIAN E.SwEETSER

PresS.)
Bang!!!
The slam Of the big front door shook
the house.
Aunt Hetty. sitting at her sunny
window. started at the noise. and.
glancing out. saw Jack Maynard run
down the steps and hurry away--anger
and decision in every movement.
few moments later step on the
stairs announced the arrival OF her
niece. Mabel. a sweet. lovable girl. but
somewhat spoiled by the constant at.
tention Of the whole household to
every whim Of its youngest member.
AS the door opened. q flushed. tear.
stained face appeared. and Mabel was
soon enfolded in Aunt Hetty's com
forting arms. while the soft. white
hands caressingly smoothed the tum.
bled hair.
AS far back as Mabel could remem.
Der. Aunt Hetty had always been her
refuge-her haven in all of childhood's 8
storms. and. even now. a young wom-
an. with a sparkling engagement ring.
the sweet. old lady was still her con.
ddant.
Day after day she might be found
IN the same rocker. in the same win.
dow. occupied with dainty bit OF sew.
Ing. which. when finished. invariably
found its way into Mabel's wardrobe;
and nobody knew OF the dreams and
memories woven into the sheer gar.
ments. Happy days passed in review.
as some girlish confidence would re.
call a similar occurrence in her own
history; and, though years had passed.
tear would fall for the lad who had
died to save others.
After the burst Of grief had sub.
sided. Mabel raised her head. and
gravely announced:
Jack and ! are through. Auntie.' v
At the question in the gentle look she
added: well. It is Just this way. dear;
II he cannot trust me now. he never
will. and ! will not stand being order
ed like a child" a sob interrupted.
then she went on:
"You know those beautiful roses
papa brought home for me yesterday
are in the library. When Jack noticed
them. to tease him, I asked him II he
did not think they were nice pres.
ent.' He asked whom they we're from,
of course. and I said, q gentleman
Then. instead Of Joking, as I was do
ing. he got angry. and ordered me to
tell him who sent them. At that. nat.
urally. I would not. when he was so
cross. and he said such mean things
was willing to believe that I had been
playing with him all the time. When
was wearing his ring, too. auntie! /
tried to give 1t back. but he threw It
on the floor and rushed out. without
giving me O chance to explain. Now
he can stay. II he doesn't care any
more than that!!" A fresh burst OF
tears and the curly head went deep
into the comforting lap.
Aunt Hetty thoughtfully contem.
plated the sorrowful figure.
do you think that you were Just
right yourself, dear? Remember that
the forbearance and forgiveness OF
true love cannot always be on one
side. True hearts should be above
causing another pain. for simple
Joke"
II know It wasn't right" was the
faint response. but I meant to tell
him In a moment. and never thought
Of him doing that way. He ought to
have had more faith in me than that"
Mabel wiped her eyes defiantly.
Aunt Hetty sighed. and q mist came
before her. 40 she replied gently:
Little girl. people can live years in
. minute-countries and lives be de-
stroyed. but an angry word lives for.
sver. Would you like to hear 0 story
"A true one. about girl. Just 40 low
Ing. impulsive. and thoushtless a.
you?"
Mabel assented eagerly. her own
woes forgotten for the time. at the
prospect of one of her aunt's stories.
"Years ago." began the sweet voice.
"a girl lived in beautiful southern
town. She had everything to make her
happy-father. mother. brother. and a
home, OF which she loved every nook
and corner. She was very popular In
the younger set, and many were the
fiattering proposals Of marriage that
she received. But. In ler open.hearted
manner. she liked them all The same.
and after repeated refusals Contrary
to the usual rule) they were all like
big brothers to her-ever watchful for
her pleasure and comfort. without riv.
airy and jealousy.
matters went on this way for sew
eral seasons. Gossips wondered
talked. and finally doomed her to a
solitary spinsterhood. as one after an.
other Joined the ranks Of the big
brothers,
but one day came q change. The
girl's brother brought homo friend
q former college roommate. His home
was far away. and on q trip for the
business interests Of his father he had
combined duty with the pleasure OF q
visit to his friend.
I'VE read of love at hrst sight, and
I think that ID what II must have been,
fov SrOyn the frat thu H1rl waa n Az.