The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-11-06

fui iipsi They would enjoy Q honey-
moon In Europe, while she. the lonely
old spinster. would stay at homo
alone.
In that moment she hated Jimmy
vanstone. and her pretty niece. and
she mentally censured the cruel sci
fshness of youthful love.
You cannot marry anyone without
my consent. Ethel; and ! shall not
give IT," she said firmly.
Good night, Aunt Felicia was
Ethers quiet reply ~ she passed the
older woman and west into the
house.
She read Mr.. Daniel Iatmers letter
to his nephew before she vent to bed
and the tears that wet her lashes were
chased away by irrepsessible smiles.
She tucked the letter usder her pillow
and went to sleep with . smile on her
lips. Felicia, pausing In the door
way with lighted candle ~ was her
custom. saw the smile aad her heart
strings frightened.
She does not care-she does not
care for mel" she thought jealousy
as she went away.
Early the next morning Ethel won't
out to the near by town for q days
shopping. Felicia was writing let
tiers In her own room when Celia. the
little housemaid. tapped At the door
Come in" said Miss Weeks.
Please. Mss Felicia" said Celia
extending a folded letter, Il found this
on the floor In Miss EtheIs room. IL
few from under the pillow when val
making the bed"
Put Il on the table. Celia" said
Felicia and she resumed her writing
when her letters were finished she
looked up and saw the sheets OF let
ter paper nuttering on the table A
leaf rustled In the breeze from the
open window and her own name
caught her casual glance.
Temptation assailed this impeccably
honest lady. She glanced again-and
again. and then overcome by indigna
ton and curiosity. she silenced all
Qualms on active conscience and read
the letter from beginning 10 end
II was the epistle Of Mr. Daniel Lat
inner to his beloved nephew. James
vanstone:
My dear boy" Il read In part. so
you think you are the happiest man In
the world because q pretty little girl
loves you! Well. ] thought the same
way once upon a time. but | was
promptly disillusioned-now this isn't
meant to be a wet blanket on the
rosy fame OF your engagement to Miss
Ethel: it's merely the plant OF q dis
gruntled old bachelor because you
have won the prize that ] missed. Con
CALCULATIONS. dear Jimmy. and may
you be deserving OF the little girl who
is pretty indeed. my lad. but can't
compare with her aunt, Miss Felicia.
whom knew once upon q time. Yes.
you've guessed It. Jimmy. she Is the
one who administered the dose OF dis
Illusion! Well. Felicia was a self
willed slip Of girl and | should
never have taken her word OF dis
missal. Sometimes when ! am very
lonely and am afraid Of the solitary
years ahead OF me. ! am tempted To 60
at once to Felicia Weeks and ask her
II II 10 too late to be happy But
forgive me. Jimmy, I've turned this
letter OF congratulation into an elogy
upon my own happiness-but it's too
late TO amend II. now. ] hope Felicia
will give her consent 10 your marrying
Ethel before the lFth-if she won't.
| shall certainly run down 10 Rode
mead and plead your cause. Kiss my
future niece-in-law for me.
Afiiectionately, Uncle Dan"
For n long time Felicia sat In Of.
lence Although she stared out at the
garden she could see nothing for the
mist OF tears In her fine eyes.
Presently she drew q sheet OF pa
per toward her and wrote . few lines
TO Mr. Daniel IAtimer. This she en-
closed with his letter In an envelope
and carefully addressed II 10 his club
In town. Then she AIMED . special
delivery stamp and sent Celia out TO
mail II at once.
Although the letter was gone the
words she had written seemed written
In rosy red across her brain.
This Is what she had written: II
have given my consent TO Ethel's mar
rage on the l5th-but II you wish
you may come down-sooh. Dan-an
plead not their cause-but your own
Felicia!"
1Copyrirht 1919 by the Mcclure News