The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-04-11

"un'ou' promised to win the Gun"
MS lrst CLEAN of masterful daring
uiu not dlsplease the girl. possibly II
oDscurely gratified her. But Won must
ue sooa and Win," she said conceding
.he point in the immemorial feminine
iasnlon which would always march ont
oi d surrendered keep with flags flying
VIII be good and win" repeated
Willy obediently.
There fell a little silence during
"hich they had glimpses of soft green
WOODS OF distant harvest fields and of
'ne simmer of sunlit waves. Vagrant
ouors OF new-mown hay were waited
70 them when the breeze stirred. An
oiloie note rose out of the dim forest
paths' poignantly sweet. Presently the
lad spoke, not so much frightened at
HIS own audacity as amazed at his
lack OF fear. Since you are playing
my sister, do you mind telling me your
name? Did he say Buchanan"
NO; Bruce-Hadden."
Ills face lighted as he exclaimed
boyishly, II knew I had known you,
AND have-at least, I've seen your
picture. You are Oswald Graham's
cousin Jean"
"of course; and you-you are his
Yankee friend at Elton, the one who
fought him because he said things
about America"
And jolly we'll licked | was. too"
said Willy gaily. Il didn't even know
now to put up my hands; he made a
gorgeous mess of me. And then he
hunted me up and took it all back. OF
course We We're chums after that. |
was going to visit him In the holidays,
but"
But he was drowned, trying to save
a child"
He did save her. He always did
what he set out to do. And If | had
only been there
Il understand. He said you could
swim like a duck"
Its the only sport I'm not muff
at" said Willy dismally. Its just
my long arms. But he, he could do
anything. don't suppose I'll ever
stop missing him. He was the only
boy friend l ever had"
"But you have men friends now"
she said gently.
"Yes." He sat up more erect in his
seat. you saw Mr.. Rivers. He's the
best ever"
I've heard about how good he is
and how gruff. That's the kind like;
no nonsense about them. I hate sissy
men, don't you?"
Willy assented, but without ANNA
ton; he was diff1dently searching his
inner consciousness as to whether he
himself had not been accused of being
a sissy. Sometimes fellow seems a
sissy when he isn't" he offered.
"Oh. often" she agreed heartily;
"but the man they want Mora to
marry is a genuine muff, a horrid,
languid-affected New Yorker who talks
like a guardsman and makes fun Of
his own country. Mora can't endure
him; but he offers to settle half mill
lion on her, and We let Effie marry a
captain of the line who had only a
thousand year"
"That was you," interrupted Willy
fervently. "You did that. Oswald
told me"
mo, 1t was dad; he couldn't bear to
have Efie so unhappy when 1 told him
how she might go into decline, she
felt so wretched. But you see, having
let Effie do that and helping her out,
we couldn't afford any more detri-
mentals, although Jimmy's got his
colonelcy and the cross and they are
ever so happy. But We can't afford
another love match. The bishop Is
dead and Ellen hasn't very much; and
Lord Farley has big family; he was
a widower with five when Ellen mar
ried him, and they have two; and we
are so deadly poor. It is really neces-
sary, but it's awful. And l am sure
she cares lot for Reggy Sackville,
kind OF cousin of ours who is bar
rister, and she is sure he will be a
Judge, he Is so clever; but he couldn't
support a wife for years and years.
Don't you think it's really and truly
awful to have to marry anybody"
"Awful-intolerable," agreed Willy.
II simply will not"
"And your father wants you" She
looked so sympathetic that Willy broke
right in:
Eyes. I never seem able to do any
thing my father wants. can't man
age men and make friends and run the
business as my brothers did. Now he
wants me to marry girl he has
picked out for me; and I've got to dis
appoint him again. wrote him Id
try to meet his wishes every other
way-Pd accept dinner invitations; Id
learn the steel business; could ride
and run an automobile, and had been
up in an airship, and I'd try to win a
golf cup; and I'm taking bridge les
sons, but-the hand Of Douglas was
his own, you know"
IT think that's splendid" cried the
girl heartily. Il don't want to; but
maybe I shall have to, to save MORA"
Don't you do it," he exclaimed. 1T