The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-05-16

ders."
Another set" laughed Thorne.
81 don't know anything about any
others. These are mine"
We'll, but this time"
This time is just the same as all
the other times, only worse; besides
told her you would be there"
whats that?"
Il say she expects you, that's all"
who expects me?"
why, Edith, of course; who do you
suppose l was talking about all this
timer"
"Oh, she expects me to"
why. Of course, she does You are
to take her over. You needn't stay if
you don't want to. Now l will go and
tell her you are waiting"
"Oh, very we'll" said Thorne, smil-
ing; "if she expects me to take her
over l will do so, Of course, but can't
stay a moment"
We'll" said Caroline, 81 thought
you would come to your senses some
time or another. See here, Mr. Cap
tain, was she most ready?"
We'll, now do | know"
What dress did she have on?"
'Dress?"
"Oh, you men! Why, she's only got
two"
yes; well, very likely, this was
one of them, Miss Milford"
mo matter, am going upstairs to
see, anyway. Captain Thorne, you can
wait out there on the veranda or, per
haps, it would be pleasanter if you
were to smoke a cigar out in the sum.
merhouse at the side of the garden 1t
is lovely there in the moonlight.
and"
Il know, but if l wait right here"
Those are my orders. It's cooler
outside, you know, anyway, and"
Pardon me, Miss Milford, orders
never have to be explained, you
know" interrupted the captain, smil.
ing at the charming girl.
That's right; l take back the ex-
planation," she said, as Thorne stepped
toward the window; land, captain" !"
cried the girl.
"Yes?"
BE sure and smoke"
Thorne laughed, as he lighted his
cigar and stepped out onto the porch,
and thence into the darkness of the
garden path.
"Oh," said Caroline to herself, "he
is splendid. If Wilfred we're only like
that!" she pouted. But then-our en-
gagement's broken off anyway, so
what's the difference. If he were like
that-Td- No-I don't think I'd"
Her soliloquy was broken by the en-
trance of Mrs. Varney, who came slow
ly down the room.
"Why, Caroline dear! What are you
talking about, all to yourself?"
"O-just-I was just saying, you
inow-that-why, l don't know what
| was Do you think it is going to
rain?" she returned in great confu-
sion.
Dear me, child; l haven't thought
about it. Why, what have you got on?
Is that new dress, and in Rich
mond"
"a new dress? Well, should think
So These are my great-grandmoth-
ers mothers wedding clothes. Aren't
they lovely? Just in the nick of time.
too | was on my very last rags, or
rather, they were on me, and | didn't
know what to do. Mother gave me
key and told me to open an old horse
hair trunk in the attic, and these were
in it." She seized the corners Of her
dress and pirouetted step or two for
ward to show it off, and then dropped
the older woman an elaborate, old
fashioned courtesy. II ran over to
show them to Edith" she resumed
Where is she? l want her to come
over to my house"
upstairs, think. l am afraid she
can't come. l have just come from
her ROOM" Mrs. Varney continued as
Caroline started to interrupt, "and she
means to stay here"
81 will see about that" said Caro-
line, running out of the room.
Mrs. Varney turned and sat down at
her desk to write letter, which evi-
IDENTIFY, from her sighs, was not an
easy task. In a short time the girl
was back again. Mrs. Varney looked
up from writing and smiled at her.
you see it was no use, Caroline"
she began.
mo use," laughed the girl; well,
you will see. didn't try to persuade
her or argue with her. just told
her that Captain Thorne was waiting
for her in the summerhouse, Yes"
she continued, as Mrs. Varney looked
her astonishment; "he is still here,
and he said he would take her over.
You just watch which dress she has
on when she comes down. Now
will go out there and tell him she'll
be down in a minute. ! have more
trouble getting people fixed so that
they can come to my party than 1t
would take to run blockade into Sa-
vannah every fifteen minutes"
Mrs. Varney looked at her depart
ing figure pleasantly for a moment,
and then, with deep sigh, resumed
her writing, but she evidently was not
to conclude her letter without further
for she had scarcely be-
gun again when Wilfred came into the
room with a bundle very loosely done
up in heavy brown paper AS his
mother glanced toward him he made
violent effort to conceal 1t under his
coat.
What have you got there, viii
fred?" she asked incuriously.
THAT? Oh. nothing; It is only
say. mother. have you written that let
ter YETI"