Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-10-08
Evening Star S
Daily Story
THE FAMILY ALBUM
Ry ELLA RANpAlL rnARoE.

paper Syndicate.
Mrs. Gilmer found 1t hard to un-
derstand her daughters mood this
evening. Cora had come home
after her days work at the store,
unusually buoyant aud sparkling;
then she had relapsed into thought
full moodiness, and after she had
helped clear away the remnants Of
the evening meal she seemed actu-
elly cross.
What's the matter daughter
the elder woman felt constrained to
ask.
Nothing" replied Cora sharply;
then added i'll quick contrition, "oh,
ma, I'm all upset. I've told Mr.
Wheaton he could call-Mr Wheaton,
our new stock manager, you know
and now ] don't want him coming
here"
Mrs Gilmer glanced round the neat
apartment. I'm sure there's nothing
TO be ashamed Of she remarked
quietly IF Mr.. Wheaton's the right
sort, he won't mind. It's you he's
coming to see, / suppose?"
"Oh, yes; but Mr.. Wheaton's very
stylish, ma. You know how impor-
tant first impressions are. When he
KNOWS me DGiIei, dho--WCti, II Nodiu
seem different then. Now, he'd just
think lived in the basement and pa
was jaintor. And we'd all have to sit
in this little room
PA and I'll stay in the kitchen" in
terrupted Mrs Gilmer. What If
your pa did get sick and lose his job,
and we had to come here and take
charge of this building for a while.
I'm sure it's honest and better than
owing or begging.
Just the same it's humiliating,"
said Cora. Say, ma, I've been
thinking. There's apartment No. 8.
The Fowlers are away, and we've got
the key. We're free to go in. What
harm if ] sit in their parlor While
tomorrow night?"
Cora Gilmer, what an ideal"
Its a good one" said Cora dog
gedly. IT'S a sweet little place, and
I'll dust around, and light the gas
lamp, and put on my best bib and
tucker, and have a lovely evening.
I'll slip our name in above the bell.
Now, ma, please"
1t ended by Cora having her own
way as usual. When Mr.. Joseph
Wheaton, smartly attired. appeared
at Corona Court and pressed the
electric bell of apartment No. 8, he
mer, pink checked and pink gowned.
The artistic room was softly lighted.
Arabian lace curtains fell over the
broad windows. Easy, cushioned
chairs faced one another socially.
There was an air of richness and
5 good taste, which did not escape the
young mans notice.
Cora was more than usually viva
cious. The novelty of her position,
added to the consciousness of her de-
ception, stimulated her into a high
pitch of animation. To young Whea-
ton the time flew on rainbow wings.
He had admired Cora in the store,
but he found her infinitely more at
tractive in these harmonious, home
like surroundings.
81 am going to like this town when
j get acquainted" he said toward the
end of the evening. 1--WE got cousin
married and settled here somewhere.
I've got her husbands business adj
dress. Never met him, but they say
he's a fine fellow. They'd introduce
me about when / get time to look
them up."
1T doesn't take man long TO get
acquainted in a new place" remarked
Cora lightly.
We'll, 1 don't take to everybody"
Wheaton looked at her in a way that
was highly complimentary. "But
when | do take a notion, it's pretty
well fixed" He laughed and Cora
laughed. too. Then swift embar-
rassment fell upon them both. Their
glances met.
well, If here isn't family al
bum!" exclaimed the caller brisl1ly,
reaching toward the lower shelf of
the centre table, Lets see who's
who in the Gilmer family"
Cora drew her chair beside him,
but her heart was beating in panic.
She pointed at random to a picture
of sweet-faced matron. MY moth
err she said gilbly. driven on by
sense of threatened danger And
here's my father. too Yes, he is
nice-looking man. And"
Wait. / want to see these Her
companion caught her hand tightly.
and the touch SO confused Cora that
she could not look at him. Ii sho
had looked she would have found
food for thought.
Your father and mother?" re-
peated Wheaton slowly.
Yes. | suppose you're thinking I
don't resemble them. Well, | don't"
She fused with her hair and twisted
the bracelets ON her wrists.
Young Wheaton was turning the
pages of the album. And what's
this?" He pushed the book toward
her again. She saw that he was
pointing to a picture of a baby, a
round-faeed, nondescript little figure
in white furs.
That" Cora laughed nervously.
Why, that's mel How did you guess
it? oh, all the rest are my cousins
and my aunts-and some uncles. |
don't see why ma keeps that old
al fhtfrV ,t.fo Xst,rr
II find it very interesting re-
turned her guest He looked round
with new air of criticism, and then
at the girl in pink. When Wheaton
went away he had invited her to go
to the theatre the next Saturday
night. Cora felt that she had made
favorable impression on her caller,
but her mind was troubled.
TITS going to be harder than ever
to tell the truth now she thought
as she turned out the light and shut
The door of the apartment behind
Yer
When Joseph Wheaton called ON
saturday night Cora met him at the
door dressed for the trip to the thea
ire. The next time he came, a week
later, she was on the street near her
,reme.
I'm just coming from the library"
Hle said. Its lovely evening.
Let's take little walk
She thought she would tell him the
truth then, but her courage failed.
Pleading severe headache, she left
him early. Before he came again
the Fowlers had returned.
In the store they were meeting
daily but Cora seemed unlike her
spirited land cordial self. When
Wheaton tried to make an appoint
rnent to call she offered a plausible
excuse. After that she seemed to be