The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-02-06
Copyrighted by J. B. Lippincott Co.


They talked 1t over in Eleanor's
room the night before. Nancy Wrigg
had come in from her bedroom across
the hall, filled with the missionary
spirit, and, as usual when the spirit
was upon her, she did not choose her
words.
1T wouldn't matter If you had a
scrap of talent" she adjured the re-
cumbent Eleanor 1T wouldn't be so
bad If you worked even. But, hon
estly, can you say you've made one
improvement this year? They
oughtnt to let you keep on at the
studio, and If It were the league they
wouldn't"
Think of my homeless situation If
they turned me out" Miss Burke de-
Tended herself Besides, I'm their
pet. l invented the sneeze, and 1t
turned the life class green with envy.
See here, Mamie, did l ever show you
about the sneeze?"
"You might go in for vaudeville"
Miss Wrigg commented. 81 should
think you'd worry little over wasting
your time and money. know l wor-
ried, and l really worked every min
ute l was in an art school,"
81 may as well get up" mourned
her victim. "But be accurate, honey,
even when you abuse me. It's jim
my's money. never had any"
Miss Wrigg got up, too. The toe of
her walking boot tattooed impatiently
against the wooden rocker of her
chair.
q know I'm Cross" she apologized.
1--WE been working. But, Eleanor,
how can you stand having your broth
er pay your way year after year? You
say he has only his salary. Suppose
he should get tired? There isn't a
thing you could do"
Miss Burke raised scandalized eyes
to the ceiling. Jimmy get tired of
supporting his sister! It's his chief
joy. Besides, it's good for him" She
sat down before the mirror and began
pulling the pins from her hair 81
take great credit to myself for Jim
my" she observed sweetly. "He
hasn't been able to acquire a single
bad habit. I've been a splendid ex-
pense to him ever since he began
earning money"
you probably have" Miss Wrigg
agreed. well, I've noticed when a
person plays lily of the field for one
time, Providence evens up the score
at some other What If Jimmy were
to lose his position or have something
happen to him?"
Jimmy couldn't lose his position
any more than he could ever find an
other If he did He started In as
Office boy, and he's grown into a piece
of the business. And as for anything
happening to him"-Miss Burke
looked over her shoulder: Nancy's
practical disapproval was always a
provocation-"if anything did, he's
certainly made me out his life in
surance," she ended, drawing a lit
tie.
You're detestable!" Miss Wrigg
llun6 DdCh at uGI. DOuGIIulS5
don't see why l like you at ALL" she
added from the threshold.
Sometimes l don't fathom 1t my
SELF" Miss Burke admitted. She got
up laughing when the door closed.
There was picture of her brother
on the mantel. She took it down and
held it at arms length in front of her.
Your sisters bad lot, Jeems," she
apostrophized the card. ASK Mamie
Wrigg If she isn't. Now, I suppose
she'll be wroth with me for as much
as an hour"
She returned the photograph to its
place and went on with her dressing.
When she was quite finished she
tapped at the opposite door.
THE butterfly is going out" she
announced "The bird Of pleasure
hutters on the wing. Do you aprove
of me enough to see If I'm hooked up
behind? 1t might be a comfort to my
brother to know l didn't come to
pieces on the streets of Philadelphia"
You're horrid," Miss Wrigg relent-
ed. "You pretend not to care about
anything. believe it's a pose."
"Poise, not pose. You've left out a
letter." the other corrected her.
Goodnight" She swept down the
stairs, watching her light skirts fun