Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-09-15
A CONSPIRACY
And She Was the End
of It.
BY MARTHA M'CULLOCH.W1LLIAMS


to. but should think you'd hate to
be always tagging" Berta said with a
small. insolent laugh. Berta was a
beauty and belle. Linda. her sister.
older by two years. was neither.
According to the countryside. Linda
was even ugly.
People who were all for roses and
dimples and sunshiny smiles saw no
beauty in Linda's olive complexion, her
severely classic profile and the slim
figure. which they called thin.
She did not smile much. and she
laughed so rarely in public that gossip
said she did not know how. Before
she was sixteen she had been set Down
as a predestined spinster.
1t was far otherwise with Berta. who
was a damask rose embodied in ador
able desh and blood Lindas atstwenty,
one had never had a beau. Berta's
conQuests could not be reckoned upon
all her fingers.
AT first Berta liked to have Linda 60
out with her. finding in her dark pallOr
fine foil for her own charms. But
after awhile she grew in strange
unaccountable way resentful Of Linda
1t seemed reflection on the family
that its elder daughter was so nearly
a social cipher. At least that was
what Berta told herself. Everybody
feels the sovereign need for a good
excuse to justify an unkind action.
Not for worlds would she have ad
its origin in certain praises of Linda
spoken by man whom she herself had
resolved to marry.
Aston Wade was the man. He was
the catch of the county. He lived
twenty miles away and had not known
the Lee girls until six months before
Then they had met at the county fair.
and after that they had not been able
to 20 anywhere without finding him
there. Not that they objected Wade
was the kind Of man to whom no one
could object-not even young woman
predestined to spinsterhood.
Linda danced but rarely; therefore
Berta had we'll nigh monopolized AL
ston's attention. He had made oppor-
tunities. for all that. to talk with Lin
da and had even been unwise enough
to tell Linda's sister that she rested
and cheered him as might fresh and
fragrant breeze.
Berta had cooed that Linda was
truly the dearest old thing. When
they were home again and for weeks
thereafter she did not spare the dear
est old thing one possible pin prick.
lyon won't he lonesome. All the old
maids in town are sure to be at the
Ansley's," she ran on as they stepped
into the carriage. She had been hop
ing Linda would not go to the lawn
party. 1t was the first Of the season.
Nobody but Peggy Ansley would have
riskei such thing thus early. even
though May had come in summer
warm
1T would be better If you'd put on
black frock. Il short one. and a white
apron. Then you could help serve
things" she went on
Linda smiled gravely. And you
could have worn my chip hat" she re
piled with faint twinkle. II know
it's almost as becoming to you as you
are to it. But I'm getting to be selfish
as grow older"
''The hat doesn't matter. If people
see me they never think Of what have
on" said Berta I'm not Just part Of
the scenery. like some people"
Linda flushed and made n motion to
ward the carriage door, almost as If
she would leave it. In moment. how
ever she sank back on the cushion
saying evenly: well. after all. the
scenery has its uses Anyway. I'm go
ing to have the best time | can As
you say. shnn't he lonesome. Peggy
says she's asked everybody in town
over six months old"
Yes. | know it'll he the same as II
Sunday school picnic. fully expect
to see you marching about looking like
the head of an orphan asylum" Berta
commented spitefully. Linda only
smiled again. After minute she said
very slowly: AT least I'll escape tag
ging that way. And you mustn't be
spiteful if for once | have more fol
lowers than YOU
Soon they rolled through the Ansley
gates in sight of green lawns. flower
decked and as soft as velvet. Knots of
people tleckcd the turf. the women
brave in light spring garments and
even the men showing hints Of the sea.
sons enlivening in their more sober at
tire
Children ran around picking flowers
unhindpred or flung them down to roll
ecstatically on the grass Berta lost
her scowl ut the sight. She was II
woman for all her hard ambitions.
Linda longed to gather the toddIers
in her arms and carry them off to fairy
land. She controlled herself and walk
ed decorously among them. only stop.
ping now and then to pat tousled
curly head.
She had on n rose pink fr0ck. with
smothers of fine lace at throat and
wrists. Somehow in spite of Berta's
taunts her spirits had risen until her
mood matched her appearance.
More than one person looked after
her. half startled. as she passed along.
Young men for the most part made a
rush for Berta and hung about her as
she moved. but more than one. drop.
ping out. said inwardly, "Linda's near
ly as pretty this afternoon"
All unconscious Of looks and unsro-
ken thought. Linda went on to the far
ther edge, where the older people were