The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1914-02-06

does her skill in housekeeping. I've no
right to shrink from trying to save
Josiah from miserable home. His
one hope is in my hodin' him fast to
onr engagement, and. talk or no talk,
I'm going to do it,
III spend the winter with Cousin
Emma" she decided. There amt ii
soul in Bloomville knows her address.
Dick says she don't look within a
dozen years as old as l do. and she's IA
year older. She always was real tasty.
Maybe can pick up few hints from
her. Looks and dresses and genera!
up-to-d a teness makes lots of difference
to a man"
All the next day she toiled steadily
setting her house in order. And Tues
day morning while waiting for the ex
pressman she penned note to her
recreant lover:
Dearest Josiah-I write to inform you
that ] am well and expect to spend this
winter in the city. l leave today, SO
shall not have the pleasure of seeing you
before l 60 But you will be constantly in
my thoughts. and your ring. as always.
will be my reminder of our engagement.
Yours until death, WINIFRED.
TT will show him that I'm holdin'
hsn fast" meditated Miss Lane as the
rain sped cityward. "And as didn't
give any address. he won't know where
to write. He isn't one to go very far
with that Searles girl until he breaks
with me. And he can't break with me
until he finds out where to send let
ter"
BloomviIle was golden with dande-
lions and white with apple blossoms
when Winifred Lane came home to her
own. mot soul knows I've come"
she reflected as she unpacked the new
trunk. She sighed suddenly. well,
by tomorrow l shall know. He's had
the winter to consider in. and If he's
still set upon it I'll give him up"
Josiah Dent came up the church steps
with look of discomfort upon his
comedy face. In the months that had
passed since Winifreds disappearance
he had nursed a growing sense of in
jury.
"'Tain't fair" he complained. keep
ing a fellow ON the fence so. Her best
years have been spent for Dick any
how. and a woman ages Eastern 8
man. If she'd given me her address
I'd have settled it months ago"
Josiah went up the aisle to his OWL
pew. Above the high back Of the min
ister's pew there arose a white sailor
hat. swathed with an airy muslin scarf
Beneath it soft waves of curling hail
rippled across brow from which al
traces of care had been resolutely
smoothed away.
Josiah. watching with some curiosity
until she turned her head slightly
caught the clear profile and noted the
soft color in her cheek. 1t was Wini
fred. All at once there dawned upoI
him the truth that immortal youth il
not at the mercy of added years an(
that better than the passing beauty o
girlhood is that womaniness which
shall OutlaSt the ages.
I'm glad | didn't know where t.
write" thought Josiah with sense o
narrow escape and growing feeling o
anxiety.
Winifred was unaware Of his pres
ence until she heard his voice in TIL
closing hymn. AS the last notes ceased
she turned to him, smiling straight N
into his anxious face.
well, Josiah" she said.
And Josiah wondered why he had no
Known before that raiment. whether i
be the unbecoming gray of past year
or the crisp muslin that seemed to Civ
back to him the love of his early years
was not worthy of Il passing thought
1t was the old Winifred who smiled "
at him out of those clear eyes. Netti
Searles and the throng about then
were alike forgotten. He only though
of the woman before him-the only VIC
man in the world for nim-and al
Bloomville had its answer to lon
winter of speculation ana comment a
he stopped to kiss her in the CROWDS
church, Winifred Lanes best year
were yet to come.