The Parker post., 1916-01-08
HIS OTHER SISTER
BY cLARIssA MAcKIE.

Copyright, 1916, by the Mcclure Newspa-
| per Syndicats)
| Jack Fenby came into the dining
room waving a telegram at his, as
sembled family. Guess who is COM
ing tonight" he challenged.
Isabella Drew" hazarded Betty,
with sisterly devotion.
"Oh, pshaw!" blushed Jack. II
didn't mean Isabella
''Well, she is coming" went on Bet
ty, smoothly. Father and mother
are going to town on the S:42 to stay
over night and I've telephoned Isa-
bella to spend the night with me -
there. I'm such dear, you ought to
tell me about your message, Jack!"
TITS from Lance Freeman" he re-
piled.
Lance Freeman from Panama."
"Yes. He's up here on business. He
has promised to stay with me-" he
added proudly. II tell you, folks, Lance
is pretty big gun down there on the
isthmus,. and Betty'-addressing his
sister in an extensively patronizing
tone-"it's good thing you're not, the
paint-and-powder sort of girl-Lance
detests the whole tribe"
"In-d-e-e-d?" drawled Betty, over
her toast and tea.
Eyes, indeed! He's terribly fussy
about women, you know"
"He must be a detestable paragon
himself" murmured Betty.
"Don't quarrel, children" chided
Mrs. Fenby. "You must do the honors
Betty, and, Jack, try to persuade
Lance to make our home his head
quarters while he is North. I was
very fond of his mother"
Mr.. Fenby and his wife departed
for their train and Jack accompanied
them, to spend the day at his Office in
town.
Left to herself, Betty held confer
ence with the cook and then went up
to her own room, where she sat down
before her dressing table and stared
thoughtfully at her charming rehec-
tion in the oval mirror.
What she saw there must have
pleased her capricious fancy, for she
smiled and nodded and sparkled at
herself. At last, she changed to a
street gown, and walked down to the
drug store.
=
At six o'clock that evening Jack
Fenby brought Lance Freeman home
Eliza, the trim parlor maid, wore a
stunned look on her round face.
Miss Betty is in the drawing
ROOM" she announced with toss Of
her head.
Jack ushered his big, bronzed friend
from the tropics into the soft lighted
room where Betty and Isabella Drew
were sitting before the fire.
Betty rose and came forward with
outstretched hand. She saw tall,
broad-shouldered young man with
keen gray eyes that seemed to probe
the depths of her heart and soul and
come away disappointed, finding evi-
dent relief in Isabella Drew's girlish
simplicity. The newcomers evident
dismay and disapproval of her own
charms-a dismay that his straight
forward nature could not then con-
ceal-struck pang to Betty's heart.
Lance Freeman, eagerly anticipating
this meeting with the adored sister OF
his classmate, saw slender, golden
haired girl in tight-6tting black satin
frock, her feet incased in absurdly
high-heeled slippers, her golden hair
twisted into the latest mode atop her
small head, her blue eyes wide and
shallow looking in their baby stare,
her face carefully powdered and
rouged, eyebrows penciled. lips skill
fully tinted, pearls in her ears and en-
circling her white throat.
A very much painted and powdered,
bepearled, showy and altogether
shoddy looking young woman-such
was Lance Freeman's hasty estimate
Of his friends sister.
Isabella Drew made perfect foil
for Betty. Jack wondered dazedly if
the simplicity Of Isabella's attire was
studied and if she was in collusion
with his mischievous sister to shock
Lance Freeman.
| oCCIy' ,AO SdopOO AAOA6 6uSAIly.
| "Jack!" she warned, giving Lance a
limp hand. "I am so glad to see you
at last, Mr.. Freeman. Jack has talked
a lot about you.
Mother left word that you are to
make the Oaks your headquarters
while you are North
"You are all most kind" murmured
Lance, staring at the powdered little
beauty, who smiled insipidly.
AS the two young men dressed for
dinner they talked of Lance's life in
the Canal zone, of his brilliant pros
poets for the future, Of Jacks first
law case, which had been triumph
for the junior member of his fathers
firm. and when Lance observed that
there was strong family likeness
between Jack and his sister, Jack has
fi1v 10 tho cnhioot