Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-06
THE STAY AT JORDAN'S

wealthy. She was a woman Of quick
perception, TOO, and with a will of her
own. At the end of the week she
came from the room where Ruth was
packing.
Jennie" she said, you made a mess
Of your marriage. You'll probably do
the same for yo1lr daughters if you
are allowed 10 do the managing. Ruth
and Letie are pretty girls. They
ought to do we'll Send this sewing
home and try to get yoUr looks back.
A woman, no matter r nat her age is
nothing without looks. I'll take you
all to Jordan's for a month and see
what can do in the way Of marrying
the girls off. But she stopped, and
BACK OF her glasses beamed q pair OF
determined eyes-I"u have no inter
ference. Things will be as I say.
After Jordan's-well that's another
matter-to be talked Of later"
Ruth and Lettie could scarcely be-
neve theirs ears. Immediately they
were transported into the widest rap
lures. Mrs. Davidson even caught the
enthusiasm and seemed another wo-
man.
Then the day of their arrival came.
From the first moment Ruth was at
ease conducting herself as to the man
ner born.
Lettie was so happy that more than
once she was in danger of soaring
off, and with each occasion she felt
the weight of her aunts firm hand.
Under orders, Which privately suited
her, she entered into every form Of
amusement. She could shoot row,
golf and dance till the stars dimmed.
Nevertheless. at the end of the month
she was still an unengaged girl and
Ruth had landed a very creditabIe
matrimonial prize.
Lettie herself was not in the least
chagrined, but Mrs. Layson was fur
IouS. You are prettier than Ruth"
she told her, and ought to do bet
ter. A half-Open bud is always more
YOU are not clever. Ruth is, I forbid
you to give another minute to those
low aCQualrtances you have formed
Kindly remember that you are here
for another purpose and under my
orders. Your mother is as disap-
pointed in you as I am. You have
her to consider in this thing as well
as yourself - remember that also
And-bUt III give you one more
chance-yOur last. Now it's UP to
YOU
Lettie was crushed, but by the time
the event Of the season, a formal
dance at the hotel came on, she had
recovered her COmpOSure and her
spirits. A beautiful dress had been
ordered for her from the city, and to
s7S-a- DIG ~lJi4--.o1ENl that III il she
looked really very Wen. She Won
dercd if she shouldn't have o proposal
before the evening was over. To be
sure. she could not imagine from
whom q proposal would come, but any
body with money would do And that
meant just anybody, for no moneyless
person ever came to JOrdan's.
Then she foated into the ballroom
and in q moment had forgotten her
matrimonial eTldeaV0rs as complete
" as though she had never had any
The music and lights and costumes
and Waltzes were 50 Overwhelmingly
lovely that time simply ceased.
But next morning she realized
that she was still an unenEaged girl.
Ruth and I" Mrs. Layson was
telling her, are leaving for the lake
fetc. 1t will be necessary for you to
remain at home to meet Nh Winters
] made the appointment for IL o'clock
He's q little old, to he sure, and
WldoWer, as you know. but he'll do
very well You might have done bet
ter for yourself if you had tried, but
you WOuldn't [. Your mother is pleased
1t will he a great thing for her. You
have that to consider as well as your
own feelings. Don't disappOint her.
Her heart is in it"
She swept on, and Lettie sat limp
feeling that a stone wall had sudden
ly enCiTCled her. If her mothers hap
pineSs We're at stake. then perhaps she
ought to. But the thought of having
for o husband the stingy, unfatherly
father Of the three mOtEeTIeSs children
made her drop in q shivering heap.
And there seemed no way out of it.
Again and again she cirCIed the wall
for a lOop-hOIe, but there was none.
Slowly the hands Of the wall clock
apFOaChed II O'clock, the time for
Mr.. Winters call. and Lettie rose to
her feet, white and desperate. I'll do
r-1 q +-1T