The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-02-11
A MATTER OF BUSINESS
BY OLIVE MABlE.
(Copyright, 1915 by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)

|
per Syndicate.)
The three girls looked at the law
yer in frightened unbelief.
1t could not be possible that their
fathers fortune had been such a hoi-
low mockery. How had they lived all
these years in such quiet comfort?
1T was the nature of his business"
explained Mr.. Ames; "a broker never
really knows whether he is a rich
man or a pauper. Your father was
undertaking big coup when his i'll
ness and death put finish to every
thing He was on the wrong side of
the market when he was stricken
There will be nothing left for you ex-
cept the place in the country-your
mothers old home"
But that is only house and fur
niture. How can we earn our bread
and butter?" asked Kitty.
1--WE might take summer boarders, .
suggested Dorothy gravely
THAT isn't a bad ideal" said Mr..
Ames. "I'll send you all the people |
can. Can any of you COOKE"
81 cam said Dorothy proudly. Il
have taken prize at cooking school,
June found the Henderson girls set
tied in the old house In which they
had been born.
Old village friends called upon
them, and, to Cousin Keziah's great
satisfaction, several young men were
attracted to the Henderson house.
Tom Bixby, Walter Mott and Paul
Clarkson had all been to the village
school with the Henderson girls.
Lillian Henderson, the eldest sis
ter, was ambitious. She had deter
mined that her sisters, as well as
herself, should improve their fortunes
by, good marriages. And with that
end in view she discouraged the atten-
tons of the village doctor and his two
friends, who were law partners.
Il thought you liked Doctor Mott, "
observed Kitty when Lillian delivered
her ultimatum.
II do, dear but we must think about
practical matters. We should marry
we'll" she returned decidedly.
81 wouldn't mind working hard for
man liked" declared Kitty, stout
ly, and Dorothy added, 81 don't sup
pose real man would mind our hands
/ if they were red and coarsened by
! honest TOLL"
81 didn't mean that, dears," cried
Lillian sharply, "but | am afraid you
will miss all the things we have been
accustomed to. You know, Derry,
dear, that since Harry Blake has fol-
lowed you hereof course it would
be perfectly fine il you could love him
we'll enough with all his money"
my word" Knocked Kitty. Does
that mean that you are going to ac-
cept old Mr.. Alison?"
Lillian whitened, but she nodded.
From the lawn tennis courts came a
mans jolly laugh.
Kitty looked embarrassed She
knew that her sisters wondered if she
was going to accept Lester Marshall,
whose sister had been their first
guest.
Marshall was young and handsome
|
his devotion to charming Kitty.
Il suppose I would be foolish to let
such an opportunity pass" laughed
Kitty oddly. We'll. girls, we might
have a triple wedding in October and
announce to our friends that our bust
ness had been very profitable ven
ture!" AS she ran from the room her
| ell. Al, h
brave eyes.
There was a strained look in Lii
lian's face as the days went by. Mr..
Alison was becoming more marked in
his devotion; any day. now, the old
financier might make declaration of
his love-
Doctor Mott and his friends tactful-
ly eliminated themselves from the
company of the busy old house. Per-
haps they had heard of the three city
men who were wooing the Henderson
girls.
Summer waned and Labor day
passed, and with its passing went the
last summer guest For the first time
in three months the girls were alone.
They sat in the great living room and
regarded each other with furtive
glances.
On the left hand of each sparkled
a ring Lillian's was a solitaire dia-
mond. Dorothy's great pearl and
Kitty's sapphire, like her own eyes.
"Well," began Kitty, with a nerv-
out laugh, II suppose you are going
to announce your engagement, Dor
othy? Harry Blake"
Il am not engaged to Harry Blake .
retorted Derry, blushing holly. "Lil.
lian may do as she pleases-but am
going to marry the man I love-Paul
Clarkson!"
"Brave!" cried Kitty. Now hear
my little declaration Of independence!
/ refused Mr.. Marshall because I pre-
fer Tom Bixby. Yes, he gave me this
pearl. 1t was his mothers engage
| ment ring and IL ia also mine"