The log cabin Democrat., 1916-05-05
MISS PELINA
By MABEL KNIFE.


 crochet hook as she heard a gay young voice call: Are you home, auntie?"
 ITO be sure I'm home this time of morning. replied Miss Pelina in her brisk manner, but with a fond look in her keen old eyes as they rested on pretty Mary Harvey.
 What is your mother doing this morning." she asked as the bright haired, brighteyed girl dropped kiss on her wintry old cheek
 She's making a new girde for my yellow party dress. There's dance at Elliotts tonight. "And"-almost timidly-'I came to borrow your little gold chain, if you don't mind"
 Surely, surely. Who is going to take you?'
 Good old Joe, auntie."
 Fool old Joe, I'd call him." snapped Miss Pelina. Any man that will let little chit like you make him miser- able and still won't marry him is a fool for lack of sense"
 The little chit threw her head back and laughed delightedly.
 Who's going to take Cora Davis?" Miss Pelina asked shrewdly.
 Cora Davis was Mary's dearest ene- my and the girls face darkened a trifle as she replied, MT. Brown, I think" The one who came here a few months ago to open his real estate of flee. Old Joel Browns grandson? Hum-well, if he's anything like his sporty old granddad he'll soon have you girls Quarreling over him"
 Marys face famed consciously as she replied
 He really is very exclusive, auntie. He hasn't called on any of us girls except Cora"
 She's the only one whose father has an oil well" drily commented Miss Pelina
 "Auntie. you're unfair" burst out the girl.
 There, there" soothed Miss Pelina. You look just like your Aunt Sallie when you are angry. Poor, poor, Sal lie, how did love that child!"
 Someone is always saying I'm like her." pouted Mary. And they're al- ways prophesying some kind of bad luck for me just because she eloped with that cheap actor and made such a mess of things"
 After the girl had gone, Miss Pelina shook her head sadly. T mustn't let the poor, contrary child muddle her life as Sallie did," she unused aloud. A few minutes later, she was at the telephone asking MT. Brown if he could call at her house that after noon.
 It was very pleasant-faced young man who waited in the oldfashioned parlor at the hour she had set Too pleasant, Miss Pelina considered him. as she took swift, appraising glance at his too-candid blue eyes and his too-smiling full lips.
 "Smirky," she whispered disgustedly to herself.
 Let us get down to business. hear you have the selling of the lots in the new city addition"
 The young mans eyes gleamed shrewdly as he volubly explained the desirability of the lots
 Miss Pelina casually remarked: q wouldn't want Mary to have any trou- ble with my investments after I'm gone-Mary Harvey, my niece, mean"
 When the young man went, he car ried with him the conviction that Mary Harvey was to inherit her great-aunts s wealth, which was exactly the impress sion Miss Pelina wished him to have
 Early the next morning, Mary came running in.
 "Auntie dear" she cried, you were unjust to MT. Brown. He didn't look twice at Cora Davis last night, and he was perfectly devoted to me And everybody knows her father has ever so much more money than blessed old dad"
 How did good old Joe appreciate his devotion?"
 Mary tossed her head
 T gave Joe to understand that he cannot dictate to me. And I'm going driving with MT. Brown this after noon."
 Miss Pelina nodded her head, as if this were no surprise to her.
 The afternoon seemed very long to the nervous little old spinster, and she sighed with relief when she heard Mary burst in at the front door.
 "Auntie," she cried. I'm upset"
 What upset you?" asked Miss Pel- ina jocularly. Not the automobile, hope"
 Don't joke, please" begged Mary Tt was that odious toad I was driv- ing with"
 What did he do?" asked her aunt
 "Oh, he didn't do anything. He just looked, and he was so soft, and-and, oh, auntie, cant explain it. but his hands seemed to paw over me so, even when he helped me into the car. never could bear to have a mans hands touch me. I'd like to slap his silly, smirky face,' she fumed