The Washington herald., 1916-07-31
Alicia, who sat petrifed with surprise.

Alicia, who sat petrified with surprise.
"Oh, Reelie"'
For goodness sake! Is that all you
can say?" dropping the cover on the
sewing machine none too gently and
pushing 1t noisily to it's corner. Now
take off that thimble and pincushion
and run the sweeper over these bast
ings on the floor while l telephone
to people to send for their stuff.
Then you and I are going up town
and buy some duds and we're going
to the seashore on the first train in
the morning. And. look here. Iicia,
while you're getting ready I'm going
to give you something else to think
about. We are both forty plus and
not so bad looking. Every one de-
serves a husband-why not we?
don't know of better investment for
eleven hundred dollars, do you? Now,
for heavens sake, don't say Reelie'
again or I'll scream. Think II over"
The Traymeer hotel, housing a whole
cityful of people. might have had
their own brother as a guest and they
not know It, so II was not surpris-
ing that they had been enjoying sea
air and sunshine and had time to burn
red, peel and burn brown again be-
fore they discovered that Franklin K.
Powers, the genius of their fortunes,
was their neighbor They met him
lery. where Aurelia was practicing
with a rifle.
Rough. bluff, a man of forty-five
or so, he had the broad geniality of
the West and was decidedly good look
ing besides. Their friendship ripened
rapidly.
Il came to New York on business"
he explained. "and the climate put me
to bed. Talk about Arizona being
hnt
but the barometer goes with it. 1 had
to get away from New York, so the
doctor sent me here! I'm glad-very
glad he did" with a meaning glance
at Aurelia.
And gradually 1t grew to be quite the
| thing for Alicia to go with Mrs. Brown
to a Chinese auction or Grabbing with the
Smith children at the Inlet, while Alicia
and her Westerner tried all the break
! neck contraptions that were ever in
vented to catch the nimble sixpence
They looped the loop. dipped the dips,
| took a catboat out in face of a storm
and defed the breakers at high tide when
no one else would go in.
You are a person after my own heart,
Alicia" he said one day. the best sport
| I've ever known. Id like to see you on
a COW pony in riding togs and sombrero.
You'd take to the life like a kitten to
| Catnip. You're made for it. It's a Won
derful ride to the mine and the presence
| of a few bad Mexicans in the vicinity
only adds excitement Here comes your
sister. I was going to ask you some
thing important, but it will keep until
| tomorrow"
But Alicia's dream of happiness came
to sudden end when a page brought a
| note to her next morning. Have been
suddenly called home. Will write later"
"'Licia, do you suppose he's gone for
! good? I'm not just looking for hus-
band. you know. 1t isn't that. and
wish you'd forget what I said about mar
rying. But 1 think he's the best and
finest man 1 ever knew, and if 1 thought
I'd never see him again believe l would
die"
Never mind. Reelie, dear. he will come
back some time, I'm sure; but, anyway,
l wouldn't worry until I heard"
Weeks went by and no word came The
hotel porter who brought the mail never
| told of a scuffie he had and of scattered
letters that were all gathered up but one
Aurelia waited in stoical silence, and
finally began to think of Coalport and
her machine. Work might kill memory
Then one day they saw on the register
"F. K. Powers. Tuscite, Arizona" Red
flooded Aurelia's face under the tan. and
she was sure the hotel clerk could hear
her heart beat
See, 1 told you'll" said Alicia, wisely.
He has come back for you"
But something odd happened Mere
suspense turned into certain unhappiness
for Aurelia, for Mr.. Powers had changed
so completely in his absence that he
might have been another man. He was
not only reserved and backward in his
conversation, but he seemed to have for
gotten all about his former affinity. and
rather preferred to sit quietly in a cor
ner of the long porch and talk with
Alicia
Il am going home" announced Aurelia
one morning, as Alicia came in and found
her on the floor before an open trunk
surrounded by clothes of all colors II
can't stand it any longer! You can stay
you want, but I'm going back to work!
lin not very happyg'
Reele,a said Alicia. softly going up