The Washburn leader., 1916-03-24
BY ERNIE sruRels.

Then he tried to remember what had
caused it.
They had decided, first of all, not to
fall In love. That had been in the
summer when she had gone to the
shore. II he could just promise to be
good pal and steer away from the sen.
timental she'd love to be not exactly
sister to him, but a sort of second
cousin.
And then right out of the blue sky
there had dropped-Dick. It had al.
most seemed part of the summer rou
tine that Dick should appear sooner or
later. But there had been trouble be-
tween them, and the day she had been
swept out to sea past the lifelines it
had been Dick who had swan to the
rescue and brought her back.
"But you needn't have treated him
the way you did just for that" Clifford
had said, most disagreeably. "I've
saved lots of girls lives, but they
didn't act as II I was hero"
Il didn't" Gwen had answered pleas.
antly. Il just treated him like dear
old friend. Nv known Dick for years."
"And you've known me just six
weeks. Which do you like the best SO
far?" It was impossible to stay angry
very long with Cliffs good-natured
face smiling at one. They had really
been wonderfully good friends until he
had stepped over the border land of
good faith and proposed to her.
Il don't suppose you can help it. but
I'm SO sick and tired of playing heart
balm for every boy know. They all
propose sooner or later just from hab-
It, do believe, or because they know
I won't accept"
"Why won't you"
Don't you really know? Uncle
Stanbope left all his money to his IA
vorite sister, Aunt Adelaide, and she's
an unbeliever in men"-Gwen's brown
eyes were sparkling with fun. $50 she
put half In trust for me until was
twenty-one on condition that I didn't
marry by then and the other half when
I am thirty on condition that am not
married them
'What IL you dot"
1T all goes to some charity. She's
very peculiar"
III you really loved the right man,
you'd throw the whole thing up in the
air." Cliff had returned. Il never would
have thought you were mercenary."
That had been in late August. Now
Il was December and he was visiting
Batty Madison. She had seen him sew.
eral times, but that one word would
come between them. He had suggest.
ed that she was mercenary. Today
she waited until her mother and Aunt
Adelaide were comfortably settled in
the chair car before she even permit
ted herself to remember that the only
man she had ever really missed was in
the next car.
It did seem as If Aunt Addie was un.
usually trying. She wanted to recline,
then she wanted to 60 out on the oh.
servation and get a breath Of fresh
cir, then she wanted some cracked ice,
and finally she wanted to play bridge.
It was i've hours to Boston and she
simply couldn't stand 1t without some
diversion, and she wished she hadn't
Come anyway. Just then she beamed
radiantly on somebody coming along
the aisle, and 10! 1t was Cliff.
"Well, II 1t isn't Clifie Bigelow," she
exclaimed. Come here. child. I've
known him, Gwen, since he was knee
high to toadstool: lived next US at
Weston for years when your uncle was
alive. How's your mother, Clifie? Do
ing pretty well for her age. isn't she?
Sit down and take . hand, for PHYS
sake.s
Gwen never forgot those five hours.
Il seemed as IL Aunt Adelaide was pos
.sessed to make her unhappy. She told
stories of Cliff when he was little
boy and q big boy. and how he had
saved her life once when old Gray
Eagle took fright at the morning ex-
press and ran away with her and Clitf
had stopped him.
"You know, as long as we're going
out home for q few weeks, kind Of
think I'll have you stay with us, Clin.
! The folks will be up in Boston, and the
house is all closed up. You're going
to Weston, amt you?"
why. no, ma'am. Twas on my way
TO BOSTON,
+ Nonsense. Come along with us.
Maybe you and Gwen can comfort
each other, for i declare she's the
mopiest girl / ever saw since last
summer. Go out on the platform, you
two, and see II we're near Providence
yet. want to get look at Provi.
dence." ;359i 4. il Il ;35
They stood together on the observa'
tion platform, and Gwen was laughing
biting her lip to keep from II. but
laughing. M III. !.
Suppose wes had been married and
I'd have had the money to chase after;
rvpsy moths!" Clifford leaned against
the door and looked at her. isn't she
a regular old dear, thought never
knew she was your aunt. ! take Il
back. Gwen. about your being merce
nary" j. a
& 1fonvr,eht. 1915, ~ the Mcclure Nswspe
gs 80 SanE aHn61nA4A.s se'e