The Lamar register., 1916-11-29
FtAGE OFFERINGS
BY LOUISE OLIVER.


aware Of sounds Of sobbing in the
kitchen She hastily put down her
cup Of coffee and, leaving the table,
pushed open the swinging door.
what in the world is wrong, Til
lie?" she asked kindly.
But Title. sobbing into n pan Of APP
pie skins was beyond explaining the
cause Of her troubles.
Aimee shook her gently. stop, TIL
lie, stop this minute and tell me the
trouble. Is somebody deadf'
"No-he- he's not dead only | wish
1 was. Hes been that mean an neg
lectful lately an last night here | was
dressed an everything an all ready
to go to the ianitor's ball in that pink
SILK We gave me an new slippers an
real silk stockings an all. An Jake
never came step for me. So goes
to bed thinkin' he'd call up this morn
ing an tell me what was wrong. But
no. sir, here it's nearly nine an never
word I'll never marry him now.
lie can coax till he's green, but l
won't give in"
"Oh. come. Title Jake's all right
Something has kept him and he will
| explain. Don't cry any more anyway,
ind tell me if you hear from him"
An right. Miss Aimee. I'll tell you
what happens. There, you go back an
rat your breakfast Why, l don't be-
lieve you've tasted a bite You look
as blue as saffron yourself this morn
iu=."
Almee's lips trembled She had for
gotten her own trouble for the min
ute In Titles. But II came back now
with puralyzing force the fact that
| everything was over between her and
| John Stratford The day before she
had sent back his ring and letters and
Hii the thing ne had given her, a pearl
layalliere for Christmas, an ivory set
| for her birthday and bracelet for
Easter. Then there were books and
pictures and other things.
She had written a note clear and
conclusive. Dear John. your plea Of
business cannot explain AWAY all of
| your neglect lately. I'm keen enough
10 reason things out for myself and
| realize that you would hesitate to
| hurt me by telling me that your love
has cooled / am going to take the
| burden on myself. hope I'm broad
enough 10 make allowances for human
nature. II there is anyone else, !
hope you viii be very happy. Don't
try TO see ne, please. ! am going
nrav. Yours. AIMEE
Bu. Aunt Saruh's rheumatism got
worse and Aimee found it impossible
| to run away from trouble. Days
passed and no word came from John
Stratford It hurt her dreadfully to
think he had not considered her note
worthy of reply.
One thing helped the long, weary
days to pass-her interest in the trou-
bles of Title and Jake. Tillie, IL
seemed, was having the upper hand
Jake had come armed with a good
excuse OF broken steam pipes and
[ whole night without sleep, but TITLES
/ Irish was up and she took delight in
her German lovers subsection. you'll
treat me like lady, Jake, or I'll have
none of you" So Jake returned to his
vacuum cleaners and steam pipes de-
| termined to ask the advice of his very
| good friend, the lawyer on the fourth
floor.
One day Tillle triumphantly went to
a corner of the kitchen cupboard
/ when Aimee came in to see about
] lunch and held up a tribute to the
dove of peace. "Ain't 1t a peach, Miss
Aimee7 Jake brought 1t last night,
an won't It go well with the pink
l silk?" Tillie was clasping a fine gold
chain about her neck.
But Aimee stood frozen to stone.
l the lavalliere was the one she had sent
| back to John. Had her lover no
heart at all.
The mystery deepened when, few
days later. Title brought in the brace
/ let that had been another Of Johns
l gifts to Aimee.
One night she went into the pantry
/ to get something when she heard TIL
/ lie and Jake talking in the kitchen.
Hes fine man, Mr.. Stanford is,
I Title But something's wrong lately
and l can't make out quite. He'd
been workln' hard, stayin' up nights
till all hours in some kind of deal
that meant money to him, he said. II