The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-11-09

you never wore"
"Very WELL" Mrs. Wilson smiled al
her daughters enthusiasm and tried
to catch the same spirit.
Jane had arranged the flowers to her
own satisfaction when her mother
came downstairs.
~ am sure can never fasten this
dress; I'm all out of breath now"
"Never mind, you won't need any
breath. I am going to do everything.
There you are. Now sit down while ]
fasten these earrings. There-you look
just like a has-been-lady."
II feel as If I were going to be pre-
sented at court"
"You are! !" said Jane. snow, moth
err, you must keep that chair because 1t
Ii the most comfortable one. ! have
placed the best one here for Ted's
mother, so that her back will be to
the back door. Then this chair for
she won't know she isn't comfortable.
She mustn't see behind the door,
either. I'll fetch the kitchen chairs
painted yesterday. They ought to be
dry now"
"This is such lot Of trouble, Jane"
"Yes, but once In life time. Now,
If you should want something, I'll get
1t, because If you get out Of your chair
you'll forget which one you sat in, and
If you get into one of the others-all
will be lost !"
The stage was all set for the play,
when Ted, with his mother and sister,
drove up to the door. The room had
gone through transformation. The
carpet and dainty white curtains, the
freshly-painted chairs, the tables ar
ranged with books and flowers, calm
and happy mother and, best Of all,
radiant Jane, presented a beautiful
picture to even the most critical eye.
Jane noticed puzzled look on the
face Of Mrs. Somerville when she
looked at her mother. AS she was
warmly greeting Ted's sister Bessie at
the time, Mrs. Wilson was oblivious
to this.
For a moment Jane was dismayed.
II wonder If it is the earrings" she
asked herself, but she did not have
time to worry about 1t, as she had to
go out and make the tea. Everything
was going on splendidly, and she was
elated with her success.
"Just the thing to do" thought she.
When Jane came in for the last time
she heard Mrs. Somerville ask her
mother, "From what part of Pennsyl-
vania did you come from, Mrs. Will
son?"
"From Ellicuttown," Mrs. Wilson
smiled reminiscently.
"Ellicuttown?" gasped Mrs. Somer-
Vile. "What was your name before
you were marriedT
"Grace Tompkins," answered Mrs.
Wilson with surprised look.
"Grace Tompkins, was sure had
seen you before. am Theo Alexan-
der" M
'Theow exclaimed the astOnished
Mrs. Wilson. us 1t possible7 I had
lost track of you entirely. Why. we
haven't seen each other since the high
school graduation"
Eyes, we all went to Europe after
that. Father died there and we just
stayed on until met Dick Somerville
In Paris. He was there for years
study. Then we were married AMI
come to live in SaylOrville, and have
been here ever since. You are the
first person from home I have met
since we came"
II am so glad to see you, TfeO.
Isn't 1t wonderful that our children
met each Other?"
II didn't know any Wilson's in ELI
cuttown," said Mrs. Somerville, $50 the
name did not impress me-"
"My husbands people moved there
several years after you left, TheO. Ma
combining and we came here four years
ago to make our fortune"
Jane stood, with teapot in hand, in
bewildered surprise.
"Then l need not have tried to de-
ceive you; you'd have loved mother
anyway
Ted sprang to her side and put a
protecting arm around her.
"What Is it, dear?" he tenderly in
quired.
ct know you'll all despise me. I
made mother pretend we had more
rooms-and the stove Is out of doors
and we would be taken for Hill Bill
lys-and-I did it all !"
Ted took the teapot from the excit-
ed and weeping girl and seated her in
a chair. Turning to Mrs. Wilson, he
asked
"What Is Jane talking about?"
Mrs. Wilson, between smiles and
tears, told of James struggles Of the
morning and of her fears lest, being
found in the old shack with scant |
furniture, her parents would be looked
down upon by the great Mrs. Somer-
vile.
At this everybody laughed and Ted
loudest Of all.
"Why, that's plucky, Jane. BY
George, but you're plucky. Let's have
q look at the kitchen that isn't q