The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-01-19

worn. III hlHlpiJ crazy 10 near All
about H."
well" ho began. Say. Bobbi.
klns." no broke Off. would you be
very much surpriEed TO know that
It is-all right between Edith and
mc7"
Edith - gasped.
yes" went on Alec gently;
Edith Campbell. or course you've
known ryo cared for no one else
for tho last ten years. The bust.
ness and our large family have al.
ways made It seem rather hopeless.
but when ! was In New York | had
common little picture postcard
from Edith. who was at Pinehurst,
and your diHgraceful old brother
hero dropped everything and went
down thoro. was thoro for sir
whole days. and sho and her family
and I all came homo together to-
night. She's actually got a ring In
little velvet boz which she's going
to wear for mo little later.
Bobbie." He tried TO say II lightly,
but his whole voice was exulting.
Why. Alec VarHl" managed to
gasp. and then tho horror OF his
news flashed over mo. Tho man
! loved best In tho whole world had
just told mo that he was engaged
to be married 10 n girl whom alb
horrod,
Alec leaned forward and kissed
mo hard.
You llitio brick OF n Bobbisi |
knew you'd take Il llke n soldier"
gulped down u disgusting sob.
Tho hall clock STRUCK ono. I
grnaped tho blessed sound like a
sinking man.
is that twelve thirty. ono. or one
thirty7 ] haven't the ghost OF an
idea" said lightly. Then desper-
ately. at tho breaking point. I
gasped. is It cold out'"
Alec patted my hand.
Brave girl! understand. But
don't you worry. Everything will
work out all right Now I'll say
goodnight"
think Alec must have seen I
couldn't hold in much longer.
was. In fact. using every atom OF
strength that possessed 90 fight
that pushing. showing. tumbling
crowd OF lumpa and sobs In my
throat just rs Alec was closing
my door managed 10 call after
him. so that ho might know that I
wasn't crying. "Be sure and turn
out tho lights
IAN right, General-manarer."
Then my door closed. and sank
down on my pillow. opened the
gates vide. and let the torrent OF
sobs rush thru.
Can any one realize tho torture
OF my mind during tho long dark
hours OF that nlght?
hated Edith Campbell. All my
life had hated her. She had always
treated Alec like the dirt under her
feet. Alec invited her TO be his
special guest. at his ClasB.Day.
when hc graduated from college.
But she elected TO so with some
body else. and pranced down there
with n millionaire's son. Poor Alec
didn't invite any other girl.
never understood why Alec ad-
mlred her. She's absolutely oppo-
site from my brother In every
possible way. She has tho most
confident. cock.srrcst manner |
ever Witnessed. Her clothes are
dreadfully flashy and her father Is
mere upstart who squcezes money
out OF everybody he knows. Hilton
used 10 crlticisa Edith Campbell
before II commenced bowling and
scraping 20 her. When she came
home from boarding school. she let Il
be known that her intimate friends
lived outside OF Hilton. She merely
tolerated Hilton aud its people.
II was nine O'Clock tho morning
after Alec told me his astonish-
ing news. when I went downstairs
for an attempt at breakfast Ruth
was devourlng eggs when | went
into the dinlng-room. ! had thought
she would be at school. but | had
forgotten that II was Saturday.
Alec had already gone TO the fac.
tory.
My. but you're late" said Ruth.
Say. isn't II corking about Alec?
Just imagine-Edith Campbell"
! became very busy fixing my
cufflink. for was ashamed OF my
swollen eyes; but Ruth was sure
to see them.
Il might have known you'd take
Il like that" she broke out. tho
hadn't said n word: always acting
like a thundercloud. and throwing
wet blankets at everything. I'm
simply wild about the whole thing
The Campbells are going 10 do this
tumble-down old ark all over, for
wedding present. and Al says her
father IL going TO insist on Ediths
bringing her horses with her"