The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-04-12

pie all know, aai most of them over
look what happened when he was
nothing but q boy"
WELL" protested Miss Crane, "
must say I can't. wouldn't lay q
straw In his way. I'd help him any
way could, but when It comes to-
She paused here as though positive
ly unable to contemplate the awful
possibility OF anything like familiarity
with such person.
But Just thinkl" cried the girl.
"They have given him the position Of
first assistant among all the engineers
in building the big bridget Just I'M
agine what they think Of him In New
York when they do thatr
"Yes, that's fine. want to see him
get along. But don't want to see you
get to caring enough for him to---to
spoil your life."
"spoll, my lifeT echoed the girl
blankly.
"Yes. You can never tell when a
man that's been n drunknrd once will
take to II again. You can't trust him
I'd rather die than see anyone I cared
for marry that sort OF man."
Ethers affection for her aunt, and
her love for this man--for she knew
now II was love-were so nearly
crushing her In the warfare that she
could say no more, and she brought
the interview to an end by making an
excuse to go to her room.
irwin Banks lived with his sister
who had been one of the principal fac
tors In helping him to rise To the DO
sition he now held. II was with his
sister that Ethel had first met him.
She was attracted by the good-looking
young man with the high, firm car
riage of the head, the straight gaze
and the wholesome smile, and she was
further held by his ability to say some
thing worth while, and saying II rath.
or well. She had met him in his own
home by invitation of his sister, and
had asked him to call. It was after
his second visit. at both of which Miss
Crane had pretended illness as an ex.
cuse for not appearing, that the lady
had given her emphatic reasons for
not wishing him to call again.
Ground between the mlllstones of
her divided duty" Ethel sought the
counsel Of Mary Banks.
Aunt Melissa has been to me a sec
ond mother. love her very dearly.
How can I go dead against her wishes.
II must ask him not to call again" "
Ethel said.
sand do you think Irwin will let II
go ut that?" cried his sister. "Maybe
you don't know what this means to
him"
Gthels hear. gave big throb. She
knew what 1t meant TO her. In the
meeting Of their eyes, the sister knew.
"Will you ask your aunt to come
and see me?" she said.
"Oh, she never would" asserted
Ethel.
"Not II she could help II, of course"
rejoined Mary. "But you've got to put
your foot down, and be firm. Just say
you can't tell him not to call, and you'd
be likely to see him in other places
anyway. II she wants to shut OF all
communication between you and Mr..
Irwin Banks, the only way Is to come
and lay the case before his sister,"
Ethel looked dubious, but promised
to be firm, and the two conspIrators
parted.
Miss Crane stoutly protested she
would do nothing of the kind, but as
relations remained decidedly strained,
she concluded 1t was the only way to
conclude peace.
The day she had appointed to call
on Miss Banks was cold and buster
ing, and snow began to fall heavily
while she was on the way. She had
to walk nearly nile, and she ar.
rived at the Bnks cottage, chilled, wet
and bedraggled. Mary Banks met her
with such CHEEKY cordiality. and took
of her wet wraps with such sollcitude
for her health, making her sit very
near the fire to dry her feet, and talk
ing pleasantly all the time that her
caller found 1t difficult to make an
opening for her errand. At last she
got up. courage to begin.
Miss Banks, / am"
"Just a minute, Miss Crane! Let
me get you something warm ~
Miss Crane protested she did not
need anything, but suddenly Miss
Banks regarded her with deep alarm.
"Oh!" she cried, show badly you look |!
Why, you are having chill There
Is so much pneumonia about! I shall
get you something at once"
Miss Crane admitted she was still
cold. and allowed her to have her
way.
"It's just little hot Lemonade" she
said, handing the tall tumbler to her
guest.
Miss Crane, already alarmed about
her condition, took long draft of
the mixture. Suddenly she set It
down with a frightened look at the