Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-05-14
CHAPTER LxXyII.

1ANAAtA oAAN8 aA-D Ut c@aANNAt HNNN
to notice what l said. l vas piqued.
didn't want to anger him, of course
but l did want him to notice that Mer
ton thought ms attractive.
"You had Celestes'' he had asked
rather he had stated
"Of eoursei"
"Then, if you enjoyed it, l see nc
reason you shouldn't have remained, ,
he said, when l rather insisted upon
his saying something. Just then there
was an unwonted eommotion IL tn,
hall, aud thought l heard a familiar
voice. l jumped from the table without
excusing myself, and in a moment was
in David's arms.
1 was delighted. There had always
been an esprit de corps between me and
this young brother, lacking in the
other boys.
"|Here's David" 1 called.
"Well, bring him in and give him
some dinner" George answered pleas
antly enough, as l dragged the protest
ing David into the dining room.
LET me go wash up, SIS" he beg
ged, rather overawed by the magnifi-
cence of the house, and by James.
"You come straight along with me!
James, Mr.. Miner will have some din
ner," 1 said, my arm around David.
George Leaves David and His Sister
Alone.
"How do you do, Davidg'' George
shook hands, then, "In have my cot
fee, Helen. l have an engagement. You
and David can visit to your heart IS
content
For the first time, l felt no resent
ment because | was to be left. Too well
I knew that neither David or l would
feel free to discuss home folks, home
affairs, before George. He drank his
coffee, asked David a few questions
about his trip, then, with a careless:
"Have a pleasant evening"" he left
us.
"Gee! but you're swell, sis!" David
said, as soon as James left the room
"a little different from the old home
That flunky would drive mi mad. How
a YOU stand so much CUFF, a country
girl like you9"
81 was a little worried, at first" l
admitted, "but James is really a treas.
ure." Not eyen to David would l ad'
nit the fear and trembling which had
seized me when George had planned
onr domestic arrangements.
This is soma house!'' my brother
looked admiringly around.
await until you have finished. III
show you all thru. 1t is really lovely"
George must have wads Of dough-
81 guess he has although he never
talks business with me. But he is very
and denies me nothing" I
might have added, "Save his society,"
"You always were lucky" David
said, as we rose from the table.
/ took him all over the house. He
was awfully enthusiastic.
"Some housed" he declared in his
way, when we finally returned
to the library and settled down for a
long evening together. "But j say, sis
aren't you lonely when you are here
all alene4 Or doesn't George go out un'
less you have company?'
Helen Makes Light of Things to David
"0h, yes he often goes out. He is a
very busy man, and has many business
engagements in the evenings. Some
l feel a bit lonely, but I get a
book or magazine and forget all about
it, Ny brother was a keen sort of
a youngster, and 1 didn't care to have
him know too much.
CHOW, tell me how you happened
to come without sending word?'' l
"Well, / didn't decide to come until
yesterday. Then l thought it would be
fun to give you a surprise party. l told
mother | was going to butt in on you
and see if you We're as happy as you
made out when you were home. And if
you weren't, | was going to do things
to that husband of yours. He's awfully
lignified, isn't he2"
"Oh, l don't know. Not when you
know him we'll" My family really
were almost strangers to George. When
he eourted me, his visits were few and
Tar between, and very short ones. Then,
he naturally spent most of his time
with me.
"'Honest, sis, this is great. But some
way | think like the old home best,
even if the chairs are shiny, and the
patched in spots. l guess a fell
likes the place where he was rails
| know no place seems quite so
rood to me as the old ranch"
at is a dear place, David" 1 re-
iponded. Then we talked of dad and
mother and the boys; of the church.
lnd of ths boy and girl friends who,
he said, often talked of me and wish
ID me back. Finally, about eleven
/, clock, | proposed that we retire. II
knew George would be cross if he
me up, even to talk with David.
And | didn't want him cross. l so
wanted David to carry home a good re-
port of my husband. So | kissed him
rood night and left him staring around
he guest room and pretending he
dare sleep in so elegant a
,laee.
for David's Enter
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