Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-07-26
GETS HER WISHES
BY ELLA R. PEARcE.

giving q lingering, wistfui glance at
the outspread bridal finery in her pref
ty room, turned to her mother with a
sigh of relief.
Everything ready and ahead Of
time. Aren't we wonderful, Munster
Then, suddenly ducking her head in
a %comically childish way, she slipped
to the elder woman's side and wound
loving arm about her.
$50 soon, dearest-so soon I" she
murmured, with a catch in her young
voice.
Mrs. Leeds gently stroked the shin
ing head on her shoulder.
Everything has gone splendidly,
Anna" The mother spoke with prac-
teal crispness. She would not let her
own voice quaver "And 1 suppose my
little girl is very happy now"
Anna lifted her head and her eyes
were %twinkling.
"Not absolutely happy, Mumsie."
She tapped off her words on upheld
fingers. "One, two, three-three things
more l need to make me absolutely
happy"
"Why, Annal" Mira. Leeds looked
anxious. 81 can't ir1sgine what you
have in mind. What more could you
wish for?"
'There ara three things" repeated
Anna. "Firstly, 1 wish Van Tredwell
would fall in love VITA somebody else"
whats the second wish, Anna?'
81 wish Lois MatE 9r was coming to
my wedding"
"Lois Mather?" Mrs. Leeds looked
puzzled. "Why, I haven't heard you
speak of her lately"
"But I've thought a lot" said Anna
quickly.
$50 you want Van Tredwell to for
get you, and Lois Mather to forgive
"And come to my wedding inter-
rupted Anna lightly. "But of course
she won't. And there's my third wish.
What do you suppose it ISL"
Mrs. Leeds shook her head.
"Well, 1 wish that someone will give
me a spinet desk for a wedding pres
emit"
Then Mrs. Leeds laughed mirthfulIy.
anna! Anna you IRE such a child.''
PhN Sob AChS o1lC4 u z lOllCl Ido
gone downstairs and thought over their
late conversation.
Anna was deeply II love with the
man she was to marry. But she could
not help remembering Van Tredwell's
bOyish attentions; his bashful gallan-
tries his bitter disappointment at the
end.
Then the boarding school friendship
with Lois Mather. How delightful and
satisfying that had Seen while it last
ed. No girl since that time had ever
been the understanding friend, the en-
Pertaining companion Lois Mather had
been.
Mrs. Leeds brought a letter to Annals
room in the sunset hour.
"a big box has come. Something
Grated" she Informed her daughter.
"Shall 1 have Josh open it for you?"
eyes. And I'll be right down."
Anna was opening her letter with a
queer expression or her face. 1t was
from Lois Mather.
"Tve heard of your coming marriage
and the news set ne thinking Of old
times, Anna, dear" the letter ran.
sand it seemed to me you would like
to know of my new happiness. too. 1
never had a friend Ike you, Anna"
Anna winked bach a ready tear.
"He's a man from your own town
one of your neighbo-s. Isn't it strange?
But the moment VSn Tredwell and I
met it was a case of love at sight.
You know how thase things happen
sometimes. 1t was Van who told me
of your engagement. Van can't get
away just now, but I want TO come to
your wedding, Anna, if you'd like me
to-"
"Oh" cried Anna, dazed by the sud-
den surprise of the news. Van Tired
well and Lois Mather! Met-engag-
ed-Lois coming to her wedding! She
turned to the letter again.
"The present is Vans, but the idea
is mine" were the pext words she read.
"Men never know what to buy for
weddings. But I remember how fond
you were of ola-fashioned things
and
Mother" called Anna excitedly over
the railing. SIS thst big box open yet?
Is it from Van? Don't tell mel know
what it is before / see it."
She hurried down the stairs, talking
breathlessly. "Mother, the strangest
thing has happened, Vans in love with
the incest girl ever. Lois Mather's
coming to my wedding. And-she told
Van to send that-she always thought
of the right thing"
"Yes. There's your spinet desk"
nodded Mrs. Leeds
For a momen Anna gazed at the
much desired new gift. Then, with
Van Tredwell's card in n hand and
Lois Mather's lett1r in the other, her
head dropped to her mothers shoul-
der and happy teacs flowed. "Just to
prove how happy / am" murmured