Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-10-24

But he was the first person off the
train, and the heavy package under
mis- arm turned out to be a fve-pound
box of candy for-Aunt Mary. Who
says the sixty-year-old spinster has
had her day?
aunt Mary's friend is going to bring
her marvellous nephew out here today,
and aunty is so excited she doesn't
know what she's doing"
"And you?' he asked her.
well, never having e him, l don't
know how much l really have to look
forward to- she laughed happily.
They fell into easy conversation and
Glover felt more at home with him
than any one she had ever known.
They drove home by the longest road,
too. Aunt Mary was delighted with
him, and the candy was the last straw
in his favor. Lucy's Incompatible
nephew began to drop a few more de-
grees in her estimation.
In the afternoon, while Aunt Mary
took her daily siesta, Clover and the
captain went for a brisk walk. 1t was
showing a little outdoors and the air
was delightfully."- cold and crisp. They
must have walked several miles, and
on the way home Clover found it diff
ficult to keep up with the long, regular
strides that had weathered so many
long hikes. At q turn In the road h
fell forward on her knees before Cor
don could catch her. In a second he
lifted her to her feet, however, but did
not instantly release her. For a mo-
ment she felt his rough Overcoat
against her cheek.
I'm so sorry, little girl-I'm afraid
I'm no account at all as an escort"
His arm was still very decidedly sup
porting her shoulders.
"It's just because this stupid soldier
is a little weary in the feet-if the
troops slow down a little she'll be all
right now, captain"
They slowed down q good deal, and
Gordon slipped her fur-clad arm
through his OWL
It'll be easier walking this way, If
you don't mind" he told her.
81 don't mind" she answered truth
fully.
In a few minutes they reached the
house and Aunt Mary flew to meet
them.
"Lucy's coming, and the Lowe girls
and their brother, and the Grays. too,
dear. You children must be tired to
death-you've been gone so long.
There's tea waiting for you in the
library, so run along and I'll tell Susan
about the dessert before it's too late"
Glover slipped off her coat and hat
and sank down on the big davenport in
front of the fire. Gordon followed suit,
and sighed contentedly.
This is the incest day I've had in
four years" he told her honestly. "And.
I'm not at all sure that it isn't the best
n I've her had, either"
you're a most polite and f1attering
person" scoffed Glover, as she snug
gled cozily down among a nest of soft
cushions.
mo, I'm mott mean every word of
it-don't you believe mel"
81 don't know-Tve known you such
a little time"
"Does it seem like such a little while
to you?"
mo, it doesn't-oh, 1 don't know"
she stumbled and concentrated her
gaze upon the fire. 81 think I'd better
go and change for supper" she began
n%ervously, seeming danger in the air.
But he caught her hand and nearly
wrecked the tea table in his attempt to
keep her with him.
I'm most terribly in earnest; won't
you listen to me, Glover? OF cours 1
haven't known you long, but I love you
I can't help it. Have I any chance?"
"Would the ghost of a chance satisfy.
you?' leased Glover.
"Well if I haven't, at least 1 won't
bother you any more"
But I want to be bothered" she
whispered almost inaudibly.
After that she didn't say anything
for a long, long time.
"What will Aunt Mary say?" he
asked her at last.
"AS long as I'm not marrying the
Incompatible nephew 1t won't make
much difference, 1 guess. And of
course we've known each other for
forty-eight hours-too-that's a long
time in these times, you know"
"a lifetime" he assured her.
Here she is" cried a pOrtly lady
from the doorway. "Why, Mary, upon
my word. if it isn't Phil! Then. he
didn't lose the address after all! You
dear children-how are your"
"Why, Aunt Lucy, l eve expected
to see you here-why didn't you tell
me you knew Clover?"
"Why didn't you tell me you did, in
stead of taking that paper with her
address and pretending you'd lever
heard of her before! You sly boy
just what l told you about him Thurs
day, Mary"
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