The Lamar register., 1919-01-01

uusIy, '-Dut WANTED to ride with
you"
Catherine didn't know what to say to
that, so she lust looked-and then
looked away, wondering II either OF her
aunts was observing the tableau as she
and the strange young man stood there
on the walk.
you're not offended, are your" he
asked.
IL should be"-she entered the
gate and turned to him for a heeting
| lnstant-"but I'm not" And with Il
little laugh she ran up the steps.
The very next Sunday morning quite
early Catherine crossed the street to
the park opposite the house. The aris-
tocracy of the square only use the park
during the early hours, before the rab-
BILE of the city fills the benches. so
she sat herself down in the early morn
ing sunlight and wondered about Jim
Brand. who ut that very moment came
Btrolling toward her.
II hoped I'd find you-aren't you go
Ing to ask me to sit DOWN" Then he
sat down anyway. 1t was quite start
ling and very exciting. He questioned
her and teased her, treated her just
as II she weren't Van Wye and sat
cred-just as II she were girl whom
he liked
Lets walk" he finally said. rising
and catching her by the hands to draw
her to her feet. He was like that
Just sudden and abruptly insistent-it
took Catherlne's breath completely
away And the color came into her
cheeks and lips, and animation to her
eyes. She fairly sparkled In Response
to his vital presence. and she complete
iy forgot herself and her aunts and ira
ditlon.
So It went. She met him many
times. Apparently by accident. but
really by arrangement although Cath
crime herself never fully realized this.
And suddenly her aunts noticed a
change in her. She grew rounder.
color became pronounced. her lips were
red always and her eyes danced on the
slightest pretext. The aunts were per-
picked until one evening Catherine was
late to dinner. She had been out all
afternoon In the car. Jim Brand had
given John $5. and they had left John
to his own devices while Jim took the
wheel, with Catherine In the seat be
side him. Together all afternoon they
had breezed along through the coun-
try recklessly happy. Hence Gather
ines lateness to dinner.
At the Van Wye table that night
there was less conversation than usual.
The aunts were uneasy. Catherfne's
father had been a little wild In his
youth. and the aunts wondered vague
Iy until Catherine arose from the table
with little smile.
"Aunt Belinda. were you ever
ernbbed suddenly BY nice young man
and hugged close up to his heart and
kissed ever so many times right on the
mouth before you realized what was
happeningf"
"whatever put such notions into
your head. Catherine Van Wyef Ger
tainly mott |" said Aunt Belinda. -
verely
"Then feel very sorry for you.
Aunt Belinda" said Catherine. de-
murely. "for you have missed some
thing"
Catherine chorused the horrined
aunts In despair. but their terrible
niece had danced toward the telephone.
And an hour later Jim Brand was
playing ragtime on GATHERINGS piano
while that young woman stood behind
him and pstted the syncopated time
on his broad shoulders. occasionally
leaning down to rub her smooth cheek
against his. while in the room above
those maiden ladies', her aunts. com
muned in solemn conference.
sand he's Just a common country
boy who happens to go to coliegeT
said Aunt Melvina.
"I don't see what we can do about
It." said Aunt Belinda helplessly;
"she's twenty-one and has the Van
Wye willfulnessr'
And every now and then Catherine
Van Wye Unexpectedly launches her
agile young body like a catapult upon
her surprised husband and hugs his
head savagely to her breast. murmur-
ing: "And they would have cheated
me out of thisi Cheated me out Of
life. and love. and you-you common
person r.
But Jim Brand only grins and gives
his ardent wife proper kissing. which
vulgar practice. regret to say. seems
to agree with the last of the patrfcian
Van XVyaS