Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-08-14


went to meet the IL 10 train from
ter all? she asked herself fearfully.l
But he was the first person Off the
train, and the heavy package under
mis- arm turned out to be a fivepound
box of candy f0r-Aunt Mary. Who
says the sixty-year-old spinster has
had her day2 tsl&f
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 your he asked her,
'Well. never having seen him, I don't
know how much really have to look
| forward to, she laughed happily.
They fell into easy conversation and
| Clover 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 few more de-
| grees In her estimation.
In The afternoon, while Aunt Mary
took her daily siesta, Glover and the
captain went for brisk walk. 1t was
showing little outdoors and the air
was delightfully."- cold and crisp. They
must have walked several miles, and
on the way home Glover found It diff
ficult to keep up with the long, regular
! strides that had weathered so many
long hikes. At turn In the road she
fell forward on her knees before Cor
don could catch her. In second he
lifted her to her feet. however. but did
not instantly release her. For mo-
ment she felt his rough overcoat
against her cheek.
'Pm so sorry little gIrl--Im afraid
I'm no account at all as an escort"
His arm was still very decidedly sup
porting her shoulders.
ITS Just because this stupid soldier
Is little weary In the feet--if the
troops slow down little she'll be all
right now. captain
They slowed down good deal, and
Gordon slipped her fur-ciad arm
through his own.
"Itll be easier walking this way, IL
you don't mind" he told her.
Il don't mind she answered truth
fully.
In few minutes they reached tho
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 suits
and sighed contentedly.
''Thls is the incest day I've had in
four years." he told her honestly "And
I'm not at all sure that 1t isn't the best
one I've her had, eitherl"
"You're most polite and fiattering
person." scoffed Glover, as she snug
gled cozlly down among nest of soft
cushions.
mo, I'm mott mean every word of
it---don't you believe me?"
Il don't know--Tve known you such
little time"
"Does It seem like such little while
to your"
mo, IL doesn't--oh, don't know"
she stumbled and concentrated her
gaze upon the fire. Il think I'd better
go and change for supper" she began
nervously, seeming danger In the mir.
l \ IL
wrecked the tea table In his attempt to
keep her with him.
"Tm most terribly In earnest; won't
you listen to me, Clover? or course
haven't known you long, but ! love you
II can't help 1t. Have any chance"
would the ghost of chance satisfy
your" leased Glover.
"Well, If / haven't, at least I won't
bother you any more"
"But I want to be bothered" she
. whispered almost inaudibly.
After that she didn't say anything
for long. long time.
"What will Aunt Mary say?" he
asked her at last.
"As long as I'm not marrying the
incOIHpdIhDic Hephc" - ~vn iii"ho
much difference, / 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
J 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 you?"
"Why, Aunt Lucy, ] never expected
to see you here-why didn't you tell
me you knew CloverY
"Why didn't you tell me you did, in
stead of taking that paper with her.
address and pretending you'd never
heard OF her before! You sly boy;
| 4ald z-1... him t4cs~