The Idaho recorder., 1920-03-19
MOIRA'S INTRUSION
BY JACK LAYTON.
Newspaper Union)


ter they were reading toward their
mother, and their glances expressed
condemnation.
"If you would not keep up useless
correspondence with this relative OF
fathers" Eleanor said, "she would
not feel free to drop in upon us at
any time. The last, was shopping
tour l remember, and /, had to go
with her to hunt bargain boots"
"And she wore," Gwen chimed In, "a
muslin dress In the shopping district,
and a hat covered with pink roses"
(Which is." Mrs. Tyler interp0sed,
"beside the point. The question. now
to be considered Is what we shall do
with your fathers young Irish reia-
tive, for surely Moira evinces the
characteristics of her own fathers
country people-including the Irish
blue eyes which won my ever-ready
sympathy"
Mrs. Tyler sighed modestly.
"Why, she should take 1t into her
head to leave her village home, and
come to spend this particular night
with us, is more than / can say. This
night Of all nights, with Lorraine, the
great harpist, at the opera house. and
our invited guests for the occasion.
You can't bide Moira away; one can't
exactly snub her. But to be obliged
to introduce her at dinner to Spotis-
wood Cameron, for instance, Or
Mrs. Tyler paused in CONSERVATION
"or to the Honorable Justin Granison.
"She leaves us no alternative"
Eleanor replied. "'Will arrive just in
time for dinner. Am motoring in
with a neighbOr and will not need to
be met Also-and my soul trembles
at the 'also'-confident little MOira
brings with her friend. She wants
cousin Mollie to meet her dear uncle
and aunt"
There's one good thing" said Gwen
quickly. sour opera box won't hold
one other chair. We're full there. so
no excuse needed"
| "MOira and her cousin Mollie would
doubtless enjoy themselves better at
a picture show than hearing concert
celebrity" Mrs. Tyler said. "The eve
ming can be provided for all right.
It's dinner that I'm worrying about"
do you suppose" Gwen offered
YEARLY, "that l might entertain our
poor relation and her country cousin
In the breakfast room while the rest
Of you are dining? I'm usually the
one to be sacrificed, and as Eleanor's
affair with the Honorable Justin al
most begins to look promising"
eve haven't much time to decide"
Mrs. Tyler answered testify. II think
that's Spotiswood Cameron's voice
are dressed and ready. Go down,
Eleanor. while Owen and try to think
some way out of our difficulty"
From the lower hall came presently
duet of pleasant voices. The Hon.
orable Justin had evidently arrived.
And before the two women, regard
ing each other perplexedly, had time
to settle their vexing question, to them
came also an echOing chime Of wom-
ems voices-soft, low-pitched voices,
which nevertheless reached them in
their upper room.
TITS Moira," gasped Mrs. Tyler.
"And-the COUSIN" Gwen added,
'and they've run plump into Eleanor
and our guests"
1--WE must go down. Mrs. Tyler said
hastily. "You can get the girls off to
their rooms, Gwen"
So the mother and sister, descending
the stairs, came upon pretty but con-
fusing picture.
Just before the fireplace with it's
blazing logs, and before Eleanor in
her elaborate frock, stood two slim,
fresh-faced young girls; their long
cloaks had been cast aside and their
blue-cloth dresses were dark and sim.
pie.
The Irish blue eyes Of Moira Mcvey
glanced wistfully about as though In
search Of welcome, while the gray eyes
of her cousin Mollie seemed quietly
assured.
To Moira's red lips at sight of her
aunt came quickly an eager smile
Mollie Mcvey, waiting, smiled calmly
AS she waited she lifted from hel
dusky hair snow-wet cap.
1--WE were caught in the storm" she
Informed the Honorable Justin whe
: stood at Eleanor's side.
MY cousin Mollie," Moira was
breathlessly explaining. "came out yes
terday, most unexpectedly to see me
Our neighbor Mrs. West, asked to be
allowed to drive us into the city to
day: so l hurried off a word to Won a
the first moment. Mollie really want
ed to so to hotel, but coaxed her Il
come and see Uncle Tyler. Mollie ha.
spent most Of her life In Europe. $,
we have seen little of each other, bu
when she crosses the OCEAN"
"She comes. of course" Mollie gent
ly interrupted, straight to see he
dearest cousin. fear this evenin,
, that we have been unfortunate in tres
, passing upon family dinner marty.