Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1920-04-17

memory of them, giving 70 them every
atom of our thought and our svinpa-
thy. Maybe-who knows?--it is in the
power of their spirits to communicate
with US in some way-to give us s sign
If we can place ourselves in tune
with them. Putting their pictures here
before us might help us to concentrate
ourselves upon them"
Cad! I believe you've hypnotized
me, Betty-or else it's this natures
incense from the fire. You are actually
convincing me that such a fantastic
thing might really happen. Shall we
use the portraits in our lockets?"
Upon the impulse Of his own sug-
gestion Raymond's hand went to the
charm at his fob, seeking to detach it.
But the hand fell Imply, and Travers,
confronted by a sudden realization,
stared straight ahead searching for
escape from a dilemma. He was too
absorbed to notice that Betty had gone
suddenly white and that one hand
clutched the oval locket tightly.
A way out came to Travers. "Er-
won't our fathers portraits in the re-
verse side of the lockets, confuse our
memories, Betty?'
Eyes, Trav; I'm sure they would"
agreed Betty hurriedly almost eagerly.
well take them out and lay them
face down ON the table," She drew
toward her small stand covered with
a time-yellowed China shawl deeply
fringed. "They must remain faced
down, you know-their personalities
must not intrude."
IAN excellent thought" agreed Ray
mond, greatly relieved. And presently
the banished miniatures lay blankly
side by side on the silken shawl while
those Of the mothers from their golden
frames gave back the loving gaze Of
the grown-up boy and girl.
The ancient clock in the hall struck
nine. The two young figures in front
Of the blazing fire stared straight at
the pictures. In the face Of the girl
and the face Of the man was tender
filial Renaissance, loyalty-and apa
peal; in each pair of young eyes some
thing that seemed to be begging, en-
treating.
OF sudden, in the fireplace, sap
pocket in a birch log exploded, show
ering sparks. A little fiaring brand
flew straight into Betty's silken lap.
Crying warning, Travers sprang to
pluck 1t away. A button on his sleeve
caught in the fringe of the China
shawl and the sweep Of his arm as he
struck the spark away brought every
thing from the table to the floor.
Travers was not quicker than
Betty to retrieve from the hearth
rug his locket and the nearest of
the unframed miniatures.
AS they rose, breathless, from the
recovery of their disOrdered treasures,
the man and the girl stood facing one
another, each holding in one hand a
locket and In the other detached
picture.
Stealing glance to assure herself
that the unframed portrait she held
was unframed, Betty Grew sustained
the greatest surprise Of her life. ri
"Why-why, Trav! Where, dld4lAjs
come from?" she gasped. ITS that
madonna of secretary of yours, Miss
Chalmers I"
But Travers, too, had glanced at
the picture in his hand, and was
exclaiming simultaneously: Betty!
What does this mean? This isn't your
father-it's young Forbes, the news
paper chap!"
The scared look faded from Betty's
eyes and into them came gladness.
"Oh, don't you see. Trav? It's the
sign we asked for. Our mothers-they
want us to be happy in our own way!"