The Snowflake herald., 1920-11-19
A NoN-PARTISAN NEWSPAPER
TOMS DAUGHTER
BY LoTTIE w. SIMMONS
g. 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.l

(0, 1920, by Mcclure Newspaper Syndlcate.)
A festal air pervaded the Brent
home to its last nook and corner.
There were roses in the dining room,
carnations in the parlor and on the
small Jacobean table in the guest
room a shallow bowl of violets whose
delicate fragrance filed each zephyr
from the snowy-draped, open window.
Kitty, Margaret and Pauline, the
three charming daughters of the house
hold, fitted about in a state of de-
licious excitement, for the noon train
was bringing Hartley Hayden, cou-
sin, from the East.
II wonder what he looks like now?"
drawled Kitty from her perch on the
wide arm of a veranda seat.
81 hope he's handsome" giggled
Pauline as she airily executed few
steps of the latest dance.
II hope he's still as nice as he used
to be when he was little boy" said
Margaret, reminiscently.
Just thea a train whistle brought lit
tie shrieks of delight from the girls
and catching up caps and sweaters
they piled into the Brent motor car
at the gate, waved a goodbye to
mother who appeared in the door
way and sped away with Kitty at the
wheel.
Only a short distance to the station,
but when halfway there the engine
went dead
"Oh whatever can be the matter!"
cried Margaret and Pauline in
breath. Kitty made hurried examina-
ton
mo gasoline!" she reported in tragic
tones. ''Well. there's no help for it; we
will have to go back for some"
"And before we can get to the sta
ton now Hartley will have given us
up" pouted Pauline.
"It isn't far to the station from here"
said practical Margaret. "You go on,
Kitty, and Polly and will go for the
gasoline
AS the train drew up at the small
Western town which was his destina-
ton, Hartley Hayden stepped out and
looked about him.
81 see no one resembling my fair cou-
sins" thought he, remembering their
written promise to meet him.
The station was nearly deserted
when a slim young girl in leather
jacket and leggings entered. Her hands
were filed with a mass of wild flow
ers and as her gaze for a moment
swept Hartley's face, he thought,
Surely this is dark-eyed Margaret"
Il beg your pardon" lifting his cap,
"you are Margaret Brent?"
"Oh, nor in the shyest, sweetest
voice he had ever heard 'You are
seeking the Brents? | will show you
the way, but first l must leave these
flowers for the station masters sick
little daughter" Her errand finished
they turned to go when a young lady
was seen approaching. kitty Brent"
informed the girl at his side. "You will
not require my services"
"But you are coming-you will
wait?" incoherently. NO" and she
turned away. On the veranda that
evening Hartley asked the question
that had been in his heart for hours.
''Who is the girl was speaking with
as you came up, Kitty?" Kitty and
Pauline exchanged glances.
"Oh, that was Tom Lanes daughter
You haven't told me-shall we play
auction or bridge at our party tomor-
row night?'
''It is immaterial to me- Kitty, really,
Isis Miss Lane coming?"
ooh, my. nol No one invites her."
'Why?" shot back Hartley.
"Why-why because she is Tom
Lanes daughter, | suppose" was the
confused reply. He's been queer, they
say, ever since his wife died when
Elsie was a tiny baby"
The next day was hot and sultry. Mr.
Brent, who had been absent for some
days, returned at noon. He seemed to
be anxious over something Later,
when questioned, he replied:
81 do not like the looks of the wealth
err" Scarcely had he spoken when a
low, kissing sound seemed to fill the
air.
"a tornadoT" he shouted. "To the
cellar, all of your
But the whirlwind was upon them
With a terrific crash the house, which
stood in the path of the storm, was
in ruins with human lives beneath the
wreckage.
Some moments after a wild-eyed
girl rushed to the scene of disaster
Alone and uaaided she extricated Kit
ty and Pauline, who were badly