Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-03-11
LOIS
CHAPTER II

NO can't today" Alice shook
her head regretfully. David in his
nired carriage had stopped before
ne little house to ask Alice to drive
out to the farm with him.
They're putting in the mushroom
peos' ne told her by way of coaxing
her. You know you said you want.
cd y learn how 1t was done"
7 mean OF you to tell me-" Alice
laughed. but I can't come TODAY.
Eois arrives this afternoon, and /
nave to meet her and I want an ex-
ira nice supper"
"Loisf' David repeated frowning.
"Oh yes. that's your orphan cousin.
is she going to stay long?"
Why. I suppose So" Alice replied.
I'VE wrote and asked her to make
her home with us as long as she
Then I'll never see you alone"
why not? If Lois knows we are
engaged I don't suppose she'll stay
by my side all the time" said Alice
snd smiled at him. Come in and
I'll give you a lovely cool drink of
raspberry shrub; I've just brought
some up from the cellar"
Just the same, I don't think I'm
going to like your cousin" David
etlll held his grievance. But I sup
pose can stand 1t. since we'll be
married in q month";"
lH8t lSn long, Com1orted Alice,
her eyes alight, as they always were
when she looked at David. Come
around tonight and meet Lois. I want
to make things as nice for her as
possible. and I'm sure she'll like you"
Shes already deprived mo Of you
for this afternoon. David grieved.
But I'll come and be as nice as /
non. But mind. If 7 don't SEQ you as
Snuch as I want, I'll run off with
you--I won't wait until next month"
Alice laughed and raised her face
FOR his goodbye kiss. She stood on
she porch when he drove away. her
eyes following the carriage as long
as she could see 1t. Even after It
disapp cared she stared at the spot
where 1t had been. her eyes softly
Rlue n tender and her warm young
ftps parted and smiling.
Presently the sound of her mother
stirring in tho house brought her
Back to realities. SO she dropped her
Vision and went in, hurry1ng through
Nhe work. and dressing to meet the s
O'clock train.
She'll have trunks. I suppose. go
I'll hire a hack OF some kind. and
we'll come home in STYLE" she call
ed back to her mother when she
started off to walk to the station.
Mrs. Fairbanks was sitting on the !
porch when they drove up an hour
aater. Lois Kennedy jumped out first
and stood for an instant staring In
surprise at the tiny house. Then she
walked slowly up the path, and the
vteps. and kissed the little old lady
whom she had never seen before.
Lois Kennedy was quite small for
her age She was twenty years old,
and looked about twenty-three. She
Possessed q quantity of waving hair
were bluer than Alice's and round, |
like those of little children. She was
quite pale, and her little pink mouth
nrooped at the corners IN a most ap-
Tealing fashion. |
Alice nodded and smiled to her
der. and Mrs. Fairbanks returned
Lois kiss with a sudden rush of
tenderness and affection.
"You tell him where to put my |
things. won't you, Alice dear?" Lois
turned to her cousin.
This way, I've your room ready |
If you want to go up to It," Alice
with her Usual efficiency ordered the |
carrying in of the two large trunks |
and the two s~uitcases that Lois had !.
brought with her.
Lois dropped into a chair on the
porch with a little sigh.
you may not think so. but I'm |
utterly exhausted by the trip" she
told Mrs. Fairbanks. ut was as
though I were tearing up ell my past
life to go away from my old home
alone. Mother n I always plan
he'd"
She did not finish her sentence,
but leaned back in the rocker with
her eyes closed. Long light brown
flashes swept down on her cheeks;
she might have been q sleepy baby.
"How very pretty You are" Mrs.
Fairbanks said. "You do look like
your mother when she was your age
when she married. Dear me, 1t
takes me bach to the time I was a
h irl just to look at you. I'm sure I'm
soing to love you, dear"
I'm sure I hope So said Lois
.sweetly. Her voice was high ard I'M
like that Of a child.