Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1920-08-19
A REAL SISTER
BY n. LOUIS RAYBoLD.

as long as you won't tell me what
they are, you can hardly expect me
to be satisfied. However-good-by -
And he was gone.
Betty Reynolds stood as he had
left her, then crumpled into for
Torn heap in the old rocker and sobbed
her heart out. Where was the 10y
in noble self-sacrifice she had expected
to feel? All her being ached TO run
after the man she had just peremp-
torily dismissed 10 bring him back
and tell him it was all a mistake
she did love him-would marry him.
Wait--if she did, how about Sue?
Betty was one Of those lucky girls
with sister just enough older to be
both comrade and mother to the Young
err one. Even before the death of their
mother, it had been Sue who laid out
Betty's party frocks, who mended the
torn lace in her petticoats, who rihed
her own ribbon box for bow where,
with to adorn Betty's fluffy hair.
But now something more vital than
had arisen. Which of the two girls
should have Jack Hemingway?
Her opportunity had come. If she
refused Jack, she felt sure that, ulti-
mately, he would marry Sue. Also, she
suspected that Sue cared for Jack
Hadn't she of late caught a certain
happy usefulness in Sues gray eyes?
The tall girl who entered the room
a moment later seemed more than
three years older than her sister,
fact due, no doubt, TO acting as both
mother and father to gay little Betty.
She gave one quick glance at her sis
ter. Then, stripping off her gloves,
she said quite casually; isn't Jack at
the corner?0
Betty looked up, startled Then,
very bravely, she began her campaign.
HE didn't stay as long as usual, prob
ably because you weren't here"
Sue said nothing for moment.
Then she sat down on the arm of the
chair and put her arm around the
girls shoulders. Little sister," she
began lovingly, want a piece of
news? You know Doctor Delabarre,
my chief in the lab? Well--would you
fancy him for-for a brother-in-law?"
Betty stared at her sister in bewil-
derment. Then in a flash realization
came to her. "Sue Reynolds !" she
cried, and leaping to her feet she
whirled her sister in a hreathIess dance
about the room. ooh. | thought
thought it was Jack And sent him
away and now | can have him. And
oh, You darling I'm so glad for you !"
Sue was shaking her gently.
"Listen, dear, you mustn't mention it
to a soul Nobody knows yet"
mot even Doctor Delabarrep
teased Betty and in her happiness
missed her sisters startled glance.
'Oh, Sue, must telephone Jacks
boarding house and leav~word for him
to come right up this evening. And
while I'm orf to telephone III get
whole chocolate cake and some straw
berry mousse to celebrated"
Sue sank down into the rocker
Betty had so recently vacated And,
even as Betty had, Sue buried her
face in her hands Dear heaven
Would that she had the right to say
before the world that she was Doc
tor Delabarre's affianced wife Daily
working with him in the laboratory
of the city hospital she had come
to look upon him as the most Won
derful man she had ever met.
As it was-well, she had done what
she did for Betty's sake. Jack, glum
and unhappy, had just told her at the
corner how he loved Betty and how
Betty, for some reason she would not
give had turned him down. And Sue,
with the tender intuition of an elder
sister put two and two together and
made exactly four-no more, no less.
Sue had herself well in hand by
the time her sister came home. Betty
chartered like a magpie and supper
was gay affair After sociable
washing up of the dishes the younger
girl came Up TO her sister soberly.
"rm awfully sorry, Sue, after what
you said-but you really didn't say
mustn't mention it to him, and / was
gust coming out Of the shop loaded
with the cake and all and / bumped
right into him And before thought,
i congratulated him"
-Who-BettyT
Doctor Delabarre. of course" said
Betty. "And he's coming up this eve
ming. l hope-there's the bell Jackw
Joyfully she few to answer
While Sue-well, Sue was trembling
from head 10 foot What would he
Think She must get Betty to make
her excuses If he came. She could not
see him.
But she had no choice. 1t was Doc
tor Delabarre, not Jack, whom Betty
found at tile door, although Jack was
almost at the steps And Betty, be-
cause she wanted her moment with
Jack, sent Doctor Delabarre in alone.
Sues moment Of reckoning had
come. The doctor entered quickly,
both hands outstretched.
Miss Reynolds Suew he cried.
"I'm enough of an old fellow to know
that in some way Miss Betty mixed
things up. But bless her for II II
hoe ,,,o AZ ma ,sara IN came and fell Won