Connecticut western news., 1920-12-02

Yet she soon saw that her wardrobe was sadly inadequate to the environ ment in which she found herself Whereupon the rich friends lent her some of their own finery; and, after they laced her into a sky-blue silk dress, so low that modest Meg blushed at herself in the mirror and Laurie, who was at the party, openly express ed his surprised disapproval. Chagrin and remorse followed, and it was not until after full confession to Marmee, that Meg realized the trumpery value of fashionable rivalry and the real worth of simplicity and contentment.
 All four of the girls had leanings to- ward a life of luxury and ease, and when Mrs. March smilingly proposed that they try whole week of "an play and no work" they agreed eagerly. failure; and after mortifying scenes at a company luncheon, a canary bird dead from neglect, several slight ill., nesses and lost tempers, the girls de- cided that lounging and larking didn't pay.
 Now John Brooke, the tutor of Lau- rie, was a secret admirer of pretty Meg. Discovering this, the mischiev- ous boy wrote Meg a passionate love letter, purporting to be from Brooke. This prank caused a terrible upset in both houses, but later on Brooke put the momentous question, and Meg meekly whispered, "Yes, John," and blundering in.' was transfxed with as- tonishment and dismay, and exclaim- ed, ".Oh, do somebody come quick John Brooke is acting dreadfully, and Meg likes. fti''
 At Christmas, father March came home from the war, and great cele- bration was made. The neighbors from the Laurence house were invited, and there never was such a Christmas dinner as they had that day!
 Later came the first break in their restored home circle. The Dovecote was the name of the little brown house that John Brooke had prepared
 
 with a lawn In front about as big as a handkerchief The wedding, be- heath the June roses was a simple honey one, and the bridal journey was only the walk from the March home to the dear little new house. "Pm too happy to care what anyone says-Pm going to have my wedding just as want u" Meg had declared; and so, leaning on her husbands arm, her hands full of flowers, she went away, saying, 'Thank you all for my happy wedding day. Good-by, good byl"
 Jo developed into writer of sen- sational stories. This, however, was because she found a profitable market for such work and she wanted the money for herself and the others. For little Beth was aiiing, and summer stay at the seartlr=@e =s@, they all hoped, cSsHg b&-g saa RsGsS G ss ebeeaG. Bxs e esssss esss sss@ a time tho &npe G@ e =@ saseas BeeA. ihs a es=s ess eSEasa eass cs@S - she hands fasx sAG sssa h@s all through lfSs. ss A@ father and mother guided her tenderly through the valley of the shadow and gave her up to God.
 Then came a day when Laurie was invited to the Dovecote to see Meg's new baby. Jo appeared, proud aunt, bearing a bundle on pillow. "Shut your eyes and hold out your arms" she ordered, and Laurie, obeying, open ed his eyes again, to see-two babies 'Twins, by Jupiter!' he cried; "take 'em, quick, somebody! Pm going to laugh, and I shall drop emp
 Laurie had loved Jo for years, but Jo, though truly sorry, couldn't re- spond. AS she said. Its impossible for people to make themselves love other people if they don't" And so, after time, Laurie decided that Amy was the only woman in the world who could fill Jos place and make him happy. And the two were very happy together, Amy taking great pride in her handsome husband. Don't laugh" she said to him, '"but your nose is such a comfort to mep and she ca ressed the well-cut feature with artis- tic satisfaction.
 Jo found her fate in an elderly pro- lessor, wise and kind, but too poor to think of marriage. For a year the pair worked and waited and hoped and loved, and then Aunt March died and left Jo her fine old country place. Here Jo and her professor set up their home, and established boys school. which became a great success. Jo lived a very happy life, and as the years went on, two little lads of her own came to increase her happiness Amy, too, had a dear child named Beth, but she was a frail little crea- ture and the dread of losing her was the shadow over Amy's sunshine.
 But theslittle women and all their dear ones formed happy, united fam fly, of whom Jo truly wrote: |