The Lamar register., 1920-07-28

reasons for what you are doing, but
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
lorn heap In the old rocker and sobbed
her heart out. Where was the Joy
in noble self-sacrif1ce she had expected
to feel? All her being ached to run
after the man she had just peremp-
torily dismissed. to bring him back
and tell him 1t was all a mistake
she did love hlm-would marry him.
Wait-if she did. how about Sue?
Betty was one of those lucky girls
with a sister Just enough older to be
both comrade and mother to the young
er 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 rifed
her own ribbon box for d bow where
with to adorn Betty's fiuffy hair.
But now something more vital than
a question OF hair ribbons or vacations
had arisen. Which OF the two girls
Her opportunity had come. If she
refused Jack. she felt sure that ulti-
nately, he would marry Sue. Also, she
suspected that Sue cared for Jack.
Hadn't she OF late caught certain
happy wistfulness in Sues gray eyesf
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 rs both
mother and father TO gay little Betty.
She gave one quick glance at her sis
ter. Then. stripping on her gloves,
she said quite casually: isn't Jack at
the cornerT
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 a 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 piece Of
newsf You know Doctor. Delabarre,
my chief 10 the lab? well-would you
fancy him for-for a brother-ln-lawr
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 breathless dance
about the room. "Oh, I thought
thought II was Jack And I sent him
away and now can have himl And
oh. you darling. I'm so glad for you T"
Sue was shaking her gently.
frtf
to a soul. Nobody knows yet"
''Not even Doctor Delabarref'
teased Betty. and In her happiness
missed her sisters startled glance.
"Oh, Sue. | must telephone Jacks
boarding house and leave word for him
TO come right up this evening. And
while I'm out to telephone IN get II
whole chocolate cake and some straw
berry mousse TO celebrate 90
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 Delabarres affianced wife Daily
working with him In the laboratory
OF the city hospital. she had come
TO look upon him rs the most won
derfui man she had ever met.
As II was-well. She had done what
she did for Betty's sake. Jack, gium
and unhappy, had just told her at the
corner now 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
ehattered like a magple and supper
was gay affair After a sOclable
washing up Of the dishes the younger
girl came up to her sister sOberly.
I'm awfully sorry, Sue. after what
you said-but you really didn't say !
mustn't mention II TO him. and | was
just coming out OF the shop loaded
with the cake and all and | bumped
right into himl And before / thought.
l congratulated him"
''What-who-Bettyr
Doctor Delabarre, OF course" said
Betty And he's coming up this eve
ming. | hope-there's the bell Jack %
Joyfully she flew to answer
While Sue-well, Sue was trembling