The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1920-04-22
MoIRA's INTRUSION
BY JACK LAYTON.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ~>>~>>>>>~>>~e.xe
copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Union>
The two sisters looked from the let
ter they were reading toward their
mother, and their glances expressed
condemnation.
III you would not keep up a useless
. correspondence with this relative Of
fathers" Eleanor said. "she would
not feel free to drop in upon US. at
any time. The last. was shopping
tour. l remember. and l, had to 60
with her to hunt bargain boots"
"And she wore." Gwen chimed in, "a
muslin dress in the shopping district,
and hat covered with pink roses"
(which is" Mrs. Tyler interposed.
"beside the point. The question. now
to be considered Is what we shall do
with your fathers young Irish ela-
tive. for surely Mora evinces the
characteristics of her own fathers
country people-including the Irish
blue eyes which won my ever-ready
sympathy"
Mrs Tyler sighed mOdeStly.
"Why. she should take it into her
head to leave her village home, and
come to spend this particular night
with us, Is more than can say. This
night Of all nights. with Lorraine, the
great harpist. at the opera house, and
our invited guests for the occasion.
You can't bide MORA away; one can't
exactly snub her But to be obliged
to introduce her at dinner to SpOtis-
wood Cameron. for instance or"
Mrs. Tyler paused in CONSERVATION
cor to the Honorable Justin Grandson.
"She leaves IT'S no alternative"
Eleanor replied. ":Will arrive just in
time for dinner. Am motoring In
with neghbor and will not need to
be met Also-and my soul trembles
at the 'also-confident little MORA
brings with her friend. She wants
cousin MoIlie to meet her dear uncle
and aunt"
"There's one good thing" said Gwen
quickly. "Our opera box won't hold
one other chair. We're full there, so
no excuse needed"
"A1oira and her cousin Mollie would
doubtless enjoy themselves better at
a picture show than hearing concert
celebrity" Mrs Tyler said. 1.-The eve
ming can he provided for all right.
It's dinner that I'm worrying about"
'Do YOU suppose" Gwen offered
YEARLY. that I might entertain our
poor relation and her country cousin
in the breakfast room while the rest
Of you are dining? I'm usually the
one to be sacrificed, and as Eleanor's
affair with the Honorable Justin al
most begins to look promising"
1--WE haven't much time to decide"
Mrs. Tyler answered testify. II think
that's Spotiswood CamerOn's voice
now. in the hall. Thank goodness, we
are dressed and ready. Go down.
Eleanor. while Owen and try to think
some way out Of our difficulty"
From the lower hall came presently
duet Of pleasant voices. The Hon.
orable Justin had evidently arrived.
And before the two women. regard
ing each other perplexedly. had time
to settle their vexing question, to them
came also an echoing chime Of wom-
ems voices-sOft. l0w-pitched voices,
which nevertheless reached them in
their upper room.
"It's Moira." gasped Mrs. Tyler.
"And--the cousin" Gwen added,
land they've run plump into Eleanor
and our guests"
1--WE must go down." Mrs. Tyler said
hastily. You can get the girls off to
their rooms. Gwen"
So the mother and sister, descending
the stairs. came upon a pretty but con-
fusing picture.
Just before the fireplace with it's
blazing logs. and before Eleanor In
her elaborate frock, stood two slim,
fresh-faced young girls; their long
cloaks had heen cast aside and their
blue-cloth dresses were dark and SIM
pie.
The Irish blue eyes Of MORA Mcvey
glanced wistfully about as though in
search Of welcome. while the gray eyes
of her cousin Mollie seemed quietly
assured.
To Moira's red lips at sight of her
aunt came quickly an eager smile.
Mollie McVey. waiting. smiled calmly.
"A she waited she lifted from her