Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-11-03

uiSSiiSui>Hdpie III tue maze or autumn
| dusk. Florence stopped swinging her
foot, left the railing and went morose-
ly into the house. And here it was
her fortune TO make two discoveries
vital to her present career; the first
arising out OF a conversation between
her father and mother In the library,
where goSsipy fire of soft coal en-
couraged this proper Sunday afternoon
entertainment for man and wife.
"Sit down and rest awhile" said her
mother. I'm afraid YOU play too
hard when Patty and the boys are
here. Do sit down quietly and rest
yourself a little while" And as Flor
ence obeyed. Mrs. Atwater turned to
her husband, resuming, "Well that's
what said. I told Aunt Carrie 7
thought the same way about 1t that
you did. OF course, nobody ever knows
what Julia's going to do next, and
nobody needs to be surprised at any
thing she does do. Ever since she
came home from school about four
fifths Of all the young men In town
have been wild about her-and SOS
every old bachelor. for the matter OF
thatw
"Yes," Mr.. Atwater added. every
old widower, too"
His wife warmly accepted the
amendment. "And every old widower,
too" she said nodding, Rather! And
of course Julia's done exactly as she
pleased about everything, and natural
ly she's going to do as she pleases
about this"
well, of course, 1t is her own af-
fair. Mollie," Mr.. Atwater said, mildly.
"She couldn't be expected to consult
the whole Atwater family connection
before"
ooh, no." she agreed, ST don't say
she could. Still, 1t Is rather upset
ting, coming so suddenly like this,
when not one of the family have ever
seen him--never even heard his very
| name before"
"Well, that part of 1t isn't espe-
cially strange. Mollie-when he was
born and brought up in town three
| hundred miles from here. / don't see
just how we could have heard his
name-unless he visited here, or got
into the papers I'm some way"
Mrs. Atwater seemed unwilling to
yield mysterious point. She rocked
decorously In her chair, shook her
head. and after setting her lips rigid
ly. opened them to insist that she could
never change her mind: Julia had
acted very abruptly. "Why couldn't
she have let her poor father know. at
least few days before she dld?"
Mr.. Atwater sighed. "Why, she ex-
plains in her letter that she only
knew it, herself, an hour before she
h wrote"
"Her poor father!" his wife repeat
ed commiseratingly.
"Why, Mollie, / don't see that faith
er's especially to be pitied."
"Don't your said Mrs. Atwater
"That old man, TO have to live in that
big house all alone, except few ne
gro servants?"
"Why, no! About half the houses
in the neighborhood. up and down the
street, are fully occupied by close rela.
tives of his; / doubt If he'll be really
as lonely as he'd like to be. And he's
often said he'd give a great deal II
Julia had been plain, unpopular girl
I'm strongly of the opinion, myself
that he'll be pleased about this. OF
course it may upset him little, just
at first"
i Eyes; I think 1t willw Mrs. At
water shook her, head forebodingly
to upset.
mo. he isn't" her husband admit
ted, seriously. "Thats always been
the trouble with Julia; she never could
bear to seem disappointing; and so, OF
course I suppose every one of 'em had
a special idea that he was really about
the top of the list with her."
every last one of 'em was positive
of it," said Mrs. Atwater. "That was
Julia's way with emw
Eyes, Julia's always been much tor
kind-hearted for other peoples good Y
Thus Mr.. Atwater summed up-and
he was this Julia's brother. Addition
ally, since he was the older, he hat
known her since her birth.
IF you ask me-" said his wife, I'll
really be surprised If 1t all goes
through without suicide"
"Oh, not quite suicide, perhaps" Mr.
Atwater protested. I'm glad it's 4
dry state, though -
She failed TO fathom his simple
meaning "Why?"
"Well some Of 'em might feel tina
desperate at least" he explained
prohibitions a safeguard for the dis
appointed In love-
This phrase and previous on
stirred Florence, who had been Sitting
quietly, according to request, ant
resting; but not resting her curl
oslty. who's disappointed in love
papa?" she inquired with an explosive
eagerness which slightly startled he
preoccupied parents. "What is all thii