The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1921-03-23
LAvlNIA BRAND
BY eLIzAsErH N. Leg.
SSgSIeSYeSS 100000


ferred It, Mrs. Peter, pretty nearly
everything was changed, as well as
her name. She had always thought
Hinsviile was a darling place to live,
but now that they had come to West
Greenfield. she was not quite so sure
about anything, for In West Greenfield
everything was different.
OF course, there was Peter, always
there was dear Peter, but even Peter
of late had begun to change. He
was preoccupied and absent-minded,
and ms long as she could Susan Mary
loyalty excused 1t on the grounds that,
OF course, the office manager of the
biggest bakery for miles around would
have TO be absent-minded. If he didn't
have Il worried, careworn expression,
argued Susan Mary determinedly, he
wouldn't be working, and If he weren't
working, he wouldn't be thinking about
what happiness lie could bring her.
SO it was all for her, she thought
defiantly, until one awful day when
she was tidying Peters desk in the
Den. a bit of work she particularly
adored. Sorting out the envelopes Of
different sizes. she had dropped bit
Of paper with scribble Of Peters
writing on it. She read 1t once, twice,
and even third time, and each time
her world got blacker, for the writing
on the paper said:
"Lavina Brand
Now who could Lavinia Brand be7
Susan Mary sat down on the uncOm-
Portable edge of a chair and thought
and thought, anG the more she
thought, the more certain she became.
For up In Hinsyille there was a fam
ily by the name of Brandt, and one
of the daughters had gone to school
with her What could be more nat
ural than in these days Of anti-every-
thing that sounded German the family
had dropped the obnoxious st" and
become plain Brand? And that girl
her name began with L, she was sure.
Lucretla, LeonOra-what was it?
I'm p-p-posltlve it's Lavinia," wall
ed Susan Mary, and with sudden,
fierce little gesture she tore the Offend
ing slip Of paper in a hundred pieces.
Then one morning a bit of paper
fell out of Peters coat pocket as he
pulled out his handkerchief, and Susan
Mary. picking it up, inquired innocent
ly as to what 1t was, knowing perfect
ly well that it was THAT Name"
With an expression almost guilty
Peter snatched it and crammed It back
In his pocket, hurriedly telling Susan
Mary that 1t was nothing at all and
lie would miss the car.
The climax came that afternoon
when Peter called up and told her
that he was bringing Mr.. .Grayson to
supper. Mr.. Grayson was the man
ager, and Peter wOrshiped him.
OF course everything went beauti-
fully. Susan Mary was too proud to
let Mr.. Grayson know that there had
been any suspicion Of GOODNESS be-
tween Peter and herself, and she was
to both the men. Peter
was a bit puzzled, for the atmosphere
Of late had been decidedly frigid, and.
he put the browning touch |
upon 1t ALL AS Mr.. GraysOn was
leaving Peter went out to the hall
with him, and stood talking in a low
voice, but not quite so low but what |
Susan Mary could hear the managers
voice.
"And Lavinia Brandt" And then
Peters voice, worried. hasty-"FOr
heavens sake-my wife doesn't know
anything about that!"
Quite convinced that her heart was
broken, Susan Mary still bided her
time.
She had become quite resigned to
the bits of paper floating around 'ev-
erywhere, and she was really very |
calm and cool and collected when Pc
ter called her up and told her that he |
was bringing Lavhia Brand home that
evening.
"Yes, | remember her." said Susan
Mary sweetly. and was rewarded by q
burst of laughter from the other end.
and. "Oh, Lord You remember herT
and then the receiver clicked agra
vatingiy.
But Peter came alone. Only he car.
ried bundle, which he waved at her
as she stood on the piazza, and then.
wondering at the exultation in his
face, she felt herself picked up bodily |
in his arms. and heard only con-
Lavinia Brand
success--fortune's made" before she
had sense enough to disengage herself
and demand Historically what II all
meant
Here's what It meansp cried Pc |
ter joyously. waving the package
again. and when at last they were
safely indoors he opened II, talking
all the while. "You see, Grayson want
ed some other line besides Just bread
and rolls. and l sent up to mother for