The Holly chieftain., 1921-10-13

tives of his; doubt II he'll be really
as lonely as he'd like to be- And he's
often said he'd give a great deal IL
Julia had been plain, unpopular girl.
I'm strongly of the opinion, myself
that he'll be pleased about this. OF
course 1t may upset him a little. just
at first"
YES; l think 1t will.' Mrs. At
water shook her head forebOdingly
"And he isn't the only one it's going
to upset"
mo, he isn't her husband admit
ted, seriously. That's always been
the trouble with Julia she never could
bear to seem disappointing; and so. of
course / suppose every one of 'em had
n 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. "rhat was
Julia's way with 'em!"
Yes. Julia's always been much too
klnd-hearted for other peoples good y
Thus Mr.. Atwater summed up-and
he was this Julia's brother. Addition
known her since her birth.
'If you ask me-" said his wife, "Pll
really be surprised If 1t all goes
through without suicide"
"Oh, not quite suicide. perhaps" Mr.
Atwater protested. I'm glad it's a
dry state, thought"
She failed to fathom his simple
meaning. "Why?"
"Well. some of EN- might feel that
desperate at least" he explained
Prohibitions safeguard for the dis
appointed in love-"
This phrase and a previous one
stirred Florence, who had been sitting
quietly, according to request, and
resting; but not resting her curl
osity. who's disappointed in love,
papa?" she inquired with an explosive
eagerness which slightly startled her
preoccupied parents. what is all this
about Aunt Julia, and Grandpa goin'
to live alone. and people committing
suicide and prohibition and every
thing? What is all this, mama?"
Nothing, Florence"
Nothing! That's what you always
say about the very most interesting
things that happen in the whole fam
ilyl What Is all this, papa?"
"It's nothing that would be inter-
esting to little girls. Florence. Mere
ly some family matters"
my goodness J" Florence exclaimed.
I'm not little girl any MORE papa
You're always forgetting my age And
If it's family matter l belong to the
family, guess, about as much as any
body else, don't I? Grandpa himself
isn't any more one of the family than
1 am. l don't care how old he is"
This was undeniable, and her father
laughed. cts really nothing you'd
care about one way or the other" he
said
"Well, I'd care about 1t If It's a Sc
cret," Florence insisted. "If it's Sc
cret I'd want to know 1t whatever It's
about"
"Oh, 1t isn't secret, particularly,
l suppose. At least, it's not to be
made public for time; It's only to
be known In the family"
well, didn't I just prove I'm rs
much one o. the family AS"
"Never mind" her father said soOth-
ingly. II don't suppose there's any
harm in your knowing lt--if you won't
20 telling everybody. Your aunt Julia
has just written us that she's en-
gagged"
Mrs. Atwater uttered an exclama-
tion. but she was too late to check
him.
whats the matter?" he asked.
I'm afraid you oughtn't to have
told Florence. She isn't just the most
discreet"
"Pshaw =! he laughed "She certain
ly is one of the family, however. and
Julia wrote that all of the family
might be told. You'll not speak Of It
outside the family, will you, Flor
ence?"
But Florence was not yet able to
speak of it, even inside the family
so surprising. sometimes, are parents
theories of what will not interest
their children. She sat staring. her
mouth open. her throat closed; and In
the uncertain illumination of the room
these symptoms Of her emotional con
dition went unobserved.