The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-01-22

| better
without more debate she hoped up the
steps and skipped into the house
through the kitchen. A moment later
she appeared in the open doorway Of
a room upstairs.
II was pretty room, vaguely scent
ed with the pink geraniums and blue
lobelia and coral fuchsias that poised
urgent with color, in the hearty sun
SHINE streaming upon the wlnoo"
| boxes at the open windows. The forms
of pale blue birds and lavender flowers
curled up and down the cretonnc cur
tains and over the chairs and the chaise
Tongue whereon huffiy reclined' IN
garments OF tender fabric and gentle
colors. the prcttiest twcnty-year-old
girl in that creditably supplied town.
1t must be said that no stranger
| would have been apt 10 take Florence
| for her nicCe-thouGh everybody ad-
mitted that Florencc's hnir was pretty.
('I'll say that for her." was Inc fam
lily way OF putting it, FLORENCE did
not care for her hair herself: it was
dark and thick and long. like her Aunt
Julia'S; but Florence-eXccpt in the
realistic presence of mirror--pre-
ferrcd to think OF herself as an ashen
blonde. and also rs about n foot taller
picture Of herself hahituaIly IN her
| mind. which. of course. helps 70 &C.
count for her feeling that she was
justified In wearing that manner of
derlsive superciliouSncss dcnlored by
her mother. More middlr-aged gentle
men than arc suspected believe that
they look like the waSpen youths In tho
magazine advertisements Of ready-madc
clotnes--and II is this very impression
OF theirs which accounts las with Flo
rence) for much that Is seemingly in
explicahle in their behavior.
FlorencCs Aunt Julia was reading an
cXquisitcly made little book which bore
her initials stamped In gold unon the
cover and II had evidently reached her
by recent delivery of the mail. for
wrappinEs bearing cancelled stamps
lay upon tho floor beside the chaiSe
lounge. 1t was 4 special sort Of book.
since It's interior was not printed. but
all most laboriously written vita pen
and ink-poems. in truth. containing
probably. more references 10 lady
named Julia than have appeared in any
other poems since Herrick's So warm
ly interested in the reading as to be
rather pink. though not always with
entire approval, this Julia nevertheless
ut the sound Of footsteps. closed the
hook md nl'"cd ~ h"n"nth one Of the
cushions which assisted the chaise
lounge to make her position a comfort
able ono. Her greeting was not en-
thusiastic.
What do YOU want, Florcncc?'
: II was going to ask you II Herber,
and mel mean: Was It Newland San
drrs gave you Fiji and Mimi. Aunt
julia"
,not, -. ..o. -t.nzz S.o...
visible upon Miss Julia Atwater's
charming face. 81 dG. wish you'd hurry
and grow up. FlGrrnce." she said
Il do. too. What for. Aunt Julia"
$50 there'd he somebody else in the
family at an eligible age. really think
It's an outra Seous position to be in"
Julia continued with langu!d vchemence
to be the only girl between thirteen
and forty-one in a large connection Of
near relatives. including children. who
all seem to think they haven't any
thing else to think Of but Who comes
to see her. and Who sends her flowers
and things; and Who came to see her
yesterday. and Who was here the day
before. and Who's coming tomorrow
and Who's she going to marry! You
really ought 10 grow up m help me out,
because I'm getting tired OF IL. Yes.
Mr.. Sanders sent me Fiji and Mimi
and l want you to keep away from
em."
"Why?" asked Florence.
Because they're very rare eats. ana
you aren't ordinarily very careful
sort Of person. Florence. II you don't
mind my saying SO. Besides. IL let
you go near them. the next thing Her
bert would be over mussing around. and
he can't go near anything without ruin
In In n ha l.1D
It,"
Florence looked thoughtful for 4 brief
moment: then she asked: Did Newland
Sanders sent 'cm with the names al
ready 10 thcm?'
NO." said Julia. emphasizing the
patience of her tone somewhat IT
named them after they got here Mr..
Sanders hasn't seen them yet. He had
them shipped to me. He's coming this
evening. Anything more today. Flor
cnce?"
Well. was thinking" said Florence
What do YOU think grandpall think
about these cats?"
II don't believe therc'n be any more
outraGes." Julia returned. and her da rk
| eyes showed moments animation
81 told him at breakfast that the Reign
of Terror was ended. and he and every
body else had to keep away from Fiji
and Mimi. Is that about ALL Florencc?"
you let Kitty Silver go near en-
though. She says she's fixing to wash
EN-"
Julia smiled family. 1T thought she
| would. I had to 70 so far as TO tell
her that az long as was housckecper
! In my fathers house she'd do what
| said or find some other place. She be-
hared outragcouSly and pretended to
believe the natural color Of Fiji and
Mimi was gray.''
Il expect" said Florence after pond
| ering seriously for little while-"I
expect 1t would take quite some time
TO dry them
no doubt But I'd rather you didn't
assist. I'd rather YOU weren't even
around looking on. Florence"
| A shade fell upon her niece's face nj
this. "Why. Aunt Julia. I couldn't do
any harm to Fiji and Mimi Just lookin'
at EN-. could I?
| Julia laughed. That's the trouble ::
you never do just look Mt anything
you're interested in. and. If you don't
mind my saying So you've got rather a
record. dear! Now don't you care: you
can find lots OF other pleasant things to
| do at home--or even at Herbert's, or
Aunt Fannys. You run along now,
and"
"Well-' Florence said, moving as If
| to depart.
| You might as Wen go out by the
front door. child Julia suggested with
a little watchful urgency. You come
over some day when Fiji and Mimi have
got used 10 the place, and you can look
at them all you want to-"
We'll. just
But ~ Florence seemed disposed still
to lInger. her aunt't manner became
more severe: she half rose from her
| reclining position, for emphasis
tfNrn L.