The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-12-29


hundred miles from here I don't see
just how we could have heard his
name-unless he wished here, or got
into the papers in some way"
Mrs. Atwater seemed unwilling 10
yield a 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 didw
Mr.. Atwater sighed. "Why she ex-
plains in her letter that she only
knew it, herself, an hour before she
wrote"
'Her poor fathery' his wife repeat
ed commiseratingly.
'Wly, Mollie, l 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 rein-
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 great deal IL
Julia had been a plain, unpopular girl.
I'm strongly of the opinion, myself,
that he'll be pleased about this. OF
course it may upset him a little, just
at first"
Yes; think II will Mrs. At
water shook her head forebodlngly.
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
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 em ~
"Yes, Julia's always beea much too
kind-hearted for other peoples good!'
Thus Mr.. Atwater summed up-and
he was this Julia's brother. Addition
ally. since he was the older, he had
known her since her birth.
IF you ask me-" said his wife, "Pll
really be surprised If 1t all goes
through without a suicide"
"Oh, not quite suicide, perhaps" Mr..
Atwater protested. I'm glad it's
dry state. thought"
She failed to- fathom his simple
meaning. "Why?"
"Well some Of 'em might feel that
desperate at least" he explained.
Prohibitions safeguard for the dis
appointed in love-"
This phrase and q 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"
"Nothlngl That's what you always
say about the very most interesting
things that happen in the whole fam
lily! What is all this, papa?"
Its nothing that would be inter-
esting to little girls, Florence. Mere
ly some family matters"
MY goodness !" Florence exclaimed.
I'm not little girl any more, papa!
You're always forgetting my age! And
If it's family matter belong to the
family guess, about as much as any
body else, don't 1? Grandpa himself
isn't any more one of the family than
l am. / don't care how old he isl"
This was undenlable, and her father
laughed. Its really nothing you'd
care about one way or the other" he
said.
"Well, I'd care about Ii IL It's Sc
cret," Florence insisted. "If it's Sc
cret I'd want to know 1t whatever It's
about"
"Oh. 1t isn't a secret, particularly,
made public for time; it's only to
be known In the family"
"Well, didn't l just prove I'm as
much one o. the family as"
"Never mind" her father said sooth-
ingly. 81 don't suppose there's any
harm in your knowing tiff you won't
go telling everybody. Your aunt Julia
has just written US that she's en-
gagged"
Mrs. Atwater uttered an exclama-
ton, 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"
"Pshawl" he laughed. "She certain
ly is one OF the family, however. and
Julia wrote that oil of the family
might be told. You'll not speak of II
outside the family. will you. Flor
anca0v