Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-04-28
A REAL SISTER
BY n. LOUIS RAYBoLD.

grimly. rising and reaching for his
hat. "You say you have excellent
reasons for what you are doing, but
as long as you won't tell me what
they are. you can hardly expect me
TO be satisfied. However-good-by |"
And he was gone.
Betty Reynolds stood as he had
left her. then crumpled into a for
lorn heap In the old rocker and sobbed
her heart out. Where was the joy
In noble sef-sacrifice she had expected
TO feel? All her being ached 10 run
after the man she had just peremp-
torly dismissed TO bring him back
and tell him II was all a mistake
she did love hm-would marry him..
WALTZ she did, how about Sue?
Betty was one of those lucky girls
with a sister Just enough older to be
both comrade and mother 10 the young
| er one Even before the death of their
mother, 1t had been Sue who laid out
Betty's party frocks, who mended the
| torn lace In her pettlcoats, who rfiled
her own ribbon box for bow where
with to adorn Betty's fluffy hair.
But now something more vital than
a question of hair ribbons or vacations
had arisen. Which Of the two girls
should have Jack Hemingway?
Her opportunity had come. If she
refused Jack, she felt sure that, ulti-
nately he would marry Sue Also, she
suspected that Sue cared for Jack.
Hadn't she of late caught n certain
| happy usefulness In Sues gray eyes?
The tall girl who entered the room
a moment later seemed more than
three years older than her sister, a
| fact due, no doubt. 10 acting as both
mother and father to gay little Betty.
She gave one quick glance at her sis
ter. Then, stripping off her gloves,
she sod quite casually: isn't Jack at
the corner?"
Betty looked up. startled. Then.
very bravely. she began her campaign.
HE didn't stay as long as usual, prob
ably because you weren't here"
Sue said nothing for a moment.
Then she sat down on the arm Of the
girls shoulders. Little sister," she
began lovingly, "want a piece OF
news? You know Doctor Delabarre,
my chief In the lab? Well-would you
fancy him for-for brother-in-law?
Betty stared at her sister In Devil
derment. Then in a flash realization
came to her. "Sue Reynolds" she
cried, and leaplng to her feet she
whirled her sister In q breathless dance
about the room. ooh, l thought
thought Ii was Jack And sent him
away and now l can have himl And
oh, you darling I'm so glad for you"
Sue was shaking her gently.
Listen, dear, you mustn't mention it
to soul. Nobody knows yet"
"Not even Doctor Delabarre"
teased Betty, and In her happiness
missed her sisters startled glance
"Oh. Sue / must telephone Jacks
boarding house and leave word for him
10 come right up this evening And
while I'm out TO telephone I'll get a
whole chocolate cake and some straw
berry mousse to celebrated"
Sue sank down into the rocker
Betty had so recently vacated. And
even as Betty had. Sue buried her
face in her hands. Dear heaven
Would that she had the right TO say
before the world that she was Doc
tor Delabarre's aiiianced wife, Daily
working with him In the laboratory
Of the city hospital. she had come
10 look upon him as the most won
derful man she had ever met.
As 1t waS-wcll. she had done what
she did for Betty's sake. Jack, glum
and unhappy, had just told her at the
corner how he loved Betty and how
Betty. for some reason she would not
give, had turBed him down. And Sue
with the tender intuition OF an elder
sister, put two and two together and
made exactly four-no more, no less
Sue had herself well in hand by
the time her sister came home. Betty
Chartered like magpie and supper
was n gay affair! After n sociable
washing up of the dishes the younger
girl came up 10 her sister sobcrly
I'm awfully sorry, Sue after what
you said-but you really didn't say
mustn't mention il to him, and | was
just coming out Of the shop loaded
with the cake and all and / bumped
right into him! And before thought,
l congratulated him."
"What--who-Bet
Doctor Delabarre, Of course" said
Betty. "And he's coming up this eve.
ming. I hope--there's the bell Jack 7"
Joyfully she flew TO answer.
While Sue--well, Sue was trembling
from head TO foot. What would he
think She must get Betty to make
her excuses IL he came. She could not
see him.
But she had no choice. II was Doc.
tor Delabarre, not Jack, whom Betty
found at the door, although Jack was
almost at the steps. And Betty, be-
cause she wanted her moment with
Jack, sent Doctor Delabarre in alone.
Sues moment OF reckoning had
come. The doctor entered quickly,
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