The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-05-06
The End Of 1t
BY MARTHA M. WILLIAMS

deeply COUSIN Mafla nOuueu, huSWeI-
ing irreverently: "The Lord knows
maybe. But he'll have to look twice
to get Ann-Loueeze straight"
"Mariaw Exclamation points fail
to express Cousin Sarah's shock. But
Maria went on undlsmayed: "Why
she was born odd--coming a month
late, and missing a fortune by 1t; old
Madame Crane would never have
signed that missionary will if she
hadn't lost hope of a great-grandchiId.
Not blood grcat-grandchild, | admit
but she thought a heap more of poor
John than she did of her own kin, II
his pa was just her husbands grand
son. IL only she'd lived q week longer
but Ia, la! The way things happen.
/ will say and stand to 1t, it's hard
lines for Ann LoueeZe to have lost
father, mother and fortune all in n
matter of three mouths-and then go
and cut teeth when she was less'n
four months old"
"Ali that running on makes my head
SWIM" Cousin Sarah murmured plain
lively. Then something light as gusty
thistledown blew through the half
shut door. and brought up on the red
rose rug in front of the anemic. fire.
There 1t materialized as a wlsp of
girl in swathing blue garments with a
big floppy hat hung low over the left
eye. you were talking about mel
feel 1t in my homes" she said accus-
ingly. "What have done now TO set
your temper's teeth on edgc?'
Asking for information or just i'm
pertlnence?" Cousin Maria flung back,
but with twinkle that took all the
sting from the question. Ann-Loueese
flung up her head, answering with a
pout: "0h, can guess! You are as
mad as Tucker because let Grayson
Cary kidnap me, and leave Mr.. John
Tucker TO his lOnely-lonesome."
Enough, l should say--cOnsiderlng,"
Cousin Sarah began. The girl inter-
rupted with an imperative, stop! l
know l was engaged TO him-I am
not--I never will he again. He may
take his fat purse and his fnt wits to-
somebody who wants them. / won't
let him spoil for me the only life I'm
sure of-thnt's fiat"
Don't be sac-ri-lee-gious. honey"
Cousin Maria expOstulated. "You
know--all of us de---John's as good
as gold. though nobody says that he's
bright"
Bright That's sure enough sacri-
fege-that word In connection with
him." Ann-Loueeze cried with edged
seorn: You know what I've come
home for. It is to pack up all the
things he has bothered me with--his
ring first Of aii--and leave them
handy so Aunt Lindy's Jim can take
them to him. I'll stop at the cabin on
my way out and tell Jim to come get
the bundle"
Better wait till morning. l think
Jim has gone to MILL" Cousin Maria
said mendaciously, but to no purpose.
Ann-Loueeze whisked away half an
hour later, saying over her shoulder:
please give the things to-whoever
comes for them. TIL send somebody
sure as DEATH"
Her elders looked after her, shaking
their heads and sighing-thus they did
not see John Tucker, tall, slim, blond
and cat-fOoted, come In the back way.
In the hall he stopped short, looking
down at the shapeless parcel. speaking
haste in every lump, which lay on the
table beside the outer door. Since his
name was scrawled boldly upon II, he
was quite justified In lifting It and
exploring its surface with tentative
fingers. Evidently touch enlightened
him; with queer smile he tucked the
bundle under his arm, and called
through the living room door: "Say,
Cousin Maria-if there's no hurry
about this, I'll come in and rest bit
before take 1t home"
Cousin Maria ran to grasp his coat
lapels, crying breathlessly: John,
you're the direct answer to prayer. Sit
right down and tell us--everythlng.
Unless we get the straight of II right
away" stopping there choked.
"You talk first-Ann-LOueeZe thinks
she's done with mef" JOHN said in
terrogatively. Both sisters nodded.
Again he smiled oddly. Silently he
opened the parcel. from which hud-
died mass tumbled down upon the rug.
On top came two things most unlike
an open ring box holding big, fash
ing diamond, and a tiny perfume bot
tie, empty but still gorgeous in a col
Ored label. John picked 1t up first,
saying with working lips: "So-she
kept the first thing ever gave her
when she was seven"
"And well as she loves fine things.
there's the diamond for eighteen
Cousin Maria added with a deep
breath. John could not speak-he
turned his head aside--thus he was
first to see Ann-Loueeze bringing In q
tall, hnrd-faced woman, who made
three strides to the hearthside, and
said in grating voice:
"You know me. reckon-Betsy
Hines that house-kept for Madame
Crane, and nursed her TO the end
with the help Of the Carys--the rector
and his wife, you know. You know,
40 ohnut fhn wiIl---tha fine cburph