The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-01-15
In the Last
Edition
By HELEN A. HOLDEN
(Copyright.)

| (Copyright.)
| After-dinner coffee was served III the
library. Aunt Matilda chung to TINS
relic of former days with grim per
sistency.
IT WAS not so impressive as the
nrevious announcement, Coffee VIII
no served in the drawing-room. But
in small apartment, the library was
tbe best substitute Aunt Matliua hau'
.I'm sorry, Katherine"-Aunt Ma'll-
dos tome was mildly apologetlc-
THAT, as you read the paper ohlS oh0e
a fortnight, you are not able 10 reau
the latest news"
Katberine's attention had been dlvlu-
Oh between the cup of coffee she was
SHINING from one hand and he"spa-
nor she was trying TO read from the
| other.
All at once her hand shook so she
could scarcely put her coifee uo"h
without splitting it, The paper In her
: other hand ratified as though SUD-
don storm had attacked 1t. Her eyes
grew big with surprise and terror
y She glanced quickly at her aunt
) Had she noticed her sudden agltatioh
o II seemed as though the cup nae
i crashed onto the saucer, that the pa
per had ratified, and that her near
was beating, loud enough to be hear'
for miles.
Rut her aunt was peacefully uncon
:, scie,s of any unusual excitement.
I, Katherine started up, exciaimlhS:
:. LETS go % the theater, Aunt Ma
~ tilda. You need cheering up. Dun
y say you don't, for you know So
|, haven't been out for days. III tei'
. phone Mariana"
10 "But, my dear" Aunt Matilua .
20 fered as a feeble protest, Mariaii
- won't 20 without Dale Brinton.
zone has so few chances win
engaged girl" Katherine's grip tigI
ened on the newspaper she was non
ing. This is my turn for an ihnh
with Mariana. Dale is out or Town.
Which was part of the truth, but
no means all.
BEFORE Aunt Matilda had time to
pue further, Katherine was gone.
u,bo subway was surprising
N crowded for a rainy night. Katheri
VI looked anxiously about for her trieh'
H When at last she found her'
gave her quick glance Oh he
scrutiny.
with her customary Southern co
tesy. Aunt Matilda stepped asiue
she felt the crowd jostling against II
Go the last ones in the car, II v
with difficulty they found seats.
The train had stopped anu
ahout TO start again when kather
II remembered Aunt Matilda. Lean
N over TO see if she was all rlght'
M gove sudden gasp of horror.
W Getting to her feet. she cleared
snoce in a single bound. As
reached the platform the door ciah
Figs shut behind her.
4 on She glanced back. Mariana's
your peered grimly out from oehhnu
arm closed door as the train pulled SIC
liver from the station.
ruity "Here's a pickle" Katherine
,ttle. nervously of her empty f>-cf
"Mariana gone. Aunt Matiida 81
where unknown with the familI p
etbook. -,
"Tbank goodness, there she is =
exclaimed fervently as she ca
s me sight of her aunt through the GRO
She hurried toward the little
ed to who was looking wildly about.
81 saw your empty seat in the
that inst in time" Aunt Matilda put
she's hand over her heart to stop It's ex
heating. "Why didn't you tell I
was time to get OFF,
ne "There was vacant pace ne
condi- Mariana. Katherine explained,
Others -. .ossod over tn sit ne
are In nau just
while her."
!roauy 81 thought we had to get OH at
il a enty-second street and take loo
trough Times Square," said Aunt Matiic
nation SIS this Seventy-second ST.
asked Katherine in amazement.
a all things! Mariana and 1 were
ing and never noticed it."
ayybat can we do about it
aper- asked Aunt Matilda.
employ "wem go right ahead" exp
Boston katherine confidently.
Thanks to the rain, katherin
. able to get three fairly good se'
Handing one Of the. tickets
1RA through the window, she aske
llNl man to reserve it for Miss Ma
~ She watched the man write tne
- carefully on the back, making
W there would be no mistake.
While waiting for the curtain
up. they watched eagerly.
Mariana. AS soon as the play
Aunt Matilda forgot all about b
Katherine became seriously wor
"Oh. dearT' A sudden SIC
to stay rear nm whot ~ she h;
pants some one who has told her! '
ide her she got hold of paperT
u,,,o. 80 u,,+ nc tho curtain went DO