Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-01-04
A REAL SISTER
By \. LOUIS RAYsoLD.

IL BY II. LOUIS RAYsoLD.
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"All right. Betty" said Jack
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-byi"
And he was gone.
Betty Reynolds stood az he had
left her. then crumpled Into for
lorn heap in the old rocker and sobbed
her heart out. Where was the Joy
| In noble self-sacriflce she had expected
to feeli All her being ached to run
after the man she had Just peremp-
torily dismissed. to bring him back
and tell him II was all q mistake
she did love him-would marry him.
Wait-if she did. how about Suef
Betty was one of those lucky girls
with sister just enough older to be
both comrade and mother to the young
er one. Even before the death Of their
mother. II had been Sue who laid out
Betty's party frocks, who mended the
torn lace In her petticoats, who rifed
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. II she
refused Jack. she felt sure that. ulti
mately, he would marry Sue. Also, she
suspected that Sue cared for Jack.
Hadn't she Of late caught certain
happy wistfulness In Sues gray eyes?
The tall girl who entered the room
moment later seemed more than
three years older than her sister, a
fact due, no doubt. to acting as both
mother and father to gay little Betty
She gave one quick glance at her SIS
ter. Then, stripping of her gloves,
she said 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
chair and put her arm around 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-lawT
Betty stared at her sister in bewil-
derment. Then In flash realization
came to her. "Sue Reynolds !" she
cried, and leaping to her feet she
whirled her sister In breathless dance
about the room. "Oh, l thought
thought 1t was Jack! And sent him
away and now l can have hImI And
oh, you darling, I'm so glad for you'll"
Sue was shaking her gently.
Listen, dear. you mustn't mention It
to a 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
to come right up this evening. And
while I'm out to telephone I'll get
whole chocolate cake and some straw
berry mousse to celebrate"
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 affianced wifel Daily
working with him in the laboratory
of the city hospital, she had come
to look upon him as the most won-
derful man she had ever met.
AS II was-well, 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 turned 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
chattered like magpie and supper
was a gay AFFAIR." After sociable
washing up Of the dishes the younger
girl came up to her sister soberly.
"rm awfully sorry, Sue. after what
you said-but you really didn't say
mustn't mention It to him. and was
just coming out Of the shop loaded
with the cake and all and I bumped
right into himl And before I thought,
I congratulated him."
"What--who-BettyT
"Doctor Delabarre, of course" said
Betty. "And he's coming up this eve
ming. hope-there's the belli Jackl"
Joyfully she flew to answer.
While Sue-well. Sue was trembling
from head to foot. What would he
thinkI She must get Betty to make
her excuses II he came. She could not
see him.
But she had no choice. It 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,
both hands outstretched.
"Mlss Reynolds-Suel" he cried.
"Tm enough Of an old fellow to know
that In some way Miss Betty mixed
things up. But bless her for I'll 1t
has made me dare to come and tell you
what has been In my heart for days
love you. dear. Do you care-ever
so little2"
And Sue. whose 6rst thought had
been to run and hide her head, hid II
In the place she would least have