Omaha daily bee., 1922-02-26


pulss to bsnish the look. and at once.
Deborah and have about made up our
minds to so to California" shs announced.
disrexardins tho dazed look her sisters pink
face took on al tho words. so We got TO
decide what to DO with some pet furniture
ve can't take with US and don't want to se.L
They're things that have mem'ries and as
soeiations. an you know how one feels"
They were following her up the stairs nov.
and she was glad to observe that Deborah.
though s,ili somewhat stunned. was a, the
tail of the little procession.
-Taks 'sm In here nrst and show 'em wha,
you got. Deb" she warmly invited. stopping
At the door Of her sisters room. Deborah
almost stumbled across the threshold and
then recovered herself.
II jest oamo 20 me when I was layin'
awake last night she said. addressing jon.
nia that when you and Robert get married
you could use couple OF my things real
we'll" She was absently leading them across
tho big room toward tho four poster. blu,
on . sudden reflection She turned aside. while
tho pink color in her fresh cheeks deepened.
"I'm sotnG to give you this old davenport
an ono Of my sewin' tables" she ended
The young couple exchanged an eager
glance. and then looked delightedly arouni
the room. II was a big square corner cham
Der. through whose four wide and open win.
dows the spring breezs-bore the perfume Of
the hyacinths below. In its prim way this
room was az fresh and lovely as the garden.
and the eyes OF the lovers giowed npprecia
lively as they took In the polish of its old
mahogany. the iuster OF its brass. and the
austere dignity Of its atmosphere.
"I've never been In your room before. Miss
lovely. and some way It's Just like you-just
the kind of room should have expected you
to have
Robert added his word. -How can you
bear to leave IT."
The pink cheeks Of Miss Deborah grew
pinker. -Anne's room is Jest across the hall
she said leading the way to that retreat Il
think It's prettier n mine"
In way It was for Mics Anne Warren had
"gone IN 4" for chintz and old china and 4
few unusual pictures. Her room had the
Immaculate freshness OF her sisters. with
the added charm Of color and variety. Both
the guests exclaimed over 1t and wandered
around in II like happy children, pausinE be-
fore pictures and book shelves and touching
bits Of china.
think Of having rooms like these" said
Robert with unconscious longing. while Jen.
ME repeated her first refrain.
And think Of having to leave them
And now Deborah Warrens brown eyes
which took in everything. saw the shadow
her slower but more sympathetic sister had
already observed in the faces of their friends.
It was an oddly pathetic shadow, for beneath
1t lay a look Of hopelessness. 1t brought q
moment Of realization such as Deborah had
not known before. of the tragedy of the two
young lives that In these past years had be.
come dear to her. They loved each other,
Rob and Jennie, and they wanted each other.
For flve years they had drudged and waited,
and the five years had brought their mar
riage no nearer. Everybody knew why. Old
James Warick was not only miser but u
woman hater as we'll. At heart, though he
could fnd no fault with his nephew's choice
he did not intend that Robert should marry,
He would defer that marriage as long as he
could, If not by fair methods, by unfair ones.
It was a tragedy-how great a tragedy Miss
Deborah had not realized till now, when she
saw that look on their faces and heard the
hopeless note in their voices. Every one loved
the young couple Half dozen leading citi
zens Of Warrensville would have given Bob
Warick a better Job than his miser uncle
offered him; but every one knew that Robert
had promised his dying mother to stand by"
her brother and the bank during the misers
lifetime. And old Warick." as he was called.
was only little more than sixty, and hal
Dragged that he would see eighty at least.
That Miss Anne's thoughts had taken tho
same direction as her sisters was shown a
few moments later when she suddenly spoke
to Jennie.
I'm goin' to give you grandmother's rtsfu'
sun quilt" she announced in her gentle, pre-
else way 81 want you should have it. And
you'd like this chest Uncle Matthew brought
home from China. you can have that, too! IT,,
q beautiful place to keep linen in"
The lovers cried out together. Their fan..
frightened, and the optimism Of Robert a.
serted itself.
That's almost too good to be true" hs
said. Why, Jennie. with what Miss Deborah
has promised US two. and with what ve'v,
got ourselves, wen have enough to furnixh
4 couple Of rooms. I can see Just how they.r
look. Can't your"
The eyes Of the girl who loved him vere
tender and a little amused Watching her, ..,e
spinsters felt the throb Of sympathy and
understanding which, after lifeline Of re
preston, was driving them into what began
to seem an orgy Of gift giving.
you can have my bureau. too,- Anne
hurried on. as II eager to follow her impulse
before it cooled. at was Greataunt Annes.
was named for her. And there's no reason.