The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1922-12-22

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she put up her childish curls. Stala
,nSrs Emory. her fathers chum al
,.ollege bad seriously proposed 70
ber when she had reached the ripe age
- fourteen and a half. She ought 70
b.ve known nothing about lt-out eau
nod mn secrets from the child whose
coming had cost him so dear, He hau
n,arried ai nineteen--Sister Anne was
lust twenty years his junior. She hau
laughed with him merrily over tle
nroposal-if there had been anything
Of hurt below the laughing NOBODY
had ever guessed II.
Naturally there had BEEN there sun
we're. others. Yet at almost nlheteeh
she was heart.free-tO her own ais
pust often she said stormily Don't
see why anybody wants me, with Big
Sis about-nor WHY | can't find some
body TO fall in love with, and nave
lone with it. Dad needs a son-in-law
badly. We need somebody, all three
of us. to make us mind and take lie
seriously"
Still, she had not felt quite easy
when McCallum showed signs unmls-
takably Anne-ward. He must propose
that would save the situation but big
Sis of course wouldn't think of him
for a minute. Yet as she tripped IN
search of Sister Anne a queer tremor
fell on her. Suppose-hOw must It
seem to be beyond thirty and never
anybody making love to your
She Rugged Anne tight before send
ing her away, c%autioning her: Don't
you look that lamb-tO-theslaughter
way; 1t would be too encouraging.
Make him sweat-he deserves 1t"
When Big Sis had got half down the
wide stairway, Lalee had an inspira-
tion-nothing less than to eavesdrop
the ministerial proposal. Dead easy
they were seated in the hall she could
steal to the upper landing, where every
word would be audible. Moving
shadow-like she gained her colgn Of
vantage just in time 10 catch a rotund,
"Under God, you are my help and com
fort, Sister Anne, now that face the
Great Crisis Of Life"
Capitals hardly do justice to his
emphasis. Sister Anne murmured
something Lalee could not catch. But
palmer than cannon boom came after
1t: My desire is to have you In truth
and fact for my-sister. To help me
win the most wonderful creature llv-
Ing. She is so fair. so sweet, so
young. ! feel II laid specially upon me
to guide and guard her--tO bring her
into the fold. You will. you must help
me. | know you love her 5 we'll you
must long have understood"
"She dldn't-she Couldn't Nobody
didr' Lalee cried, swoOping down on
them, the moral and pattern Of fury,
You'd see yourself how ridiculous you
are-Only you're too concelted to SEE
anything but yourself-"
fright, little sIsterl" Judge Emor,
doomed from the piazza. He had com'
home with dad and walked across int
the house, instead OF coming in tn,
ear, But I'm glad to find out I'm no
the sole prize ~idlOt--trylng to marry
fltter-bit like you when there's tn,
very best woman In the world In plall
view"
Dear mel Who can you be near
lngl thought you'd end by going in
to a beautiful decline and leaving m
your fortune when / found sOmebOd,
to marry" Lalee said saucily. McCaI
lum, purple faced, tried to speak. TIL
Judge mOtioned for silence and too
Sister Anne's hand. saying:
Haven't done penance long enoug
dear, fora young old mans folly
You said you couldn't trust me, whe
first realized how foolish / ha
been"
Never you mind about her. I ca
trust you. You're Just the man III
family has needed" Lalee cried 10.
ously. Then to the minister: "Say, /
show you bear no malice, marry the
right on the spot-they have waste
time enough"
Several years too much" the judl
|. said, taking Anne's hand In a tlgI
r grip. McCallum did not marry the
then and there, but the rector made |
Tor that a little later, with all Il
+ countryside dancing at the wedding.