The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-11-09
"We're Three of
a Kind"
sy MARTHA C. WILLIAMS

l
| haven't too much
complexlon-unless 20 buy IT.
"Anne Maria For shame" Aunt
Nlnssy interjected, hristling with hor-
rifed propricty. Again Anna Maria
laughed, this time roguishly. you're
forgetting things, Tanty. shouldn't
not so young us you are. But re-
for both of us.
with reason You shut me up in
the closet a whole half hour for spoil
ing your pink saucer-I wanted bath
for my rodbirds-an didn't dream 1t
would make any difference even
though Mr.. Jacks was coming to court
you. And he didn't do it-said he
wasn't out for no pale, slckly woman
and you hadn't any health certih-
cate. could have told him you were |
as hardy as pine bRot," she retort-
ed. Miss Massy stood up almost weep |
ing. "Plense gow she said to Bruce. |
81 don't know what nlls this wicked |
girl"
"Oh, she Is Just being noughty-as
spoiled children always are before
company" Bruce broke in gallantly
Anne Maria turned upon him eyes of
grave reproach. company You're
no company-not enough to deserve
fried chicken" she said. "But you're
always held up as the pattern of truth
to the rest of us. How dare you dis
credit your reputationT
"Where you are concerned I dare
anything" Bruce said with his most
Impressive bow. 1t set Anne Maria to
glggllng wlldly-she darted through
the side door. and half minute later
was safe in her treehouse, her refuge
since she was FIVE Bruce looked at
Miss Massey, doubtfully. "How ever
can | tame herr" he asked shaking his
head. Her head also shook. 81 don't
know" she said stonliy. "But-you
have got to do IL. II means salvation
! to-both OF u.s."
az know" Bruce sighed. Haven't
drawn an easy breath since she came
home so changed. And sha'n't until
we are married-it is the one way
out"
"You love herr" Miss Massey ques-
toned. Bruce sighed again, saying:
ayes. And hate her like poison. She
she seems somehow to see through
me as though were made OF glass
and finds only things to laugh at. Can
you understand how that gals and
cutsT
Miss Massey nodded. Same here
She has surely changed. SO sweet
and blddable and confiding she was.
Why did | ever let her 90 TO West
rand? ought To have known IL would
wake up her wild blood, to hear about
her father, see his picture"
"Tell NEWS he great adyen-
turer?" Bruce asked slowly.
Miss Massey was silent a minute
then went on, nodding; "Judge fol
yourself-he made seven fortunes
and lost six OF them. II he had not
died when he did there would hav,
, been no money to tempt us to the
depths. He married my sisters daugh
, ter, hardly younger than myself.
, "The shock of his death In that burn
Ing bullding--he was trying to save
an old cripple they say-really killed
/ her though she fingered years in /
1 sanitarlum. That's how / came b.
) Anne Maria. She was still In arms
! have tried honestly toto do right b!
A her But IL was so easy to do other
I wlse-all her money in my hands
. and the first l borrowed came bacl
treble. Then thought when she mar
n ried or came of age | should hav
o nothing but her charity TO save m
|. from the old grinding poverty. Yo
o know the rest-how we have rlsket
e and won, and lost, until we must kee
n on, or lose everything, for her as wel
q as ourselves.
8 "If | could tell her what | had don
Il and that It was all for myself, sh
6 would forgive me- But | can't-sh
@ would know II was mainly for you"
n The last word was groan so lo'
and hollow 1t startled Bruce. He trie
Il to speak some soothing commonplace,
d as though he had not understood--sh
70 would not have II so. "For you I" sh
& repeated almost bitterly. "Of cours
y / am a fool-but not so much as
It seem. Seven years older-but at firi
you seemed not to mind. And-and-
o did want to help you-to give yo
h the chance l thought you deserved
d never dreaming how things woul
n turn"
RI "Stop" Bruce said ho6rsely, h
Is face ashen. "You shall not suff'
L further--whateve happens TO me-"
10 "What do you mean7" Miss Mass
lg asked doubtfully. He braced himsel
took both her hands and said SLOWLY
y, 81 am going straight TO Anne Maria
III and tell her the exact truth. IL
a. know her, 1t is truth that will NAL
10 us free"
x "No, no had rather die cou
I'd never face her Never In the world
10 Miss Massey moaned, but he was {
ready at the door. There he turn,
IS. smiling painfully at her, then we
re outside, his head high.
% He had never dared climb the tire
A house which sat 20 feet from earth
I = II