The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1923-08-16
Twenty Years
After
BY MARTHA WILLIAMS

Sue ASA AcoIl was passing nedVy.
Therefore Aunt Mary called to her
through the open window. please,
honey, run over and ask Madame
Thompson II she can lend me spool
Of black silk. Tell her she shall have
It back tomorrow asked the mail
man to fetch me lot, but can't wait
for it,
II think you'd better" Coralie half
sang, not stirring from her knees be-
side the carnation bed. "She won't
sleep tonight fearing she won't get 1t.
As Christian lady you ought to have
thought Of that"
Mink! That means you're too busy
with those flowers" Aunt Mary re-
torted smiling. She had achieved her
end-diverted the girl from the worry
ing thought. She really could make
out without the black silk-much bet
ter than she could endure the lifting
notes that were like Joy Ringing def
ance to sorrow.
"They tell me stories-right now
I'm in the middle Of q GREATNESS one"
Coralie retorted without turning her
head. But after two minutes she got
up. saying with downcast eyes: 'Tll
go-if you really" stopping there
with the faintest possible grimace.
''Never mind" said Aunt Mary, I'D
rather you made some tea cakes. I'm
too busy-and Tiff company comes
like to have some to hand round"
"Shut up. schemerr" Coralie said
undutifully. you'll have your trouble
for your pains; the company you're
limiting at isn't coming here ever any
more"
''Indeedl And why notr sharp and
short from Aunt Mary.
Granny has found somebody with
the price of him-that's whyi' from
Coralie. Miss Benecia Benjamin
with tons Of money and half ton Of
nose, hear Also, hear. inclined
nightly to marriage-which Is q SLAM
der or an appreciation. according to
the way you listen"
"Who told you?'' Aunt Mary's voice
was dangerously low. cousin Nan.
while we were getting the peaches this
morning" Coralie flung back. "All
agog over it-said Bonnie was coming
to stay fortnight-gets there tomor-
row afternoon-hence Nine. Thompson
hoped we'd go light on our peaches,
SOS to make 'em last while she had
such company. thought that almost
impudent-c considering we give the
fruit, rather than sell 1t"
"We1l stop that foolishness-short,"
Aunt Mary burst out. Coralie shook q
finger at her, saying: 1--WE will not.
She shall have all the orchards best
and then some. Remember, / know
the way to the hill orchard that has
finer fruit than ours-and q bit later"
I'm! Suppose you're making
your plans to be bridesmaid" Aunt
Mary interjected with lofty scorn.
Coralie nodded with q smile that
melted suddenly into hard bitten lips,
through which she said presently In
breaks: "You and Dad have brought
me up 70 be good 7loser. aunty,
darling! know you wouldn't have
me be less-in the face Of this"
She had grown loving Lacy Field.
Nine. Thompson's grandson and sole
heir, who had. however. nothing in his
own right. His parents had been
happy spendthrifts throughout their
brief life together. so the boy had
lacked equally the hardenIngs Of thrift
and the freedom Of riches. He had
had whatever money could buy. but
always under surveillance. Freedom,
man will. was the one thing madame
had denied him. Indeed she had lived
In and for him pretty well ever since
he was born. Thrifty. almost to the
degree Of meanness all other ways,
she had seemed to feel 1t sacred
duty to indulge even his slightest wish
where indulgence had meant spending.
Il spoke volumes for the hneness of
his nature, the cleanness Of his soul,
that the indulgence had left him I'M
spoiled.
She had made q home for him I'm the
college town throughout his course.
Afterward she had cheerfully gone
giobe trotting with him for two varied
years. She had been doubtful about
coming home. The grass country would
seem q stagnant backwater, she had
feared. But to her Joy Lacy reveled
IN It. Possibly because 1t meant Cora
lie-Coralie. a hundred times more
charming than the slim, freckled slip
Of girl he had left.
He had written her many letters,
sent her many small, pretty gifts.
What wonder that her eyes welcomed
him even more joyously than her lips,
or that she bloomed into q new and
more exquisite beauty There had
been no tiresome explanations. He
had said over and over:
"This is just the beginning. But well
wait bit Mustn't peeve granny after
all she has done for me. She can't re-
sist you. Nothing human could. And
when she understands that It Is you
who have preserved me from the wiles
Of several and sundry ladies whose
designs gave her bad quarters OF an
hour she'll fall on your neck and make
you thank offering Of me. See II
IL mt