The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-21
CHAPTER 1O3
WYE went into the nursery together.
 w Anna was playing with her

W7E went into the nursery together. w Anna was playing with her kitten, now grown until the diminutive no longer applied. picked her up and amid smiles and tears hugged her close.
 Don't 'ou cry, mamma, loves ou,' she said, batting my cheek.
 Father loves me, too," I laughed at her.
 "Does 'ou?" she asked, turning a sober little face to him.
 "Of course do."
 "Then I loves 'ou, too"
 Tt is evidently a case of love man. ma or I won't love you," Manville said to me. I put Anna down and slipped my hand through his arm. As we went down the stairs together I said:
 q never shall be unhappy again as long as live"
 "Oh, yes you will, Susan, and many times. The leopard (meaning mel does not easily change his spots, you know. I shall be hard to manage often, and will still insist that my way is best in many things and shall expect to be obeyed."
 Mahville spoke rather facetiously, yet I knew he meant what he said. If I have conveyed the impression that he was entirely cured of his dominant ing ways, was mildly acquieScent, have done him an injustice in a way. He was the same masterful man l had married in a great many ways. But he had not understood, could hardly believe that he had conveyed the idea to me; too sensitive, perhaps, that he did not love me and did love another Ruth Markham.
 He kissed me at the door, then said ]:
 q shall not be at home for dinner. Aunt is not very well and l will stay with her."
 I dreadfully wanted him to come home. I wanted to make the most of the softness engendered by my emotion of the morning. But I remembered my promise and said instead:
 Would you like me to go overT
 "Yes. Run over some time during the day. Take her something to eat and some flowers. I wouldn't take Anna. She might disturb her."
 Are you worried about Aunt Cyn- thia, Manville?"
 "Yes. She seems to be growing feeble very rapidly. I questioned Martha and she said she didn't sleep at all well lately and had very little appetite"
 "I'll fix her up something nice; some wine jelly or something delicate and run over before luncheon" I did as 1 proposed. Aunt Cynthia seemed rather pleased to see me. Sht was sitting in a large chair by thu window, writing materials on her lap "Is there anything I can do for you?' asked, after we had chatted for { while and l had told her of Ruth Mark hams announcement.
 "Yes; wish you would write to this person who has my house. He wants 6 payment delayed and I want the money Tell him so."
 I wrote exactly as she dictated, and although it seemed a harsh letter, il was thoroughly businesslike.
 When l reached home 1 had a sur prise. It had been but a few weeks since Elaine had left us, yet she wrote that Lawson Mckee was in California and that when the year was up she was going to marry him. I was per fectly delighted. Even if didn't want to run away with him, I liked him i'm mensely. Even though did not want to marry him myself, he would be 6 delightful brother-in-law. Then, too I felt that | should see Elaine oftener I had grown more fond of her than ever had been at home during the time she had visited me. I felt closer to her after her confession about that young man" than I ever had before It would be delightful if she and Law son married and lived in Newtown ol even in her beautiful home in the coun try.
 Somehow, life looked very bright tC me, very different. I met Ruth Mark ham on my way home and congratu lated her heartily.
 "I hope we may be better friends ir the future," she said. T have always