The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-11-06
Little Sister
Was the Image
in His Heart
By GEORGE HAMILTON
20. 1924. Western Newspaper Union.)

st GUESS that good-for-nothing Wal
= ter Jameson will be coming home
soon, now that the old man has cashed
in," was the gossips' verdict In Hicks
Vile.
Walter had never succeeded. At
last his father had bought him ticket
to Nevada and told him not to let him
see his face again.
Walter did not feel any particular
regret at leaving a father who had
never shown him any affection. But
his mother had cried, and that made
him feel badly-also leaving Nancy
Dayton. They had been sweethearts.
When he told her he loved her-the
second time he came home penniless-
she laughed in his face.
''I'll win you yet, Nancy" he an
swered and went away.
Yes. there was one person besides
his mother who believed in Walter.
but he did not know it. That was
Elizabeth, Nancy's little sister.
And now Walter was back. And. to
his mother he was still the boy who
was going to make so much of his
life, though he was almost thirty.
You are going to stay home with
me. dear" she said. ut will be hard
to keep things going, and your father
left only two thousand in insurance"
But she looked wistfully after him
the morning after his arrival. as he
walked over to the Dayton house
When he reached the door he was as
tonished at the vision that he saw be-
fore him.
"Why-this isn't Nancy" he
gasped, staring at the beautiful young
girl who stood smiling at him.
mo, I'm Elizabeth" answered the
girl. blushing at his frank stare Of
admiration. Nancy is out this eve
ming. Won't you come in, Mr.. jane
son7"
When he took his leave an hour
later. the young man realized that,
whatever his love for Nancy might
have been. the image that he carried
semblance to Elizabeth.
And he was bound in honor to ask
Nancy to be his wife. That was the
irony of 1T When he called the next
evening and met her his heart sank.
How could he ever have loved Nancy.
this woman with the affected air and
the peevish lines about her mouth?
1t was not until he was about to
leave that Walter summoned up cour-
age to say what was uppermost In his
mind.
Nancy. do you remember what 1
told you last time we parted7" he
asked.
Nancy's heart beat quickly. but 1t
was not with love. She had not had
q proposal for six months, and she
was longing for another scalp.
mo. Mr.. Jameson. What was 1T"
she inquired archly.
"That was coming back to marry
you," he answered.
Nancy's shrill laugh pierced the air.
well. you certainly have carried out
the hrst part Of your determination,
about coming back" she answered.
But as for the second-why, think
you have another guess coming, Mr..
Jameson"
He looked into Nancy's mocking
face and said good-by. But that was
not his last visit to the Dayton home.
On the contrary. he called frequently
after that-only II was to see Miss
Elizabeth.
OF course. Nancy was not slow to
see what was transpiring. "well.
Elisabeth. II you want my cast-off
beau, of course It's all right" she said
''Only he'll always be q pauper, and II
I were you I would send him right
about face without delay"
That Walter had asked Nancy to
marry him since his return Elizabeth
did not know. The words stung her.
walter was not slow to notice the
change in her manner the next time
he called.
''Elizabeth, what have done to Of
fend your" he pleaded.
"You haven't offended me, Mr.. Jane
son." replied the girl. "Only-people
are saying"
"what. dear?" asked Walter taking
her hand In his.
''That-that you are making love to
me because you can't get Nancy she
faltered. and tried to run away. But
Walter caught her.
"Now you listen to me-" he said.
Its true I did ask Nancy to marry
me when I came back. But 1t wasn't
because I loved her, Elizabeth. AS
soon as I saw you I knew that had
loved you all the time. 1t was be-
cause-I felt honor bound, my dear.
And when she refused me my heart
Just leaped up to think 1t was going
to be you"
"How do you know It's going to be
me?" asked Elizabeth.
For answer he took her in his arms
and pressed his lips to hers.
isn't it?' he demanded eagerly.
And Elizabeth said "yes." And then
he told her the momentous secret