The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-12-25
Pyranu. and
Thisbe y
By MARTHA WILLIAMS
(Copyright.)

wen, why don't your Aunt susan
asked placidly. LADY Jane Gray isn't
working--exercise d be better for her
than standing stalled all day."
Ugh! All she's fit for is crowbait
flung back.
"Of course, If you wanter show
Off" began Aunt Susan.
II don't! Only-not to be scare
crow Sara broke in, tears running
over her rosy cheeks.
1T comes of being an honest mans
daughter. Don't forget that!" Aunt
Susan said. head up, eyes flashing.
''Too hC.est 10 try standing from I'M
der !oad of security debts your
grandfather had put on him. I'd be
prOud-rememberin thing like that"
"I-I-can't! I'm young" Sara
sobbed "nineteen-and I've never had
anything"
Aunt Susan swallowed something
hard in her throat. She loved this
quicksilver child dearly, for all she
had found her trial all the ten years
she had cherished her. Susan, keep
her safe. She's all that's left me-" her
brother had said when he babe them
good-by. Three months had stripped
him of everything. His wife. his twin
sons, their grandparents-all had been
instantly killed in a motor accident,
leaving him a burden of debts and
grief that ought to have crushed him
utterly Terribly shaken, he had some
how lived through it, keeping his head
unbOwed. 81 shall come back-living
or dead,' were his last words.
A motor horn sounded impatiently
outside. Sara darted to find out its
meaning. In a minute she was back,
white, breathless, saying brokenly: II
can't believe it-but-but my Great
uncle Julian has come to take me
away-for good"
"You are willing to go with him."
Aunt Susan shot at her, latter he has
waited so long?"
Sara nodded. "You won't blame me,
after you see their car-and my aunt's
clOthes!'
"But you are-your mothers daugh-
ter" Susan said with hard breath.
"Be sure I won't lay straw in the
way Of your going. Only-when your
father comes"
"He won't ever come! He must be
Dead" Sara cried, fiinging herself upon
her aunt's breast.
''He will come-living or Dead" Su-
san interrupted; "and he will know
did all could for you"
Sara went quickly, but not before
Aunt Susan had spoken with the rich
kin. They were of the fairest surface,
eagerly gracious, insisting that shortly
she must come and pay them q long
visit, but she distrusted them.
Sara wrote daily all through the
first week, then the letters slackened,
but Aunt Susan did not wonder. One
of the letters made Aunt Susan start
violently-it mentioned the name of
the man whose treachery had caused
her brothers ruin. He had been young
ish then-say thirty-f1ve. At fOrty-five
Sarinesca would tempt him nightly,
with her fresh indebtedness, her elfin
charm. But when Jim, her brother,
came back the next day, joy drove all
else from her mind for a week. Aged,
weather-beaten, smiling rarely, speak
ing little, he seemed content to battle
himself in her devotion. Sara's alb
sence grieved him, but not bitterly.
"She is young-and starved for pleas
ure," he said. LET her take her FILL"
Sister Susan asked no questions, it
was enough for her to have him back,
alive and sound. "You shall hear
everything-af am rested" he had
said at first coming.
A month from his coming they sat
in June moonlight. Suddenly across
the narrow lawn came running figures
man and woman-hand in hand and
painting for breath. Ten yards off the
girl called TREMENDOUSLY: "Oh, Aunt SUI
san, Aunt Susan! I've come back
home! If it is my home STILL"
"Your home always" Aunt Susan
said shakily. Enough that you are
here-you need not tell why"
"But I must!' Sara cried, dropping
the mans hand. "You see-I mar
ried-or else / couldn't ever have got
away" Then all in huddle came the
whole story. Those in authority had
tried to coax her into marrying Judge
Tanner. When she had refused fatty,
they had locked her up, telling her
marriage was the door to freedom.
But young Deering. the private secre-
tary, had come to her help-it had
been love at first sight between them
The had got license and a magis-
trate, with them scrambled up a lad
der to her barred window-they had
joined hands through the bars, been
duly married, and got away under
threat of the law. Sand I came
straight to you'll shall never go away
again." Sara said, lifting her head a
little All through the recital it had
been buried in her aunt's lap. AS her
eye caught her fathers face, she flung
herself upon his breast
A long minute of silence then Jim
had to explain bit. Uncle Julian
and Judge Tanner, it appeared, had
found out that he was coming home
enormously rich-due in two months,
hence their haste. He had beaten them,
thanks to young Deering, who was his
close friend, set to spy upon the pair