Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-02-14
Anne and Her
Ancestors
By DOROTHY DOUGLAS

l. her might during the winter she
could not have had her trip to Eng
land and the Wembly exhibition. And
# she hadn't got to Welnbly, she
lever would have met Tom Everett,
who got her a sweepstake ticket.
and little Anne Severn, without
family or ties of any kind won some
forty thousand pounds, or in the coin
age of her own land, about two hun
RED thousand dollars.
1t took Anne about ten days to set
tie down and realize that she was no
longer skimping, hard-worked STE
nographer. She was Il wealthy young
.ady, whose future, with clear-heaIed
investment, was most decidedly as
,;ured
Anne was an orphan, and didn't even
know who her parents had been, ana
she decided at once that she Wouid
acquire some ancestors before return
ing home. She would seek in the an
tique shops for paintings, old family
furniture and romantic history, ana
return to New York well-equipped to
enter society.
Anne was more than successful
among the junk dealers. She found
fine old gentleman smiling down at
her from a musty canvas. That was
to be father. In another room behind
some old bedsteads she discovered
mother, a jolly looking soul who, If
Anne had but known it, wore the jew
elry of a decade before fathers time.
That was a small matter to Anne.
She found Uncle Henry, Aunt Susie
and many cousins Of brave deeds. And
lastly, she found brother. Anne loved
brother. He was fine young soldier
in, a queer wee cap, with checked edge
and streamers, a tiny ribbon across
his breast. Anne swept away swift
ly arrived tear as she looked at the
bonnie face. She believed the dealers
tale that the young man had fallen In
the great war.
Anne was lucky in her return voy-
age to the States in becoming fast
friends with Mrs. Vandercup, who In
PRODUCED her later to her social set
in New York. Anne herself was as
dainty as q bit of the old Chelsea
china she had picked up to help adorn
the old mansion she purchased in the
East Seventies. Anne's ancestors ar
rived in short time and were hung on
the walls in her portrait ROOM"
Mrs. Vandercup kindly managed the
first dinner that Anne gave, and it
ir a seeming romance, sparkled and
chatted with this new-fOund coterie
Of well-bred friends and enjoyed her
self hugely.
ANNE, DEAR" suggested Mrs. Van
dercup, when most Of the guests were
j0yfully dancing, that young Mr.. War
den, the artist, would love to see your
portrait gallery; he has asked me to
tell you"
Anne blushed swiftly. She had
taken an immediate liking to the red
haired Briton, with his artistic Van
Dyke beard, that was so apparently
worn to conceal a great scar that lay
across his cheek.
Warden followed her into the por-
trait gallery and listened to her tales
so carefully thought out about each
Did painting. His eyes more often lin
yered on dainty Anne than on the an
,estors. He was realizing that Anne
vas the most lovely bit of womanhood
ne had met during his life in New
York.
It was while she was telling him
about her dear brother who fell in the
war that Warden came to his senses.
His eyes opened wide as he looked at
the portrait.
HE was in the Artists Rifles"
Anne was saying OF the young officer
of the portrait, who was wearing the
Royal Scots uniform, land he won the
Victoria cross" she added, and War
den bit his lips viciously. The bar
was The Military cross. but to Anne
it was all thersame. She finished her
recital, and was not exactly conscious
of Warden's peculiar silence.
Miss Severn" he said finally, "can
come and have cup of tea with
you tomorrow? l have lots to tell you
and want to show you some of
my own ancestors"
Anne never forgot his thoughtful
ness in not speaking that night. II
night have spoiled her dinner party.
Warden arrived punctually the next
day, and Annes heart fiuttered as she
felt the close grip of his hand
Miss Severn" he began softly when
they were seated, "you are not to
think me a conceited idiot if I show
you my own photograph first" He
drew from his pocket small picture
and held it laughin=ly out.
Anne looked at it. blushed furiousy,
then burst out laughing.
The photograph was the small one
from which Annes portrait of her
brother had been painted.
I'm glad, so very glad you did not
fall--in battle" she said with sin
,,sk a ~In on