The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-05-13
fton would mean so many

lIey Seton would mean 30 many
things.
1t would save her father from ruin.
and it would assure the boys future.
Seton would come. she knew. and
it no longer seemed to matter mucn'
She only longed to get 1t over.
Heaps of women marry men they
don't love and manage to live quite
happily" she thought.
"And. after all. being in love isn't
all happiness. Look what have a
to suffer-"
And she hated suffering. 1t was
her nature to be bright and happy
The afternoon slipped away. but
Seton did not come.
She went down to the village. The
rain had cleared off and there was a
faint tinge of sunset in the sky.
Nan passed the road along which
one went to Little Gadsden. She
stood for a momen looking at the
white signboard with a half smile.
The road led away out of her life.
| She had no business there at all.
Everything seemed just the same
Las it had done years ago when she
| was a child and living in durance
vile under her stepmother's sharp
tongue.
A woman came out of a cottage as
Nan passed and called to her.
Nan knew the shrill, rather dorni-
neering voice long before she turned;
and a little shiver of distaste passed
through her as she met the cold
beady eyes of the Wears sister.
Il was just thinking about you.
Miss Marraby," she declared; her
beady y e seemed to take in every
detail of Mans attire at a glance;
she held out to Nan her thin, cotton
gIoved hand.
Il was wondering if perhaps you
would come and help US decorate for
Easter. I know you don t take much
interest in parish affairs, but
Some people are coming over
from Gadsden to help. don't know
if you know any of the Gadsden peo-
ple-but 1 always find them so eX'
ceptionally nice"
II know a few" Nan admitted.
"Well, this is a Mrs. Mears 1 am
thinking of particularly" Miss Dude
ney said. "She is a war widow. poor
thing! such a very charming person,
and so rich. She attends the Gads-
den church, of course, but she IS
coming over to help us, and has
promised to bring all the white flow
ers for the font. She has wonderful
greenhouses, I believe, and is very
good to charity: they say there are
always quite a number of wounded
soldiers staying in her house.
'Really?" said Nan.
~"Yes-there are, of course, people
who say hat it is not quite proper
seeing that Mrs. Mears is so young
and a widow-but one must sink
conventionalities in this war, don't
you think. Miss M%arraby?"
81 haven't thought about it," said
Nan. but it's very kind of Mrs.
Mears to be good to the soldiers
they deserve the best anyone can
offer them"
QulIG SUI ullG 81 To- / C4AL+ACNJ
agree; but though I love dear Mrs.
Mears and think she is simply too
charming, I really think that it is
perhaps-just a little-soon, don't
you think?"
"Soon?" Mans steps slackened.
what do you mean?" she asked.
Miss Dudeney shrugged her shout
ders.
please don't think I am criticizing
her at all-she is a friend of mine.
and ! wish her every happiness. But
1 knew poor dear Captain Mears.
and. after all. it is barely W years
since he was killed one would
have thought she might have grieved
for him just a little longer, don't
you think?'
II don't understand you in the
least" Nan said bluntly. What has
Mrs. Mears done?"
Miss Dudeney smiled, rather a
frozen smile.
"Oh, 1 don't say hat she has done
it yet" she said hastily. But it's
only a matter of time-I refer. of
course, to her second marriage"
Second marriage!"
Mans voice sounded saiEf,
us she going 30 Ss 4asga
again?" she asked.
"She is, indeed-and quite soon.
1 believe-to that g~ood-looking young
officer who has been staying there
Mr.. Lyster, I believe his name is"
ITO Ra Tonfiuunm