The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-11-25
CHAPTER II-Continued

= -
Failure Of Union Bank"-wasn't that
the bank that Courtleigh Fleming had
been president of? She settled down
10 read the article, but il was disap-
pointingly brief. The Union bank had
closed its dOOrs-the cashier, a young
man named Bailey, was apparently IN
der suSpicion-the article mentioned
Courtleigh Fleming's recent and tragic
death in the best vein of newspaper
csc. She laid down the paper and
thought-Bailey-B seemed
10 have a vague recollection of hear
ing about young man named Bailey,
who worked in a bank-but she could
not remember where or by whom his
name had been mentioned.
Well-it didn't matter. She had
other things TO think about. She must
ring for Lizzie-get up and dress. The
bright morning sun, streaming in
through the long window, made lying
in bed an old woman's luxury-and
she refused 10 be an old woman.
Though the worst old woman l ever
knew was a man :" she thought with
satiric twinkle. She was glad Sally's
daUghter-yOung Dale Ogden-was
here in the house with her-the COM
panionship Of Daie's bright youth
would keep her from getting old-wom-
anish if anything could.
She smiled. thinking Of Dale. Dale
was a nice child-her favOrite niece.
Sally didn't understand her, Of course
but Sally wouldn't Sally read mag
azine articles on the Younger Genera
ton and its wild ways. sally doesn't
remember when she was a Younger
Generation herself" thought Miss Cor
nelia. But I dO-and if we didn't
have sports roadsters in the eighties we
had buggies-and youth doesn't change
its ways just because it's bobbed its
hair" Before Mr.. and Mrs. Ogden left
for Europe, Sally had talked to her
sister CorneIia y long and weight
lily, on the problem Of Dale. Problem
Of Dale indeed! thought Miss Corne-
liza scOrnfulIy. "Dale's the incest
young thing I've seen in some time
and she'd be ten times happier if Sally
wasn't always trying to marry her of
10 some young snip with more of what
fools call eligibility than brainsI
But there, COrnelia Van Gorder-
SaIly's given you your innings-ram-
paging of TO Europe and leaving Dale
with you all summer-and you've lot
less sense than I fiatter myself you
have, If you can't give your favorite
niece a happy vacation from all her
immediate family-and maybe find her
some one thatu make her happy for
good and all into the bargain ~ for
Miss Cornelia was an incOrrigible
matchmaker.
Nevertheless. she was more con-
cerned with the problem of Dale"
than she would have admitted. Dale,
at her age, with her charm and beauty
why, she ought to behave as if
she were walking on air." thought her
aunt. wOrriedIy. And instead she
acts more as If she were walking on
pins-and-needles. She seems 10 like
being here-I know she likes me-Im
pretty sure she's just as pleased TO
get a little holiday from Sally and
HaTry-she amuSeS herSelf-she falls
in with any plan I want TO make-and
yet" And vet Dale was not happy
Miss CCrnelia felt sure Of il. TT
isn't natural for a girl 10 seem so lack
luster and-and Quiet-at her age
and she's nervous, toO-as if some
thing were preying on her mind-par-
ticularly these last few days"
Then Miss Cornelias mind seized
upon a sentence in a hurried flow Of
her sisters last instructiOns-a SEN
tenCe that had passed almost unno-
ticed at the ume-somethinG about
Dale and an unfortunate attachment
but of course. Cornelia, dear. she's
so yOung-and I'm sure IL will come 10
nothing now her father and I have
made our attitude plain - "Pshaw-I
bet that's IL" thought Miss Cornelia
shrewdIy. "DaIe's fallen in love. or
thinks she has, with some decent
young man without a penny or an
eligibility 10 his name-and now she's
unhappy because her parents don't ap-
prOve-or because she's trying TO give
him up and finds she can't. Well"
and Miss COrnelia's tight little white
Curls trembled with the vehemence of
her decision. If the young thing ever
comes 10 me for advice III give her a
piece OF my mind that will surprise
her-and scandaliZe Sally Van Gorder
Ogden out of her seven senses. Sally
thinks nobody's worth looking at if
they didn't come over 10 America
when our family did-she hasn't gump-
ton enough 10 realize that If some
people hadn't come over later, we'd
all still be living on crullers and
Dutch punch -
She was just stretching out her
hand TO ring for Lizzie, when a knock
came ar the door. She gathered her
Paisley shawl more tightly about her
shoulders. who is it-oh. it's only you.
Lizzie" as a pleasant Irish face,
crowned by an old-fashioned pompa-
dour Of grazing hair, peeped in ar the
door. Good morning. Lizzie-I was
Just going 10 ring for you. Has Miss
Dale had breakfast know it's
shamefuIy late"
Good morning, Miss Nelly" said
Lizzie, and a lovely morning il is. too
if that was all Of It" she added.
somewhat tartly, as she came into the
room with a little silver tray where
upon the morning mail reposed.