Hyder weekly herald., 1932-07-02
FAMILY TRAITS
By H. IRVING KING
tG by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.)
 (WNU Servlce)

picCc OI ncNS, tOO, ANcttlc owned full dozen or more houses, was stockhOlder in the local bank and ran the Emporium" the biggest department store in town.
 Nettie was all business. From the time she was sixteen until her fathers death she had been his business asso- ciate. and after his death had gone right on managing for herself. No time for frivolity and love making had Nettie had. Her mother had died soon after her father, and Nettie lived alone with couple of old servants in great Colonial house on the hill, a fine old mansion-but 1t needed painting.
 At sixteen Nettie had come back from the school on vacation, out wardly all that her mother could | wish. She was not exactly what you would call beauty, but she was comedy enough and art and cultiva- ton had rendered her being of whom her mother said: "She could shine in any drawing room. A few years more and she will be perfect"
 But Nettie announced that she was not going back to school. She had had enough of it. She wanted to learn her fathers business so that she would be able to handle 1t when, in the course of time-which she gra- ciously said she hoped would be long time-it came into her hands. Her mother had wept. Just as Net tie had aroused in her the only am- bition she ever had in her life she now caused her to experience the only grief that she had ever known. What Jonathan thought about 1t did not count He was rather disappo!nt- ed on account of his wife; but he was secretly satisfied on his own account. So that is how Nettie Ravens came to go into business. She dressed plainly, almost shabbily; wore her hair In an unbecoming manner, seemed to delight in making herself look as plain as she could-and succeeded admirably. She laid her little, pleas ing airs and graces away in moth balls and became sharp, decisive young persons; no nonsense, all busi- ness.
 And now Nettie at thirty-and looking forty-was rich woman. But in spite of her wealth the young men of the town would no more have thought of making love to her than they would have thought of making tn o1 the gOggle-eyed, an anemic, young man with adenoids, to be sure, who offfciated as her chief clerk and who, allured by Nettie's bank account. often wished in secret that he could muster up enough courage to ask her to be his bride. But shucks! Philan- der Liscomb could not muster up enough courage to say boo to a goose; much less enough to propose to Net tie Ravens.
 On her thirtieth~ birthday Nettie, coming into her store and walking slowly down the main aisle and look ing about with keen business scrutiny, was suddenly aware of young man, about thirty-ive years old, we'll dressed and bearing every mark ot breeding, standing at the glove coun- ter. Passing through the town he had accidentally lost one of his driv- ing gloves out of his car, bright blue roadster which stood outside, and stopped to get a new pair. Nettle gasped-then stood stock still and stared. He turned and saw her. A look of recognition gradually came into his eyes.
 Kettle was the first to speak. Basil" said she, "cOme into my of feel want to speak to you" He bowed and followed her. "Take seat" she commanded. You haven't changed much, Basil." she said, look ing at him intently; "a little older looking, of course-but to me you look just the same as you did fourteen years ago."
 There is one thing, Nettie," he re- piled. fin which I have not changed and never shall; my love for you"
 Tt is pleasant, of course" she re- piled. ito hear you say so; but four teen years Is long time, and I have changed. Can you not see it?'
 "In appearance. yes" he answered. 'YOu look old, and worn, and tired and lonely. Oh Kettle, why did you throw me over the way you did? You know there was nothing in the absurd story to excite your jealousy"
 q have found 1t out since," said she slowly. But was young and foolish then, only sixteen. And now