Montgomery County sentinel., 1932-12-15

duty to go out to your brother Joe,
then. I'm all wrongH
Elvira Pesk stared at her aunt
amazedly "Of course Joe has Anna"
she was beginning, when Aunt Sarah's
shocked face stilled her. "What Is
1t. Auntie-what has happened to Joe
Il haven't heard a word"
Don't you know that Annie died
last week." demanded Mrs. Smith. 81
sent you a letter"
Elvira sank into a chair. " never
heard a word-please tell me-poor,
poor old Joe-of course will go out
to him !" she said.
"That sounds more like you, Elvira
] couldn't understand why you didn't
come right home as soon as you got
my letter-instead Of taking that trip
to Forbes City with the other school
teachers-I Just said. 1t amt a bit
like Elvira Peck"
But I never received your letter."
protested the girl.
Aunt Sarah stared at her niece and
then suddenly began to paw over the
contents Of the desk before which she
sat. At last she brought out an ad-
dressed and stamped letter.
"Elvira Peck-I am ashamed Of my
self. so ! am-Here's the very letter
wrote to you when the telegram
came-and one / wrote to your cousin
Eva Lane at the same time. wrote
to all the other cousins. too. but was
90 excited when I gave the letters to
your Uncle Oscar to mail that didn't
get 'em all lnl To think of your going
OF and having a good time and your
poor brother in such deep griefl"
So 1t happened that the very next
day, Elvira was on her way West,
her heart sore for poor Joe. all alone
In his trouble and just little sore on
her own account, for there was a man
right In Forbestown who had paid
much attention to Elvira. and who had
limited that he would never marry any
other girl. They were not engaged,
but she could not help but know that
Daniel Rush was lowering around the
point of an avowal Of his love. Elvlra
liked him a lot-but somehow there
was always little distrust Of his weak
ness of character. that was a warning
when she was tempted to encourage
Daniel.
At the small Wyoming station. Joe
Peck came to meet her in a large auto
mobile. He appeared sad. but being Of
a strong, resolute nature. ne was bear
ing his loss well. He smiled when
Elvira told him about the mlslald let
ter and patted her shoulder when she
cried and told him Of her grief over
the loss Of her slster-in-law. Alto
gether. he was much like the Joe Of
old
your coming Is a wonderful bless
Ing to me, Ellie" he told her that
night. "Of course If we had had any
children IT would be different-but It's
just dumb lonely here at night"
Elvira could see that. and did every
thing In her power to Tighten her
brothers. burden, and to make the big
ranch house bright and cheerful dur
ing the long evenings. She slipped
Into the life Of the ranch. managing
the willing old Chinese cook with won
derful diplomacy. The cowboys all
wOrshiped her.
But days and weeks passed. and she
never had a word from Daniel Rush.
And then, one evening. there came
knock at the door. and Joe admitted
very tall young man. Billy Brainerd,
q big handsome young man. with hon.
est blue eyes and humorous mouth.
I'm mighty glad that you are here,
Miss Peck" he told Elvira. "a am
sure that you and my sister will hit
It Off splendidly-and we four can
have a game Of cards every night II
we want to-"
"How jolly" cried Elvira. "and is
your place very near. Mr.. Brainerd?
''Oh. no. only about ten miles" he
said easily. "Jean and have been
away to Colorado. and did not hear Of
the sad news that our friend Joe had
suffered a great loss. until tonight.
SO just come over and Jean sent
her love and sympathy. love. II she
had known that You were here. Miss
Peck. she would have come along,
too"
That was the beginning Of a very
happy time for Elvira Peck and her
brother Joe. even though his loss was
new and the wound was raw. The
Brainerds were good friends. and the
quiet friendliness of the brother and
sister made perfect summer for El.
vira and did much to assuage Joe's
own trouble.
And then one day there came let
ter from Aunt Sarah with a bit Of
keenly interesting information. "You
remember that young fellow In Forbes
town. who used to beau you around,
Elvira7 Well. he's suddenly ran on
and married Carrie Peters-you re-
member the milllner's daughterl No
particular reason why they shouldn't
have had real wedding at home-but
folks say he's real Eighty that way"
Elvlra smiled when she read that
letter. and the very next day she
wrote long letter to her aunt tell
ing her the delightful news Of her own
engagement to Billy Brainerd. and she