Smyrna times., 1933-01-18


out to him y she said.
THAT sounds more like you, FL
vira! | couldn't understand why
you didn't come right home as soon
as you got my letter-instead of tax
ing that trip to Forbes City with the
other school teachers-I just said,
1t amt a bit like Elvira Peck
But | 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 addressed and stamped letter.
"Elvira Peck-I am ashamed of
myself, so | am-Here's the very let
ter ! wrote to you when the tele-
gram came-and one ! wrote to
your cousin Eva Lane at the same
time | wrote to all the other coRs-
ins, too, but | was so excited when
| gave the letters to your Uncle Os-
car to mail that didn't get EN- all
in To think of your going off and
having a good time and your poor
brother in such deep grief?"
So it 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 a little sore
On her own account, for there was
a man right in FOrbestOwn who had
paid much attention to Elvira, and
who had hinted that he would never
marry any other girl. They were
not engaged, but she could not help
but know that Daniel Rush was how
ering around the point Of an avowal
Of his love. Elvira liked him lot.
At the small Wyoming station, Joe
Peck came to meet her in large
automobile He appeared sad, but
being Of a strong, resolute nature.
he was bearing his loss well. He
smiled when Elvira told him about
the mislaid letter and patted her
shoulder when she cried and told
him her grief over the loss Of her
sister-in-law. Altogether, he was
much like the Joe OF old.
"Your coming is wonderful
blessing to me, Ellie" he told her
that night. "Of course II we had
had any children it would be differ
ent-but it's just dumb lonely here
at night"
Elvira could see that, and did
everything In her power to tighten
her brothers burden, and to make
the big ranch house bright and
cheerful during the long evenings.
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
a knock at the door, and Joe ad-
mitted very tall young man. Billy
Brainerd, a big, handsome young
man, with honest blue eyes and a
humorous mouth.
"Pm mighty glad that you are
here, Miss Peck" he told Elvira. II
am sure that you and my sister will
hit 1t off splendidly-and we four
can have a game of cards every
night If we want to-"
"How jolly" cried Elvira, land Is
your place near, Mr.. Brainerd?'
"Oh, no. only about ten miles," he
said easily. Jean and I have been
away to Colorado, and did not hear
of the sad news that our friend Joe
had suffered a great loss, until to-
night. So I just come over and Jean
sent her love and sympathy. Jove. 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 a perfect
summer for Elvira and did much tC
assuage Joe's own trouble.
And then one day there came Q
letter from Aunt Sarah with BIZ
4 of keenly interesting information
"You remember that young fellow
1 In Forbestown, who used to beat
you around, Elvira? Well. he's sud
denly ran off and married Carrie
Peters - you remember the mil
liners daughter? No particular rea
son why they shouldn't have had s
real wedding at home-but folks sa!
he's real flighty that way"
Elvira smiled when she read tha
letter, and the very next day sh'
wrote a long letter to her aunt, tell
ing her the delightful news Of he
own engagement to Billy Brainerd
and she hinted that In June ther,
would be another announcement
from Joe, who had found a meas
| ura of hanninpss In his sincere low