The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-05-17
onH MEA SEeWcE. INC.


 | her since he .ome out here to live with Amos. Folks kinder thought | they'd make match of C Bilf could do n lot wotBe. oven if Mat tie iB country glill No funny notions about herl She'd be satls. iiod to stay home and raise q fam. fly"
 "Yes?" Donaa's heart was beat ing with wild. irregular thumps. She hoped th,. vlndlctlve old wOfn- an could not hear them. "Mon like tU fuss around with | nipperty. Jibbe;0." the housekeeper continued, dust'ng the dresser. "but when it comes to marrying, and settling down they wont som mething else in n wife As says to Mat ties May tho other day in hcurch, You tell Hattie not to worry none about BlIl. He's jest havln' hls Hing ,nnd. oncet the newnoss wear ofl, hell cont trottIng backl"
 Donnna lips were white with anger. You aren't by any chance referring to mo as q fiippcrty-Jib. bet" shc demanded.
 If the shoa Ats, wear iti Any ono with half an eye could sec why you're not haHkerln' after getting | DUCK lO 1VhI UHVWs AHu AbiIt th jest silly enough to ferget Hattie Drcttineas, but there can't anything come of it. If you don't know it, Bill does. It's again religion and law for cousins to marry. Yes, ma'nm--agnin religion and lnw" Rhc whisked out of tho room with the righteous air of ono who had done n painful duty, no mat- ter whnt the cost.
 Donnn's fist clenched and un. clonchod Tenrs of humiliation strenmed down her checks. She had n crnzy impulse to call after tho old woman, "But Bill and ] nre not cousinsl I've every right in tho world tc love himi" It was not discretion hng stayed her tongue but the name of Mnttie Blake. Whnt more natural than that BIll Slddnl should have oothoart? Certainly he had giv. on no indication of being in love with Donna. ile treDted her al- most as n sister.
 Mrs Planters evil mind had seen what did not exist, but Donna had no intention Of giving her tho ops portunity for rnooring laughter 
 If sho really had been Madeline sho would havo demanded tho dismissal of the houAokeeper, but D0nnn'B own position was too pre-. cariouH for her to complain. And she wnB not at all suro thnt Mrs Planter did not suspect some of tho truth and was merely bidinR her timc to cause trouble. Af Illn n n Bpiod on her, that aho wnS not above atonmlng letters to rend their contents, and thnt she would stop nt nothing to marry Grandfather Siddnl, thereby securing hIs small fortune.
 Fortunately tho brief notes Don. m received from Madeline could havo boon read by any one. The other girl was sO determined tO carry on tho m1HqIorndo that it was unnecessary for Donna to wnrn her to he careful when she wrote.
 4 light tap on the door mndo Donna brush away her tears hnsti. ly md force h smile to her lips. Tho door opened before Rhe could say, "Como in." and Blll'a dnrk head appeared. He grlnnod boy iahly.
 "Awnkop That's 6no. Two got n surprise for you"
 |. Tho surprise was n wheel chair. "As your phyHclnn," Bill chucklod, |, "f nm prescribing n trip to tho gnr- den in this chair for you" D0nnn's littio cry of joy was smothored against BllPS shirt bosom ns ho lifted her gently, as though Bhe were n featherweight, and placed her in tho chair. Yot tho effort seemed 10 tire him, for ho staggered slightly and his face flushed n deep acarlot.
 "Now," ha continued in n thick enod voice. well trot you out among tho nowora."
 "Oh. Bilip tho girl whispered "oh. Bill"
 Ills hands trombled as he spread tho blanket over hor knees, then wrapped n white knitted shawl about her shoulders, Against ali reason and all discretion. she yield cd Co tho temptation to rest her check ngainst his hand ns it touched her shoulder.
 Ell drew n deep breath and sud- denly Jorkod his hand away,
 (rO Isc COntinucd)