CHAPTER I w——]— Mary looked about the living room with mingled emotions of affection and despair. Phrony had just com- pleted the first thorough cleaning it had undergone in two months, and the place did not seem quite as clut- tered as usual. The woodwork and furniture had been polished with something Aunt Mamie had bought from a door-to-door salesman; the windows shone from yesterday's washing; the nap of the Axminster “‘nine-by-twelve’’ positively stood up as a result of Phrony’'s vigorous sweeping with the ancient, but still active, vacuum cleaner. Holly wreaths, tied with rather too narrow red ribbon, hung at each window, while Aunt Mamie now labored over the arrangement of a bunch of the same leaves for a vase on the mantel. “The house looks more festive than it has for years,” Mary re- marked happily. ‘Christmas dec- orations certainly help.” Aunt Mamie compressed her thin lips. *‘‘Not half as much as a good, first class cleaning,” she replied. “Why your mother puts up, year after year, with incompetent help is beyond my understanding. Of «course, this isn’t my house, and it's not up to me to interfere.” Mary's young shoulders straight- ened defiantly. “You know why Mother puts up with incompetent help, as you call it, Aunt Mamie. Phrony’s the only maid we can get in Hawkinsville who'll cook for this big family, and clean, and wash, for five dollars a week.” Aunt Mamie, her father’s maiden sister, was getting more and more on Mary's nerves as the years went on. She had been dependent on Mother and Daddy's hospitality for two decades now, yet she eter- nally found fault with Mrs. Lor- ing’s housekeeping, criticized the conduct of Mary, her eighteen-year- old sister Ellen, and their harum- scarum and adorable little brother, Peter; complained constantly about her health, which, as far as the Lorings could determine, was about on a par with that of a truck horse; continually referred to the purely imaginary men she might have married. In fact, as time had worn on, Mamie's illusory suitors had be- <ome more and more real in Ma- mie’'s mind, increasingly ardent in their affection for her; their words, never actually spoken, their deeds never actually committed, more and more colorful and graphic in her frequent recitals of them. Mrs. Loring, always eager to avert unpleasant feeling, eternally seeking peace at the cost of any con- cession she might make, forced a smile to her lips. “How charming everything looks!” she exclaimed brightly. “I know Linnie and Lelia will think the house is sweet. It's been years since they've seen it, you know.” Mamie turned about, and gazed dolefully at her sister-in-law. “Too many years, I'd say,” she re- marked. “Seems to me a woman that was born and raised in Hawkinsville would see fit to return to her home town a little oftener; but, of course, Linnie always was a gadder.” Mrs. Loring flushed to the roots of her dark hair. “Well, why shouldn't she be a gadder, Mamie? She has no ties, whatsoever; she loves to travel, and she has a very nice income.” Mary hadn't seen her mother’s sister, Linnie Cotswell, for ten years, but she was quite willing to fly to her defense. ‘‘I think she's a darned good sport,” she said defi- antly, “and if I were in her shoes, I'd live just the sort of life she's chosen to live—Europe in the sum- mer, New York in the autumn, Flor- ida for the winter.” “And dashing about, spending oth- er people’s money, like a drunken sailor!” Mamie persisted, the tip of her long thin nose twitching con- vulsively. Mrs. Loring seated herself in one of the armchairs by the round cen- ter table, and with apparent calm, picked up the Hawkinsville Journal, fluttered it open, and pretended to read the headlines. ‘‘The money Linnie spends is her own,” she said, her eyes fixed unseeingly on the print. “It was bequeathed to her— by several different people.” Intrigued by this revelation, Mary asked, “How come, Mother?” “Stop saying ‘how come,” Mary! I've told you again and again that I hate that expression. Well, when your Grandfather Cotswell died, Lin- nie was the only one of us who had not married, and he naturally go to her. He thought—that since provided for.” “Dirty trick, I'd say!” sniffed Ma- mie. “I can’t see why one daugh- ter should have been singled out. How did he know Linnie wouldn't later marry some man that'd out- shine the husbands of all the oth- ers? Too bad he didn’t set aside a tidy sum for you, Janet.” Mrs. Loring’s eyes clouded. “Jim was a very promising young lawyer at the time, Mamie. My father had no reason to believe that—that we would later have to struggle—as we have had to do.” “We're having a very nice din- ner,”” Mrs. Loring went on, trying valiantly to avert a clash. “I bought a lovely roast beef at Haubert's, and Phrony’s going to try Mrs. Up- ham's recipe for French-frying those little hearts of cauliflower.” Mamie's eyes glittered with antic- ipation. She was inordinately fond of food, although she was constant ly telling how little she ate. Even hearing about a meal was a pieas- ure, and now being informed that beef and cauliflower were in store for her, her attention was diverted from the topic of the inconvenience caused by Linnie Cotswell's and Le- lia Ormsby’s visit. ‘““Mother, are you going to the station with Dad, or shall I?” “You go, darling. 1 know you can hardly wait to see Aunt Lin- nie.” Five minutes later, Mary was speeding through the wintry dusk, “And I can manage the other six,” said Christopher Cragg. up Concert street to Seventh, down Seventh to Main, and up the rather dirty brown steps that led to her father's dingy law offices in the Cac- tus building. A light snow had be- gun to drift earthwards, and to cov- er the little town with a magic car- pet of white, James Loring was seated at his desk when Mary, without knocking, opened the door of his office. He was alone, his one office assistant being Ellen, who had left an hour before to do some last-minute Christmas shopping. A green-shad- ed electric bulb shone down upon his thinning hair and the well- thumbed law book over which he was poring. “Poor Daddy,” Mary thought, a quick hard lump filling her throat, “‘sitting here in this dreary old office the afternoon be- fore Christmas, and reading up on a case that was probably tried some- where fifty years ago! Well, it's a good thing the railroad keeps him on as their local attorney. Heaven knows, his cases of any other sort are few and far between. He glanced up as she entered, his face lighting with a smile as he saw how smart she looked in the new fur coat she had bought from her own savings, and the little hat that dipped rakishly over one eye. “How pretty you look, my dear!” he ex- claimed, rising from his chair with that old-world courtliness which he extended even to his female chil- dren. “It must be getting colder. Your cheeks are almost crimson, and your eyes positively sparkle.” Mary put her gloved hand on his arm, “If my eyes are sparkling, Daddy, it's because of Aunt Lin- nie's coming—and not the weather conditions, although it is getting snappier every minute outdoors. Hurry, Dad, and close up shop. The train’s due now in ten minutes. Good heavens, I don’t believe you're at all excited over the arrival of our prodigal relatives!” Mary linked one arm through her father's as the train blustered in. They were coming! They were com- ing! Those creatures from another warld! Suddenly, she caught sight of them through the snow-splattered windows of the Pullman. Mary pressed forward, reaching Linnie!” she ex- Li ground. “Aunt claimed. ‘Aunt Linnie Linnie Cotswell caught her in a swift, fragrant embrace, kissed her lightly, then wheeled about to the porter. ‘‘Are you sure all my bags are here?’ And, being assured that her six, and Lelia's three pieces, of pigskin luggage were duly piled to- gether, she returned her attention to Mary. “My dear!” she ex- claimed. “What a Mary, isn't it? Darling, you were terrible in glasses and dental braces the last time I saw you! And Jim! Dear old Jim, how nice it is to see you! And, of course, you know this is Lelial” Lelia, one lovely blue eye almost obscured from view by the dipping fur of the Cossack hat, extended a hand, first to Mary, and then to James Loring. The train began chug-chugging its way from the station, and Linnie, glancing at her brother-in-law, sensed his dismay. “Poor Jim," she laughed, ‘are you wondering why in the world we brought so many bags? Well, six of them are mine. When a woman reaches my age, you know, she simply has to carry about a lot of clothes, and astringents and cold creams in order to be constantly warding off the ravages of time. Isn't there a redcap in the place?” Mary laughed. ‘Not one in a carload, Aunt Linnie, but I can man- age at least three of those gor- geous bags. I'm young and strong and willing, as they always say in advertisements.” “And 1 can manage the other six,” said Christopher Cragg, ap- pearing suddenly from behind a baggage truck. “Why not let me take all of them in my car?” “And why not?” retorted Mary, although her heart skipped a beat as it always so foolishly did when she came upon the young doctor un- expectedly. ‘“‘Aunt Linnie, this is Christopher Cragg. Mrs. Ormsby, Doctor Cragg.” Five minutes later, James Lor- ing’s car, carrying the three wom- en, was crawling discreetly up John- son Street hill, while Christopher Cragg’'s sedan, filled to the roof with luggage, followed sedately. “Where in the world did that young giant come from?’ Linnie Cotswell demanded. “If only I were thirty years younger, I'd fall in love with him. He's not a Hawkinsville man, is he, Jim?" “He's not from a Hawkinsville family,” Mr. Loring returned, his eyes ahead of him as he piloted his he’s chosen to live here. Old Doc- tor Ehinger died a year ago, you know, and this chap happened to finish his interneship at the Henrotin Hospital in Chicago just at that time. Well, he had gone to Har- vard with one of the Johnstone boys, so Johnstone, knowing Doctor Cragg was looking for an opening in a small town, wrote him about the practice and the office and the lit- tle house Doctor Ehinger had left without a head. Cragg dashed right down to Hawkinsville and bought out the whole works from Jessie.” “But, Jim," asked Linnie, "wasn’t Doctor Ehinger's equipment terri- bly antiquated? I can’t see how a doctor just starting off in life could put up with it.” “It wgs simply incredible,” inter- polated™ Mary. ‘Chris has thrown most of it out, and bought beauti- ful new stuff. Everything is white tile and glistening metal now. It seems he went through the deal with Miss Jessie just as a matter of good will, and really he's profit. ing by it. All the younger people in town are taking their children to him." “Even so,” Linnie Cotswell said meditatively, “he can't expect to make a fortune in a town of this size. After all, a city's the place for a modern young doctor.” “Most people think he's just a little too modern for their tastes,” returned Jim Loring. “After all, the old ways are the best.” “Oh, fiddlesticks,” Linnie Cots. well chortled. “Why, isn’t this your house?’ Mrs. Loring had lighted the place from top to bottom, and the freshly washed windows cast shafts of brightness into the night. It was | evident she had been watching for the car to turn the corner, for she stood waiting in the doorway. “What will Lelia Ormsby think of our home?’ Mary asked herself. (TO BE CONTINUED) Kruger National Park Modeled After but Kruger National park is per- haps the world's greatest play- ground of deer, antelope and all the astonishing variety of Africa's wild life. Roughly as large as the state of Massachusetts and more than twice the size of Yellowstone National park, after which it was modeled, Kruger National park contains with- in its bounds probably a greater di- versity of wild life than can be found in any like area the world over, ac- cording to a correspondent, Noah himself would be surprised at the variety of wild life the park boasts. Elephants, rhinoceroses, hip- popotamuses, giraffes, warthogs, ze- bras, bushpigs, buffalos, wildebeests, impalas, judus, antelopes, tsesse- bes, elands, reedbucks, lions, chee- tahs, baboons, not to mention scores of kinds of wild birds, inhabit it. Lions are always numerous and signs gravely warn travelers against teasing them. Good-natured lazy when not frightened or | hungry, lions often lie in the middle {of the park's roads, refusing to i budge until automobiles are almost upon them. They do not associate man with the automobile and trav- elers are perfectly safe from them while driving through the park. Cheetahs are often seen, as are packs of wild dogs. Zebras are nu- merous. So are blue wildebeests, which are found in great herds and are comparatively tame. Hippopota- muses may be seen in the rivers, and crocodiles inhabit even the small pools, so that swimming in the | park is unsafe. Tsessebes, cousins of the harte- beest, are plentiful, but hartebeests themselves are becoming rare in Africa. While they are protected by law in the park, the natives be- yond its boundaries have discovered that the animal's tail makes a fine fly swatter, and they have killed many hartebeests off, peddling the tails. OFFERING THE PROOF The Woodhull Dispatch tells of a along, but most of the windows are broken. How does that happen?”’ you see, my partner is very enthusi- astic, and every time he shows a customer he insists on proving to him that it is only a stone's throw from the railroad station.” Very Good A lady entered a trolley, and a gentleman promptly got up and of- fered her his seat. “You're a jewel,” said the lady, gratefully. “Nc, miss,” replied the gentle- man, gallantly, “I'm a jeweler; for haven't I just set the jewel?” The Choice Is Yours Bill—-A man can always console himself for most anything but get- ting somebody's old hat after a big dinner. Gus—How about a top-coat, an umbrella, or maybe a wife.—Florida Times-Union. COURT PROCEDURE = Loon o® “There isn't room." “Just before you came in the judge said that on account of the nature of the case, all women under twenty-five would have to retire.” a woman Till We Meet Again The Irishman had been having great argument, and meant to finish off his opponent once and for all *“The sooner I never see your face again,” he said, “the better it will be for both of us when we meet," — Houston Post. Might Have Been Worse Father—Aren’'t you glad now that you prayed for a baby sister? Small Son (after viewing his twin sisters)—Yes, Pop, and aren't you glad I quit when I did? The Little Fixer Warren—Did you sew a button on my coat, Jennie May? Jennie May—No, honey bunch. 1 couldn't find the button and so I sewed up the buttonhole. The Right Road School Teacher—Where do all bad ittle boys go who do not put their pennies in the missionary box? Small Boy—Please, Miss, to the pictures. Not Bad Now Angry Dad-—-Why, hang it, girl, that fellow earns only $20 a week. Pleading Daughter — Yes, but, Dad, the weeks will pass so quickly because we're fond of one another. Too Much Education Waitress Lulu — Don’t you like" | i Kickbush — No, I'm afraid not. | There seeras to be an egg in it that | Strife Ended | “lI hear that the ten-year fight | between Kelly and Murphy is ended. | Did they bury the hatchet?” | “No. They buried Murphy.” ~Tel- | ephone Topics. Smart Girl Bobby-—Notice how Jane's voice Betty—Yes. Let's go now and WHY NOT? “When he was asked all those questions his manner suddenly grew flat.” “Well, wasn’t he being pressed for a reply?” Good Strategy Mr. Smith—Daughter, I'm sorry to tell you that you'll never see that young man of yours here again. His daughter—Oh, I shall scream! Tell me what has happened to him! Mr. Smith—Nothing. I've just lent him $10. An Undertaking Father to future son-in-law-Are you prepared to support a family? Son-in-law-—Yes, Father—Now, be careful. 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Get more fresh air, 8 hrs. sleep and if you need a good general system tonic take Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Com nd, made especially for women. It helps Nature build up physical resistance, thus helps give more vivacity to enjoy life and sssist calming Jittery nerves and disturbing symptoms that WORTH TRYINGE + © oo To
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers