Show GETS HER WISHES by ELLA R PEARCE all the preparations were completed for annas wedding and anna herself giving a lingering wistful glance at the outspread bridal finery in her pretty room turned to her mother with a j sigh of relief everything ready and ahead of time arent we wonderful Mums le then suddenly ducking her head in a comically childish way slie site slipped to the elder womans comans side and wound loving arms about her so soon dearest so soon she murmured with a catch in her young voice mrs leeds gently stroked the s shining III ri head on her shoulder everything has gone splendidly annn anna the mother spoke with practical crispness she would not let her own voice quaver and I 1 suppose my little girl Is very happy now anna lifted her head and her eyes were twinkling not absolutely happy mumble 11 she tapped on off her words on upheld fingers one two three three things more I 1 need to t make me absolutely happy 11 why auna anna mrs leeds lo 10 looked aked anxious 1 I cant imagine what you have in mind what more could you wish for there are three things repeated anna firstly I 1 wish van tredwell would fall in love with somebody else the second wish anna 1 I wish lols lois mather was coming to my wedding lols lois mother mather mrs leeds looked puzzled why I 1 heard you speak of her lately but ive thought a lot said anna qu quickly I 1 akly so you want van tredwell to forget you and lois mather to forgive and come to my wea wedding ding interrupted anna lightly but of course she wont and theres my third wish what do you suppose it is mrs leeds shook her head well I 1 wish that someone will give me a spinet desk for a wedding present then mrs leeds laughed mirthfully anna annal anna I 1 you tire are such a child slie she sat long after her mother had gone downstairs and thought over their late conversation anna was deeply in love with the man she was to marry but she could not help remembering van Tre dwells boyish attentions ills his bashful gallan tries his bitter disappointment at the end then the boarding school friendship with lots lols mather how delightful and satisfying that had been while it lasted no girl since that time had ever been the understanding friend the entertaining companion lois mather had bad been mrs leeds brought a letter to annas room in the sunset hour A big box has come something crated she informed her daughter shall I 1 have josh open it for you tou yes and ill be right down anna was opening her letter with nith a queer expression on her face it was from lots lols mather ive heard of your coming marriage and the news set me thinking of old times anna dear the letter ran and it seemed to me you would like to know of my new happiness too I 1 never had a friend like you anna anna winked back a ready tear hes a roan man from your own town one of your neighbors it strange rangel st but the moment van tan tredwell and I 1 met it was a aicale case of love at sight you know how those things happen sometimes it was van who told me of your engagement van cant get away just now but I 1 want to come to your wedding anta ana if like me to oil oh Is 1 cried anna dazed by the sudden surprise of the news van tredwell and lols lois mather met engaged lols coming to her wedding I 1 she turned to the letter again the present is vans but tile the idea Is mine were the next words she read men never know what to buy for weddings hut but I 1 remember how fond you were of oll old fashioned things Q and mother called anna excitedly over the railing Is that big box open yet Is it from van dont tell me I 1 know what it is before I 1 see it she hurried down the stairs talking breathlessly mothers mother the strangest thing thin has happened vans in love in with iab the nicest girl ever lots lols mathers coming to my wedding weddin gm and and she told van to send that she always thought of the right thing yes theres your spinet desk nodded mrs leeds for a moment anna gazed at the much desima now new gift then with van Tre dwells card in one hand and lols lois mathers letter in the other her head dropped to her mothers shoulder and happy tears flowed just to prove how happy I 1 am murmured anna |