Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-06-06
Substitution
And Weddings
By Martha
McCuIloch- Williams
Copyright. 1906. bv ". r. CuIdweu

deep green footprints athwart the dew
grayed grass. The line was blotched
here and there where she had stopped
and half turned about, but from the
last and llghtest Of the blotches 1t ran
straight to the wicket gate In the
hedge. The path to the gate led around,
almost under the library windows.
Therefore she had avoided 1t. She did
not want to be spied upon, and, though
the library commonly was empty until
long after sunrise, she had come to be-
lieve there was no counting on where
Miss Prudence Weir would be at any
special hour
The wicket gave upon lane shady
and secluded, yet public passway
Notwithstanding both sides of 1t be-
longed to Ellzabeth's uncle, Dan. He
had been trying to close it ever since
be bought the old Mears place, but his
rustic neighbors had held stoutly to
their right of way So the young man
walking slowly along the lane was no
trespasser, albeit he walked warily,
keeping close to the hedge. Elizabeth
smiled shamelessly to see him. Now
that she had really brought herself to
a clandestine meeting she was all In
happy futter and amazed at her own
hesitancy.
Yet she said, smiling up at her tall
sweetheart: You must 60 right back,
Billy-must. Do you hear? Miss Pru-
dence Weir sleeps with both ears and
one eye open. Besides. she gets up
early more than half the time. And
you know she can make Dandy believe
anything In the world, except that he
ought to marry her."
"H-mi That's a pity! Skepticism
or any other point would be less In
convenient" Billy Medwln painted,
hurrying Elizabeth along the lane to-
ward the woods beyond the main trav-
eled road. 1t was not at all the way
he should go to go home, but some
how Elizabeth made no protest.
Soon they were walking through dew
sweet shade, with birds singing thin
and sweet above their heads. And
presently Billy had his arms about
Elizabeth and was saying with his
lips in her hair: Honey girl, I've been
thinklng-hard. Miss Weir Is the lion
in our path, and there's just one way
to get round her.
WHAT" Elizabeth interrupted, lift
ing her head a little. Billy looked up
among the leaves and colored family
as he answered; ooh, we must show
Dandy how deceitful she Is. She's
made him believe 1t would be sin to
let me have you. Don't you think 1t
would shake his faith in her If he
knew she was willing to take me her
self"
BILLY" Elizabeth exploded, shaking
with laughter, you wouldn't dare pro
pose to her Can you live through a
breach Of promise suit? If only you
could do IT, But you never in the
world can"
"Sure you won't be Jealous" Billy
asked, pinching her ear.
She made q face at him as she an
sT cred: Just you try 1t. Why, even
If the worst happened-if you got tan
gled past getting out should have at
least the heavenly satisfaction Of know
ing she had showed herself to Dandy
the cat she is"
Trust me not to get tangled" Billy
protested. What else he said Is not
strictly material to this narrative, al
though it sent Elizabeth home at last
with happy eyes and the color Of a
wild rose.
Ofttimes fortune favOrs the daring.
The execution began with his rescue
of the pudgy Miss Weir from run
away that was not in the least dan
gerOus. but which gave her a mortal
scare. OF course he went back with
her to the gate, stopping there to ex-
plain deliberately that he had some
how incurred the dspleasure Of Mr..
Daniel GoodwoOd and been forbidden
the premises. That, Of course, gave
him excuse to ask If he might Inquire
by letter after Miss Wers health.
One letter quickly and easily bred an
other and from writing it was but n
step TO meeting, either in the lane or in
the wood beyond, and talking Of many
things
Miss Weir was rising thirty, just five
years Billy's elder, but so light colOred
and plump she flattered herself 1t look
ed the other way. She loved ease and
consequence-witness that for five
years past she had been trying deli
cately to marry Uncle Dandy. She had
only succeeded in becoming after a
sort his social watchdog.
He had a great opinion Of Elizabeth,
his heiress, and wanted to match her
well if she was to be matched at all.
Miss Weir had about lost hope Of I'm
Gle Dandy when Billy came on the
scene. Billy knew pretty well all there
was TO know Of lovemaklng This time
he chose to make 1t in Hypothetical
fashion He began impersOnally by de-
scriblng a young fellow who had set
his eyes and heart upon one so FAR
above bis dessert he had become quite
hopeless Of winning her and had de-
scended to trlfling with mere ordinary
girls by way Of filling an aching void.
Then he pictured the lady. Her eyes
were heaven blue, her skin all lily and
rose, her hair like spun sunshine, her
voice q flute But that was as nothing
beside her loftIer charms-her soul, her
spirit, her angelic nature-whlch made
mere ordinary sinner grovel In dust
whenever he let himself feel what te-
merlty it was TO love her. Thus far
Billy got ny tie end of the second
week. Naturally it was but little later
that the lady was forced to discover
herself In the fair unknown
Then Billy played finer than ever.
He would not speak Tie worshiper's
name; she must guess It. But he would
with her permission send her a letter