The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-09-25
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"The way to figure it out is this"
said Witherby. I'VE a get just as
much pleasure out of a runabout mo-
tor car as we can out of a four-cylin-
der touring car. We may waver just
q little bit on the hills. But what of
that? We can go as fast as the law
! allows, and it isn't nearly the trou-
ble."
Mrs. Witherby sighed.
Gas long as you are getting one"
she said, why not get a decent one?"
"But this is decent. It's just as
reliable as a bigger one, only smaller.
1t will carry us anywhere"
1.-THE Paysons, next door, have a
French machine. The Burts, on the
Dther side, a big four-cylinder forty
horse power. And they keep a chauf-
feur. How shall WI APPEAR"
Fine! Splendid! You wait and
see. It's all false pride"
The next day when the trim little
funabout was delivered Mrs. With
erby gazed at it silently for a long
time.
"Well," said her husband, how
Is it,"
"Dinky!"
"Umph! Just like a oma Full
Of vanity. Everything for appear
Rnce."
"But, my dear, you must admit
that it is a tri1e humiliating for US,
especially with our position. Yester-
day, when Mrs. Burt heard it was
coming, and what it was, she con-
graduated me. What do you think
Of that?"
"Rise above such things! What
nonsense! Come, let US go out for a
spin"
At the end of a week Witherby
said:
II have a business friend coming
to- dine tomorrow. He's from the
West"
VERY well. I will have a nice din
ner."
- Witherby idgeted u~neasily.
"By the way" he observed care
lessly, with an elephantine attempt
at indifference, don't say anything
to him about our machine"
Mrs. Witherby opened her eyes.
"Why not?" she asked.
well, if you must know, dear, he
has two or three big cars, and l
thought didn't-that is"
"Ah! So you know how it is, do
you?"
Witherby blushed.
"But he's a valuable customer,
and in this case"
Don't say any more. I understand
perfectly"
The mex few weeks the Witherbys
were drawn together by a sill s1t bond
OF. sympathy. Each had had exper-
fences; each tacitly understood the
other. Under cover of the darkness
they surreptitiously enjoyed their
new machine. They rode in side
streets and sought the unfrequented
byways. 1t was a subject they never
mentioned. Every ride was like
snatching a fearful joy.
"Ah," said Bender one morning at
the station, as he slapped Witherby
on the back, Il see you've joined the
great majority. Didn't I see you puff
hng along in a %runabout yesterday"
Witherby acknowledged the charge.
mice little cars, those" said Bend
er. II keep n on hand myself as a
kind of supplement to my touring
car. By the way, old man, what is
your carr"
THAT u.s." said W!therby, with a
sudden squirt of courage.
you have no other?"
"No!"
ooh! Certainly, of course; bee
pardon. Nice little affairs-I see
Jones waving to me-"
He was off, much to Witherby's re-
lief.
But if that gentleman had his trou.
bles, what must be thought Of Mrs,
,Witherby's?
One day, in a moment of forgetful.
ness, she attended a meeting of the
woman's club. Mrs. Linnet, just il
front, leaned over enthusiastically.
GLOW do you like your little car
my dear?"
Every much"
"They are very nice. Since I've
3seen you and your husband in one
I'm really thinking of following you1
Example. Just for myself, you know
Our big one is so unwieldly, and they
II say a child can manage one like
yours. You haven't been far, have
you?"
ooh, no."
This and more.
The next morning Mrs. Witherbl
rose, pale but determined. She spen
the morning in town, getting togeth
er all her available resources. Sh'
went to her bank, to her safe deposit
she even visited her father. Armet