The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-11-19
MISS MODERNITY
By VIRGINIA WOODWARD CLOUD
Copyright. by BObbs-Merrin Coz

IbS-NCiA Aih WI
my feet for awhile. l don't know a
soul here except"
Miss Devourney?" Here she sank
on a seat behind the gallery rail. Il
never heard of her in my life, and ]
thought l knew them all-the women
here"
l looked around and spoke confiden.
TALLY, marveling that l did so, yet
realizing that it was no strange thing
Then l will make a confession.
never did, either"
Miss Modernity laughed, softly, but
with evident enjoyment. 1t was {
seal upon our sudden bond OF conf
dence, and I was glad of the human
sound which rippled through tre mad
clamor of voices around us, Ike the
memory of a meadow brook in the
midst of noisy thoroughfars, her
eyes as she turned them questioning
tolerantly, were full of humof
Il was really looking for some one
and wanted to recognize her myself
first. So l hit upon a name to give
me an opportunity Of speaking to diff
ferent ones. think it was quite IN
genious! She was an old friend-ir
fact, a playmate"
Basketball or rag-dools she in
terrupted.
Neither. 1t was-er-stolen ap
pies and rides bareback, and wadinG
up stream-I mean on my back, yor
know"
Fancy"
oh yes, all that sort OF thing
But when anticipation has formed ar
ideal, one sometimes shrinks bach
from it's fulfillment-as if the imagina
tion is 10th to relinquish that which
it has found sweet"
She nodded quickly with compre
hension that was good to receive.
And l should like to confess thai
l represent that unenviable atom O
masculinity, an eX-fiance."
"Oh!-Hers, you mean?"
Yes, she was only five when she
promised to marry me. When 1 went
VI parted in the"
Usual way?" Miss Modernity wa!
evidently interested.
the orchard, think it was.
pulled her out of an apple-tree. Yo;
see she was famous climber and hat
a way of tearing her clothes nearly off
l used to go in pursuit."
Dear me-how-how pastoral! A
hoyden or an athlete2"
Neither, l assure you, but an ador
able child of about 12 years. Will
promise of great beauty"
Miss Modernity stirred uneasily.
What was your ex-fiancee like?
she said suddenly.
"A sturdy little thing with reddisl
hair and freckles on her nose," | said
noticing Miss Modernity's slim, lis
some lines.
And her name?" she pursued. evi
IDENTIFY with kind intention to kee
me to the subject most interesting.
Her name was Betty"
Il do not know any girl by tina
name" She unfurled fan of whit
feathers, waving it distractingly be
tween US, while l was realizing tha
this was the kind of woman, who's
youth combined grace, control, beat
ty, wit and gentle perception, to max
mans life and keep him clean. A.
this passed through my mind with sue
den light and l said, stopping short
Il have not been duly presented t
you. | am Everett O'Rall. Of"
"Of score of brave battles" sh
smiled up at me, Il recognized yo
when you came up the stairs, even be
fore you spoke to me, or do you thin
should be here with you?"
| put my glasses on again, perpleH
edly scrutinizing the humor of thos
frank, gray eyes, as voice brok
upon us.
my father!" she said, and turne
to face an old friend.
ORAL! - You wild man-of.tht
woods, welcome nome! We've had
search-warrant out for you! The gov
ernor wants you to receive with hir
at ten. Might have known I'd find yo
with Elizabeth"
elizabeth" / was stumbling ma
like before the complexities of fell
| inine transitions--the low knot {
brown hair, the womanly contour {
/ figure. the grace, the aplomb-the
her laugh murmured toward me d.
lightedly.
"No,-Betty!-Oh, could not hel
tit was too funny"
Miss Modernity, Miss Modernit.
how could you?" l said. Her eye
grew softer.
Il wanted to know if you had forgo
ten me-if-" suddenly her han
slipped in mine with a breathles
aside, "Oh, Rally, you old owl, l al
so glad!--So glad-come tomorrow !
Please!"
l read Miss Modernity's eyes, an
left her with my face turned towar
/ a glad tomorrow