The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-12-23
Willful Cinderella
Bv IZOLA FORESTER
Copyright, 1910. BY Associated Literary Press

stained face. "Billie, there are times
when l hate you"
"Perzactly," laughed Billie. when
| tell the truth as Bess does. like
that girl, Win, even if you and the
mater do think she's an irresponsible
kid. If were twenty-five instead of
| just starting In, I'd set old Hart a
pace"
Out on the open road that led hill
ward 1t did not appear that "old Hart"
needed pacesetter. He was doing
very we'll alone. For perhaps the first
time in her lively life, Bess was silent
and listening attentively.
But how do you know" she de-
manded suddenly. "He has never said
one single word
How do you know?" smiled back
Chambers. Il have never spoken one
word to her."
| And Bess laughed a low, Joyous
laugh, and bent low over her horses
neck, as sweeping willow branch
came below her hat brim with soft
swish. Love is blind. isn't it," she
said
LAS a bat," replied Chambers,
cheerfully. And the trouble is. we
let pleasant old ladies like-well, like
somebody we both know, manage the
outward view for US. Now, listen to
sage. Billie's youngster, and he's
facing college. 1t won't do him any
good. What he needs is the fresh ton
ing up that only life out west would
give him. He's an anomaly that
sometimes happens here In this east
ern society Of ours. He's primitive,
! earnest, overgrown cub, with big
ideals and great Intentions, and he
hates the life here. Another thing, he
has couple Of elder brothers ahead
OF him already entering the business
game. It's up to Billie to make good
| himself. somehow. He won't do it.
loaf1ng around on a football team as
halfback. and running swell frat"
| suite for four years. I'm going back
you manage Billie?"
Manage Billie?" She lifted bewil-
| dered eyes to his.
Take him west with you. You don't
! like 1t here. l saw you were home.
sick, weeks ago, when you first came
out. Let the boy tell you what he's
| longing to, and take him back with
you, and find happiness in Gods coun-
try, while you're both unspoiled young
| sters"
Bess rode along silently. She was
eighteen, and as she listened to the
| even, kindly voice beside her, she felt
| even ten years less. Instead Of the
low Westminster rolling land, she saw
| the home ranch, circled by mountain
| peaks and purple haze that wreathed
| the foothills, miles upon miles Of rich,
| primeval country, waiting for the
| newer blood, for newer hopes to stand
| by it, and believe in its promise. And
she thought Of the look in Billie's eyes
when she told him of the land she
| loved.
But she said no more. When they
rode up to the broad portico, Cham.
bers dlsmounted. and she watched
him as he strolled leisurely along the
smooth walks to where Winifred
stood, Whitehead and fair-haired, gath
ering the chrysanthemum blooms. Bess
stood with one small-booted foot rest
ing on the first step, striking at
clump of ferns with her whip-and
thinking. Suddenly came Billie's voice
from the veranda rail overhead.
"Well?"
She did not look up.
is it to be Mrs. Hartley Cham
bers?" She could have laughed from
sheer happiness at the wretchedness
in the boys voice. Il don't blame
you," he went on. ANY girl would
choose this If she had the chance in
preference to an Idaho ranch. OF
course, the mater is your own aunt,
prejudiced against her good advice.
But if dared"
Then Bess looked up at him. Cow
ard" she whispered. l dare you"
He stared at her for moment,
then took the railing at one spring,
crushing the ferns and flowers. and
landing beside her, with a born
| authority ABOUT HIS VOICE anu manner.
"Bess," he demanded. have you re-
fused Hartley"
Bess laughed. billie, Billie boy, If
you aren't just like a stumbling cub
broncho! He never asked me to mar
ry him. He's talking it over with
Winifred this minute. I'm going back
to Idaho"
"And I'm going with you" Billie's
tone was low. He caught her to him
almost roughly. "Bess. look at me-"
| II wcc't!" She struggled rebellious.
ly. billie, don't. They'll see you"
t"They?" Billie retorted triumphant.
| ~. They're too basy. themselves"
Mrs Dudley Graham. on the second
verandah above, bent forward to catch
the next words, but everything was
very quiet. She adjusted her eye
glasses thoughtfully. and smiled.
Even a willful Cinderella may be dis.
ciplined by the right prince.