The Keota news., 1913-08-08
REIGN OF B|LL|K|N
1.-THE God of Things as They
Ought to Be" Brought
Good Luck.
BY LESLIE L. HILTON.


usual wont, Elizabeth Courtland nerv-
ously jumped to the walk and hurried
~ ran to the door of her home, which
was opened from within by the wait
ing butler. Inside the house. she gave
her wraps to the maid and said: III
anyone calls, Annette, am not at
home"
After the maids reply Of acquies-
cence she started to her own room on
The second floor. bpt paused at tho
call from one of the doors she was
passing. Upon opening she found
Ruth, her younger sister, curled COM
fortably up in big chair. while scat
terd about her on the floor were the
latest books and magazines.
You look happy" remarked Eliza
beth. looking at her sister and feeling
just . little envious Of girl whose
world was moving on serenely. with
no danger of its slipping a cog.
Indeed am. Beth" replied Ruth.
settling more deeply In her chair.
"How was the luncheon and who was
there? Do tell me all about it-the
decorations, eats. gowns and every
thing"
After answering the numerous Ques-
tons as we'll as her tired brain could
remember Elizabeth went on to her
room, where she would be alone at
least for q short time and get control
OF herSelf before dinner. In the half
hour which elapsed she was able to get
herself fairly In hand. although there
was a bright flush on her cheeks and
in her dark brown eyes glowed
smouldering fire.
What is the matter, daughter"
asked Mrs. CORTLAND. "A headache7'
mo, no." she said.
Perhaps it's heartache," suggested
Ruth, but was Immediately silenced by
. look from her mother.
After the meal was over Elizabeth
went quickly to her mother and in
low voice. Il am sorry. mother. but
cannot 60 to the musical tonight No,
I'm not sick in answer to a question
from Mrs. Courtland. but I-I-oh.
please don't ask mo to co."
But what will the Graysons think?"
asked her mother. MRS. Grayson ex-
poets you-and 50 does her brother"
she added with a meaning look.
Il will send her a note" replied the
girl, not answering the latter part of
her mothers sentence, but l cannot
go tonight"
When she was again in her room she
slipped into a soft colored kimona and
slowly brushed and braided her hair.
which hung in two long coils, one over
each shoulder. All day with feverish
haste she had attended to home and
social duties trying to regain her usual
feeling Of calmness and cheerfulness.
but nowhere could she find the peace
and contentment she SO craved. The
color still burned vividly in her cheeks
but all signs of the restlesness had
left. Her feeling was one Of despair
and longing as she walked slowly over
to her desk and took up little figure
Of the recently popular Billikin.
1.-The god of things as they ought to
be-" she read aloud. "Oh. Billikin. why
don't you bring me some good luck and
make things as they were before?"
The little god smiled on, but the girl
holding him found no solution to the
problem in his look of satisfaction.
Slowly she put him down and from
drawer took handful Of letters and a
photograph of young man.
III could only write you," she
whispered-then quickly to herself.
'sWhy don't 1 write? It would be for
the last time, and could burn It: Tve
often burned them before"