The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-11-27


was taking her on ~exultantly, now. by
the trail down through tte laurel AND
boulders which led TO the n OF the
street back OF Curran's house. She
was frightened: she had never Q
him SO ardent, so rebellious.
"Tonight?' she cried-"oh. Harlan
my dressi" t>'.
TITS a dear little dressi"
Her hand went to the flower In her
hair; she was dumb before his resoiu-
tion. .
Don't touch it, It's a bit Of flame
Just ! k YOU" He laughed. mi was
so easy! This a what they should
have done long agoI All his life had
been without secrecy or reproach; and
now, to take his sweetheart by the
hand and so down buoyantly to the
was under the witchery OF the Septem-
Der mon! i+t3 a #A.
They were both laughing, nervously
yet with happiness, when he lifted her
down the last rock among the night
damp leaves and burst through the
grape tangle to the street, crossing
Sinsinawa, looking down in the pools
az their reflections. They were COM
ing TO the first houses, h lamp In
the window. and somewhere the muir
muir Of voices from neighbors visiting
on the lawns--his people. kind and
true people. They should be her people
now. This was the beautiful answer
he would make to conventions and
curious yes and tongues--to take her
by the hand and lead her among them.
Love was enough; love was all--and
they should see! #. 4 g"H@ a
They came about the corner OF the
old News building. On the platform
walk aNman stood who was staring off
SO strangely above the sugar trees OF
the Square that Harlan did not, at
first, recognize Wiley Cur-an himself.
from the nights mail: at his feet, In
the moonlight, lay an envelop, and In
his hand was the key-ring with which
he always opened his letters.
Harlan drew his sweetheart on. But
not until they were directly before Cur
ran did the latter appear to notice
them. Then he stared down at the
opened letter In his hand and mutter-
ed: The girls got it--wait till the old
tow2 hears that" ~
"Wiley?" ~
Hello, Harlan" responded Wiley
absently. Then his black eye fell upon
Aurelie. He started. IVY. how did
you known"
She looked puzzled at him. by
Seorgel" the editor reared: did you
hear from EN- Then he seized her
hand frantically and shook it. Miss
Lindstrom-it's the greatest thing that
ever hit the old town."
She had no idea what he meant.
Harlan interposed. What's the mat
ter, Wiley?"
Don't you know? Then what the
mischief are you bringing her here for p
The ditor shook the letter before them.
"This?"
"Aurelle7 Why we don't know any
thing you're talking about? What2"
"Aurelie." went on the editor,
you've won the beauty ~contest!"
She continued to stare at him. you
got it," cried Curran. 1.-THE Sunday
editor OF the Chicago Chronicle wrote
me this-he wants a column of dope
about you They'll print your picture
tine prize winner!"
Prize wtnner!" Harlan shouted.
You're crazyl How did the Chronicle
get her picture7"
II sent 1t to EN-. Last spring when
the Chicago paper started this beauty
contest, Vawter, the photographer, and
I were looking over that bunch Of high
school pictures-the junior bunch. And
we sent three of 'em-Just for ducks
we entered three Of 'em! The Mills
girl and Elsie Dickinson-and Aurelie's.
And Aurelie's won i'll"
Harlan stood pahng before him.
"Elsie--and Aurelie! The picture ?
What picture? ! never saw any pic
ture!"
1T was a peach. Sort of Spanish,
with lilacs In her hair! Vawter caught
something in 1t that was indescribabie."
He started again at Aurelie, hungrily,
fascinated, as IL seeking the thing that
men would call beautiful in her. why,
girl, / never looked at you before
never thought you were s~o--so-good-
looking!" .....
Harlan tore the letter from his hand
and was reading ii.
The editor looked at the girls mute
and puzzled face. The most beautiful
girl In the west-that's the way they'll
spring 1t! The syndicate-thirty of the
biggest papers In the United States
will publish the picture, and twenty
million people will see IT." He danced
up and down. "Aurelie, you little
madcap, you'll be the most famous
woman in the country!"
Still she looked at her lover expect
antly, uncomprehending.
Harlan seemed gasping for breath.
Then he crushed the letter and slam
med 1t at the editors feet. "Aurelie-
her picture! You big damned fool,
Wiley! Her pictured"
And se.zing Aurelie by the hand. he
whirled about and dragged her after
him from the sidewalk. The editor
continued to watch them until they
were lost in the sugar-tree shade of
High street, still like one bereft of his
senses Even the startling idea OF the
judges son and Old Michigan's girl
coming from a tryst down Eagle Point
trail to town together could not awak-
en- him. After a while he muttered.
The most beautiful woman in Amer
lca-maybe the whole world! Biggest
thing ever hit the old town since Jay
Smith killed himself up above the First
National bank! Aurelie, the beauty
prize winner"