Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1913-10-16
REIGN Of B|LL|N|N
"The God of Things as They
Ought to Be" Brought
Good Luck.
BY LESLIE L. T

HlOuullu6 lue btOut SIcpb do Wdb uOE
usual wont, Elizabeth CORTLAND nerv-
lously Jumped to the walk and hurried
ly 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: IF
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 the
call from one of the doors she was
passing. Upon opening she found
Ruth, her younger sister, cu-led COM
fortably up in a 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 a little envious of a girl whose
world was moving on serenely, with
nc danger of its slipping a cog.
\ Indeed I am. Beth" replied Ruth,
settling more deeply in her chair.
How was the luncheon and who was
there? Do tell me all about 1.-THE
decorations, eats gowns and every.
thing"
After answering the numerous ques-
tons as well as her tired brain could
remember Elizabeth went On to her
room, where she would be alone at
least for a 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 a
smouldering fire.
What is the matter, daughter"
asked Mrs. CORTLAND. "A headache?"
mo, no." she said.
Perhaps it's heartache," suggested
Ruth, but was Immediately silenced by
a look from her mother.
After the meal was over Elizabeth
went quickly to her mother and in a
low voice. II am sorry, mother, but l
cannot go to the musical tonight. No,
I'm not sick in answer to a question
from Mrs. CORTLAND, but I-I-oh,
please don't ask me to CO."
But what will the Graysons Think"
asked her mother. Mrs. Grayson ex-
poets you-and 81 does her brother"
she added with a meaning look.
II will send her a note" replied the
girl, not answering the latter part of
her mothers sentence, but I 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 wildly 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 a little figure
of the recently popular Billikin.
1.-The god of things as they ought to
be- she read aloud. ooh, Billikin, why
dont-you bring mi 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 a
drawer took a handful of letters and a
photograph of a young man.
IF i. could only write you" she
whispered-then quickly to herself,
Why don't l write? 1t would be for
the last time, and l could burn it; I've
often burned them before"
Hastily taking out stationery, pen
andsink she addressed an envelope to
"Mr. Donald Forbes, Eastern Club,
City"
A little laugh that was almost a sob
escaped her as she glanced from the
wet ink to the grinning Billikin. Draw
ing the paper to her she wrote:
Dear Don:
Il can't realize even now that this is
the last letter l will eve begin with
those words. l must do something, II
it Is simply writing what you will
never see; for there Is no way for you
to read this and come in time to help
'me-even If you cared to.
"You have seemed SO near all day,
Don, dear, perhaps because l know
that after tomorrow-oh, l cant write
about that, and yet I must. You, Of
course, know Mrs. Grayson? 1t is her
brother who Is coming to ask a certain
question of me. to which / am to an
swer Yes e
I" / repeat to which l am to answer.
/ have read often enough of such
things happening to girls and have
known of a few cases. too, but I.never
once thought 1t would came to me.
And now when l look back Q the
past year I don't sec how 1t has hap.
pened, only that the net drew tighter
and tigheter and, try as would. l
could not get away.
why must 1t come tomorrow? For
It will be just a year tomorrow that
you first told me you loved me. Will
you be remembering that day. too,