The Washington herald., 1914-04-03
DAILY SHORT STORY.
LOVE AND LEAVEN.
Nv MARTHA M'CULLOCH WILL
IAMs.
Copyright. lelLl

Copyright. IsiiD
BETSY and breakfast begin with B,
therefore-" Vader half chanted the
break at the end significant.
He stood on the piazza just outside an
open window. Within. q tall girl, hei
brow enmeshed in clouds Of dusky silker
hair, retorted impatiently. II you plea Sc
my name is Elizabeth"
Called Betsy, Beth. Lizzie. Elizabeth
alma for short" Vader interrupted, his
eyes twinkling Amy name will do
for a hungry fellow. Ravenous doesn't
begin to express my state OF appetite.
Come, and quickly-unless you want to
be eaten"
81 think you know the way" Eliza
beth flung hack, standing immovable.
Vader frowned family, but almost in
stantIy giggled. saying half under his
breath: TO be sure. honey. but there
are cases when discretion is the better
part of valor."
Meaning Elizabeth shot the word
at him bullet-wise. He looked down.
shading his face with one hand. yet
stealing glances at her through his fin
gers. I'm late-so late I'm afraid 10
go in alone" he said, the ghost Of a
chuckle belying his plaintive tone.
Elizabeth shifted audibly.
Patience is waiting most impatiently
to feed you-and your vanity" she. said
with the least toss Of the head. ''Trot
along! Right OF! You know the Chris
tlan virtues deserve reward"
Guardian angel! Do you desert me
In this extremity Vader implored.
The guardian angel laughed outright.
"On the job-till next week-maybe for
good" she said. so get you gone. You
know our hostess, like England, expects
every man TO do his duty"
Which is? Say 1T! Just once-pleaser'
Vader entreated in a thrilling stage
whisper.
Elizabeth sighed ostentatiously, shook
her head. and said severely: Il wash
my hand of you-you are either binder
than bat. ora prevaricator Of the
worst" F'-
"Pre-var-l-ca-tor! Neat. 1 must sayr'
Vader moaned, with a feint of stagger-
ing backward. And then a flute voice,
with an edged undertone, cut across the
scented morning with: Come in you
two. Coffee is not like love-making-does
not keep warm of itself"
How should We know it-until you told
us-a couple of Babes in the Wood?"
Vader asked as obediently he followed
Elizabeth into a sunny room, the win
dows of which gave enchanting vistas Of
hill and meadow and woodland, with a
DluG III lne Instance.
The vistas were but a foreshadowing
Of what lay in the hand now busy with
the coffee urn. Miss Patience Carew
welded and widowed within the year of
marriage. now Mrs. Patience Mortimer.
in the half-mourning period, found her
self mistress in fee of sundry millions
Because of the half mourning she had
not yet gone beyond rather festive house
parties in the way Of entertaining. Vader,
relic of the pre-Mortimer epoch, had
come to this one because of Elizabeth
He knew II was nazardous-Patisnce
stood ready to take up that old affair
just where she had let 1t fall. She was
more than ever avid of conquest. withal
tenacious, and possessed OF a shy yet
burning vanity, which made her resent
bitterly the loss of a captive.
Vader had honestly thought he loved
her-had even told her SO. Elizabeth
had shown him mis- mistake. He wan
dered alertly IL she had not also shown
IL to Patience, as they sat laughing. chat
ting, bantering, the while they ate and
drank
Patience, a creamy-ash blonde, did not
show well in the clear morning light,
but Elizabeth bloomed into beauty new
and rare. Slight and light, albeit tall,
in soft white touched family with fame
red, she made Patience, despite her soft
curves. her laces and lavenderl seem