The Washington herald., 1915-03-15
DAILY SHORT STORY.
APRIL'S LADY.
BY MARTHA M'CULLOCH-wIL.
IIAMS

IEeSoNe Is no WOTO Tor II, Leets
said. throwing herself back in her low
easy chair. She had been staring in tn.
fire. elbows on knees.
Jean. her comrade-cousin. laughed
softly. What is so tiresome-endurine
Ned. or doing without Billy"
"Both-neither!" Leeta cried. springina
up and darling to the piano. Il believe
ii is mostly-men in general
Say. rather. the fact that you CAM
be quite happy with or without them
Jean retorted Tell the truth. Lee-you
know Irritation is-the salt OF life &c
you
You're no better-onIy slyer." Leeta
famed out.
plain she said. after n minute. Maybe
l am sly: If so. deceive myself the
same as anybody else"
You DON'T Leeta cried. whirlins "a
face her cousin. You know-you can't
deny-you've played your cards beauti.
fully-to make Davy Andrews pro-
pose
What's Davy?" Jean quericd, with
just the faintest flush.
Leeta stamped hard. The only one
really worth wilhelm all this ruck that
has come calling on us" she said.
Jean stared. "Why-you called him a
save you from him. she said defensive
~.
Leeta nodded. II was a fool-now-I
am wiser" she said huskily II didn't
mean to tell you ever. but IT hurts so to
see you playing with him-when /"
Playing with him." Jean echoed
You speak in riddles. You can't mean
playing at love-makins. just because /
made him a leap-year proposal, You
know how that happened. All OF you
dared me to do It. l chose Davy be-
cause"
Because you liked him-best Of ALL
Leeta exploded. And you wanted to
see him get hot and red-with all the
others laughing at you two
Funny way TO show affection-makins
the one beloved mighty uncomfortable. +"
Jean interrupted.
Leeta gripped her shoulders hard. say
ing In 4 thin-edged voice: You do love
him. Deny tiff you can
Il can do the denying and never turn
a hair-but I question your right to
catechise." Jean said. flushing angrily
After a breath she went on more calm
ly: ''Leeta. I think you don't know
what you are say'ng-not quite We've
been SO close all our lives II seems i'm
possible you are going to let a manor
the ghost Of one. rather-come between
us"
David isn't any ghost-a real man
the best man." Leeta almost walled
Jean freed herself, looked at the other
half-compassionately. half-scornfully.
walked to the door and said very
crisply:
III it will ease your mind. here and
now I make you a present OF all right.
title. claim or interest ! have. had or
may have in David Andrews. ESQUIRE"
Then she rushed upstairs. all unknown
ing David had heard her. He had been
Just within the entrance. She had chos-
en- the back way for her exit. A big fell
low. ugly. but after frank. engaging
fashion. he was much puzzled as to what
was best. If he could have got away I'M
seen he would have done it, but Aunt
hostess of the two girls, had
met him at the yard gate and hidden
him go inside. He must make the best
Of it. stay brief while. then excuse
himself on plea that he had come only
to say good-by. There was n wedding
Imminent over at his Uncle Arm
strong's He could go and stay there a
until the pair of sirens had de-
parted.
Men propose sometimes when they are
disposed otherwise. Davy was destined
to prove the fact. Finding Leeta in
stormy tears. he would have rushed out
but that she all but flung herself in his
arms. And she was very, very pretty.
very. very clinging. moreover her voice
was fiute-soft. her round arms velvet to
the touch. BY the time he had Gained
her little. and got in the way Of COM
forting her. all inclination for flight had
vanished. And by the time Aunt Marga-
ret came in upon them. Leeta was COM
fortably nestled within his arm as be-
came his betrothed.
Aunt Margaret was Embellishments
Ingly so sometimes. why. I thought
you were after other game-Jean. my lit
tie brown partridge" she said staring ,
open-eyed as David manfully explained.
David got suddenly white-then very.
very red. Jean knew-all along,' he
lied gallantiy-not daring even to hope
he spoke half-truth. She must have
known ne cared for her-odd how his
fancy had turned, at the touch, the COO 4,
ngs of this other. Would the spell van
sh when he no longer saw her-held her |
close? At the thought he turned sick of !
he knew had but made i
him fonder OF Jean.
Scornful Jean. who had fung him to |,
Leeta as one filings q bone to a whim- |
pering pup! Jean. whom he had felt to |
Do the soul Of truth. yet who had EVIL |,
lently played with him game Of hearts !,
wherein he risked all. she nothing. He |
began to wish in bravado she would ,
,ome back, then was terror-stricken at |
he thought she might guess. She never |