Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1915-12-09
WHAT ABOUT SHIRLEY?
By IzoLA FORESTER.


She signs herself Marianne" said
Jane, thoughtfully.
Mary Ann?"
No. You kind Of give IL the French
uplift. don't you know? Marianne.
Mrs. Shirley Eyarts Dean. She mar
ried Shirley Dean three months before
ne was killed In an aeroplane accident
abroad He left her an awful lot OF
money and Anita, his only sister. The
long and short Of Il Is that Marianne
Ia on this side now and she has Anita
with her. Anita's twenty and she's
thirty. and they've got eight snillions
between them"
Peter had been listening idly to his
sisters chatter: II was the late sun
day morning breakfast hour and he
sat In . wave Of newspapers. Sud
denly his eye caught a line so star
tlingiy pertinent TO the subject in
hand that he was held by il.
Briefly, it stated that the Dean es-
tate was finally settled and, owing TO
depreciation of securities and stocks.
1t would barely reach $4,000. The
main residue. amounting to $1,000, 900,
had been conveyed by trust deed be-
fore Mr.. Deans death to his beloved
daughter.
by George. Jane; listen" Peter
read II over hurriedly. That. cuts on
Mary Ann and Anita. I didn't know
he had q daughter"
Jane sat speeches.. Mrs. Deans
letter lay in her lap. They had taken
over one OF the handsomest cottages
on the mountain for the fall season.
The whole little select colony was on
tiptoe waiting the arrival OF the two.
II waited later on with more expec.
fancy and alertness, wondering wheth-
er Anita or her pretty sister-in-law
would win the richest bachelor in
Georgia. Peter Sewall. But Peter was
called North repeatedly on urgent
business. and it gradually leaked out
that Dean had appointed him a trus-
tee over his daughters estate.
oh, Peter, you are almost abomin-
able sometimes Jane told him.
When you know how anxious we ali
are TO know what she's like and when
he ever married before"
Her name 10 Shirley" said Peter,
pleasantly. She is a very beautiful
girl and altogether charming. Her
mother was a New York singer. She
died when Shirley was a baby. That's
all"
I believe you're In love with her."
suspiciously.
Peters blue eyes twinkied.
Il am. think she's adorable"
Then you should stop riding with
Anita every time you're here, and
leading her on to think you"
Jane, you women are SO delight
fully vague and indefinite In your at
lacks upon poor devil of q male. Are
you warning me against Anita?'
Il shall warn Anita against you,
Peter"
Nevertheless Peter rode late that
afternoon with Miss Dean. Peter looked
now and then at her fine clear profile,
the nose that just escaped fitting a
challenge at the world, and the lips
that always held a smile for him.
Has Jane warned you YETI" Peter
asked.
She smiled and nodded at him.
did you need warning?" Peter was
particularly aggravating.
i don't think So" She glanced at
him amusedly. This affair over the
estate has worried Marianne so /
have not had time to think much of
myself"
He was a peculiar fellow anyway.
He had an idea that modern wealth
spoiled girl or boy for the big aims
OF life. So he kept his daughter iii
ignorance of his riches"
Did you find her well bred?"
She Is charming" Peter said
dreamily. She has lived with her
grandmother up In New York state,
and Is mighty sweet. mighty sweet.
I wish you'd go to see her. OF course,
| know how you and Mrs. Dean must
feel"
Il don't. not at all, and she will
marry again, OF course. I am only
glad that Shirley found real love
somewhere. think his marriage with
Marianne was Just an adventure.
don't you know"
Love Is at best an adventure, pos
sibly the great adventure. II seems
to illuminate life when Il comes"
Peter paused. adding musingly. You
see, ! am in love-"
Anita's head lifted. She watched
the road ahead of her. To her the
road looked dark. yet Peter had Just
said II was illumined. Into her life,
with all its little petty superficial
ties, Peter had come, and he had
seemed some way to measure up to
what a man should be even when he
was handicapped by wealth. II
seemed almost as IL Fate were put
ting an extra twist in its torture when
il gave him to Shirley's daughter.
gave her both the fortune and Peter.
Il am in love-" repeated Peter glad
somely, reverently.
You don't mind my telling you so
soon? / don't like to encourage Jane
too much in her sisterly plans, but
this time she may consider herself a
ministering angel. love you. Anita
He rode close by her bay mare and
leaned toward her.
Anita caught her breath with q
quick little laugh. Surely the path
was all aglow with light. She closed
her eyes q moment.
What about Shirley"
Shirley" Peter smiled whimsi-
cally. Shirley viii love you. Wen
take her and look after her and love
her. She Ia just five years old. dear
Copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure News