South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-17
BY DOROTHY DIX.

she had been ten years younger I
should have shaken her with all the
pleasure in life; but, unfortunately,
the conventions of society do not per-
nit you to treat d beautiful young
woman of 20 as she so often deserves.
So we sat together in decorum in her
boudoir, and Betty looked at me with
face of infantile innocence and
guilelessness, while 1 poured out up
on her the torrent of my reproaches.
81 really am not to blame" she said
as she helped herself to another choc-
olate cream from the satin box upon
! the table. !
Nobody who ever gets other people
| into trouble ever is" l replied GROSSLY.
Would VeX a Saint.
1t was really q, situation to VeX a
saint, and, thank God, l am not such
a muff as that yet. That Jack Ather-
! ton, who is handsome and talented,
! but poor as a church mouse, should
| have fallen in love with Betty, who is
| equally charming and lovely as a
! dream, and more impecuniouS than
poverty itself, seemed one of the con-
/ tretemps of fate of which there could
be neither justification nor excuse es-
/ pecially to me, for, in "A way they are
/ both my proteges, and / had intend
ed being da ex machina in their mat
rimonial affairs, and landing them
both in the lap of riches. OF course,
don't intend that they should do
anything 50 sordid marrying for
money. Not at all. one should only
marry for love. But why not marry
a millionaire? That's what L always
said to them.
And now here was Jack in love
with Betty. 1t was certainly aggra-
waiting.
IF you had any conscience" l said
to Betty as l returned to my griev-
ance, you would have let that poor,
dear, helpless young man alone. You
should be ashamed of yourself, flirt-
ing with him."
4 can't help it," replied Betty with
| a deprecating air, ''if men will be silly
enough to fall in love with me-"
Il could have cried when heard
about Jack and YOU" | said. Il
could have cried if I had not been so
afraid of wrinkles
"Nobody's troubles-not even your
own-are worth crying over after one
is 3d. said Betty oracularly.
I thought I'd better change the sub
ject.
Jack is such dear" l said.
Isn't he?" exclaimed Betty enthu
siastically.
Hes a young man among a mill
lion" / went on.
Among ten million; prince
among cOmmoners," agreed Betty.
He's got genius to achieve any
thing" l continued.
He is as sure of a brilliant future
as-as 1 am of this chocolate cream
declared Betty.
Had Wife Picked.
shudder to see one, even in the
lrecklessness of youth, taking such lib
erty Of her complexion. But 1 went
on with my compliments.
Its so important, who he marries."
1T is, indeed" assented Betty.
"She should be a nice girl" l said.
Very, very nice, as nice as l am, ="
returned Betty with a roguish smile.
And rich, and clever. l had pick
ed out the very wife for him--that
Salters girl"
Think of her nose" implored Bet
ty.
"She is SO intelligent" 1 continued,
she knows all about the inner mean
ing OF Browning-and er-er-and
deep things like that"
Jack Doesn't" replied Betty with
little smothered laugh of recollec-
ton, but 1 really think he makes
love more deliciOusly than any man /
ever met He does il so we'll" with
sigh. that 1 sometimes suspect that
he's had too much practice. Some
how il shows workmanship"
Emily Salters is such good girl.
said severely. She would never
fiirt as YOU do"
she deserves no credit for that,
with face like hers" observed Bet
" sententiOusly.
Her fortune is enormous" / went
on with increasing gloom.
1T Is disgusting" said Betty with
much feeling, how the wrong people
get the money. and how the people
who ought TO fall in love with are
the very ones that YOU hate at sight
Getting married is like buying shoes
you always want the ones that are
not common sense. and durable. and
warranted TO wear, and that viii pinch
your foot"
But I was not 10 be diverted from
my grievance.
Didn't Intend TO Marry Him.
You knew when you began TO make
eyes at Jack, that YOU didn't intend
10 marry him." / said.
NO. 1 didn't" she admitted.