The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-01-18
where REASON RULES
BY HOPE AlNSLIE.

suppose | did write letters to her, and
so on when | was seventeen or
around there. Mother likes her and
she's always said I'd marry Betty.
Last year | went after that concession
and met Mrs. Leonard. She loaned
her collection of Chinese porcelains
to the exhibit and / give you my word,
Uncle Ted, from the instant we looked
at each other / didn't give a rap
whether l ever saw Betty or any 9TH
er woman as long as lived"
Good locker, Jack?"
She's just divine" Jack spoke fer
vently, reyerently. She's been wild
ow for four years; married at nineteen
to brute"
All good-looking widows husbands
were brutes," murmured the major
go on
That's all. / told her / loved her
and she was giving me at least a
chance until mother came out to FRS
co and queered the whole thing. She
met Mrs. Leonard at Aunt Annals, and
told her | was an impressionable boy,
perfect slave to sympathy and all
that rot, always used to being petted,
etc. Finally showed her Bettys pic
ture as the little girl sweetheart back
East waiting for me to get through
my travels. You know the way she
can put thing over with that tone
of her voice and her eyes. Well, |
didn't have a chance after she had
LETT. Dolores left for Santa Barbara
the next day"
"Humph," unused the major. Now
she comes here. Did she know you
were with me at the Springs"
No. sir. We haven't written"
We'll, i don't blame you, mind,
Jackie. She a wonderfully attractive
woman And you're twenty-six, you
know, old enough to toddle without
the maternal apron strings. / should
say, Lucia is q fine woman, good sis
ter to me, but still-what's this Betty
hke?"
"Oh. she's all right said Jack
vaguely.
There goes the widow. said the
major. suddenly leaning forward.
Cad, she can ride!"
Jack vaulted the veranda rail and
made for the mounting stone to meet
the chestnut mare as she galloped up
the shore road His voice was a bit
husky when he spoke to Mrs. Leonard,
slim and erect in her black habit, her
hair wind-blown around her face. her
eyes dark and evasive as he leaned
toward her.
Don't go in yet, he begged as the
boy took the bride. u must speal,
to you. You've avoided me ever since
you found ! was here. Dolores
Hush, Jack. Someone will hear
you, you foolish boy"
Don't call me a boy he swung
back miserably. I'm not Come
along the pine road just little way
You wouldn't speak to me hardly at
| lunch. i know you were sorry even
to see me here"
''Oh, no, | was not. It was a pleas
ant surprise really it was. Jack
"A pleasant surprise. 1t made me
perfectly mad to see you again
THE train service to Santa Bar
bara is quite regular" she said de
murely.
You wouldn't have seen me. YOU
left without a word. You believed ev
cry last thing mother told you about
me and Betty.
ibid ~"
You cared, didn't you? Even though
you went away. Never mind Betty.
haven't thought OF anyone in tbs
world but you for the last six months
! Uncle Ted took me under his wing an(
brought me South because l WASH
fit Tor anything else
She smiled, leaning forward as hi
crushed her hands IN his. and quoteC
softly unde. her breath
/ l had not draamt that love would stay
/ Yet here he fingers many day
''Don't go away from me again. DO
Iores. swear II follow you this Tim,
to the ends OF the world"
She laughed, her eyes brimful o
tenderness.
Oh, Jack. Jack. why didn't you fol
low me then if you really cared.
The major came Ieisurely TOWARD
/ them, the late afternoon mail in hi
hands
BY George, Jack boy, here's news
| Good afternoon. Mrs. Leonard. Betty
Roberts eloped with Batcheller Phil
lips Saturday
Il know Betty" said Dolores gently
we are distant cousins, but sh'
writes to me-
Yes? Writes to Jack, too, | shoul'
say Here's one with a return line Oh
/ it, Mrs. Batcheller Phillips, Wash
ington, D. c.. Hotel Grosvenor. Breal
the news to us, Jackie.
Jack opened the letter with frown
and then smiled. He handed it TO Dc
lores. 1t was typicaily Betty.
i Dear Jack | know what everybody
| say. and | don't care. I've always like
! Batty and I'd like to know why l can
marry him if I want to. So we're elopinl
+, I'm just as sick and tired you are c