The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-01-07
where REASON RULES
BY HOPE AlNsLIE.

There's a girl up home, Betty Rob
erts, and we used to be rather swee
on each other. We both went to thu
same church and the academy, and
suppose did write letters to her, anC
so on when l was seventeen oil
around there. Mother likes her and
she's always said I'd marry Betty
Last year l 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?"
shes just divine" Jack spoke fer
vently, reverently. She's been wild
ow for four years; married at nineteen
to a brute"
IAN good-looking widows husbands
were brutes," murmured the major.
go on"
That's all. l told her l loved her
and she was giving me at least a
chance until mother came out to Fris-
CO and queered the whole thing. She
met Mrs. Leonard at Aunt Annals, and
told her / was an impressionable boy,
a perfect slave to sympathy and all
that rot, always used to being petted,
etc. Finally showed her Betty's 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
left. 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"
well, l don't blame you, mind,
Jackie. She's a wonderfully attractive
woman. And you're twenty-six, you
know, old enough to toddle without
the maternal apron strings. l should
say, Lucia is a fine woman, good sis
ter to me, but still--what's this Betty
Iike?"
ooh, 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 |
he chestnut mare as she galloped up |
The shore road, His voice was bit |
husky when he spoke to Mrs. Leonard,
slim and erect in her black habit, her
hair wind-blown around her face, her
ayes dark and evasive as he leaned |
.oward her. |
Don't go in yet" he begged as the |
10Y took the bride Il must speak
o you. You've avoided me ever since
'ou found was here. Dolores"
Hush, Jack. Someone will hear
'ou, you foolish boy"
Don't call me a boy" he swung
ack miserably I'm not. Come
long the pine road just a little way
'ou wouldn't speak to me hardly at
inch. l know you were sorry even
0 see me here"
oh, no, l was not 1t was a pleas
mt surprise, really it was, Jack"
"A pleasant surprise 1t made me
mad to see you again"
The train service to Santa Bar
ara is quite regular she said de-
lurely.
You wouldn't have seen me, You
9ft without a word You believed ev-
ry last thing mother told you about
lie and Betty"
Did II"
You cared, didn't you? Even though
Oh went away. Never mind Betty.
aven't thought of anyone in the
orld but you for the last six months.
ncle Ted took me under his wing and
rought me South because l wasn't
for anything else"
She smiled leaning forward as he
'ushed her hands in his. and quoted
'ftly under her breath
had not dreamt that love would stay.
It here he fingers many day.
Don't go away from me again, Do
res. / swear I'll follow you this time
the ends of the world"
she laughed, her eyes brimful of
nderness.
oh. Jack, Jack, why didn't you fol-
W me then if you really cared
The major came leisurely toward
EN-, the late afternoon mail in his
Inds.
BY George, Jack boy, here's news.
BOD afternoon, Mrs. Leonard. Betty
1berts eloped with Batcheller Phil
rs Saturday"
Il know Betty" said Dolores gently.
We are distant cousins, but she
'ites to me"
Yes? Writes to Jack, too, l should
y. Here's one with return line on
Mrs. Batcheller Phillips, Wash
gton, D. c.. Hotel Grosvenor. Break
e news to us, Jackie
Jack opened the letter with frown,
d then smiled. He handed it to Do
'es. 1t was typlcally Betty.