The Detroit times., 1916-05-09
TheEpening Story
The Happiest Way
copyr,gh. isis. BY W. wsrn.r.I

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y caa't dear. l just cant do Il:
you must see that yourself. want
some beauty in my life. boy. I'm
starving for ease and luxury and
freedom" The girls eyes were
sorrowful but frm.
Rodney Taft young. slim. boyish.
turned away In grieved bewiider.
ment.
A week later Clairabelle Kent
promised to marry Thomas Atwood.
her employer. who was president OF
the company, and a very nice man
indeed. Even Rodney agreed to this.
Mr.. Atwood was middle-aged and
trifie thick at the waistline. and
one would scarcely notice that his
hair was thinning He would not
let Clairabelle 20 to the Office any
more. but employed lank young
man In her place He urged an i'm
mediate marriage, but Clairabelle
pleaded for three months delay.
1--WE never been engaged before"
she protested, 'and | want to taste
every single experience other girls
have"
Thus began regular story book
life for the little stenographer. for
Mr.. Atwood did Il up I'm perfect
form. First he brought her the ring
IA monstrous solitaire pearl like
a creamy bubble. Clairabell
gasped at the beauty OF the great
gem. They say pearls are un-
lucky" she murmured as he fitted
II upon her finger.
Mr.. Atwood laughed. He was
not much swayed by signs and
tokens. 1t was unlucky to my bank
account. that's all Get rid OF your
superstitions, sweetheart, for
mean TO festoon you with pearls
after We are married. You are like
a pearl yourself, darling, with that
pale. pure coloring" He placed a
satin lined limousine at her dis
posal and sent flowers every morn
ing. There were matinee tickets.
too. for any theater she cared to
attend In the whole big city. and
season cards for all the finest con-
certs. Mr.. Atwood himself did not
care for such things.
People were nice to them, at least
Mr.. Atwood's people were. Clara
belle had only fragile little moth
er. who was tremulous over her
girls romance, while secretly dis
appointed that the hero should be
10 near her own age.
They were invited to many dinner
parties, where everybody petted
Clairabelle and paid her compiL
ments. Small wonder they admired
her, slenderly fashioned. quaint OF
manner. with doves eyes. and dc.
Iectable profile. She spoke In low
throaty tones which pulled at the
hearers heart-strings.
Thomas Atwood's set was an old.
fashioned conventional circle. se-
renely secure In their own import.
ance. At first Clairabelle suffered
qualms OF diffidence In the digni.
fed, handsomely furnished houses;
she rather dreaded the stately din.
ing rooms with their long banquet
boards. or great round tables, can
die gemmed and banked with roses
The trim capable maids and awe
inspiring buffers overwhelmed her
with their perpetual comings and
goings through an interminable
number of courses. On these occa-
sions Clairabelle felt immensely
proud OF her flance: he held his
own so gracefully in the midst OF
people whose names were famous
throughout the land.
by the time Clairabelle found her
self at ease among Mr.. Atwoods
friends she began 10 be triie
bored: they were so much older
than she was, and the call OF youth
TO It's kind is the strongest note In
nature. She was delighted one
evening when Mr. Atwood suggested
that they might with propriety dine
at some public place. since they
had no other engagement for the
night. They went tn the newest
and most luxurious hotel In the city,
where the orchestra was composed
OF individual artists, and the dane.
ers and singers were world re-
nowned. There were softly shaded
lights. beautiful women In miracu-
lous frocks and exquisitely worn
Jewels: handsome. smoothly groom
ed men and velvet footed walters
Ciairabel was 80 charmed with
the enchanted atmosphere, that her