The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1916-01-07
HER LADYsH|p DECIDES
BY iZOlA FORESTER.

the Winter ana needed change.
Ostensibly she came as the guest of
Mrs. Towne. his mother, but it was
Courtney who shouldered the full re-
sponsibility.
i haven't seen Peggy since she was
married. She says they are going to
put in at Pinehurst pier tomorrow at
ten and | am to motor over with you.
She would love to have Mrs. Towne
and you come, too, Courtney"
My mother doesn't approve of Peg"
mol" With lifted brows. She's
perfectly dear, and now she's married
she's settled down wonderfully.
think | shall go, Courtney"
Courtney said nothing He agreed
quite pleasantly to drive her over the
next morning. Mrs. Towne was indis-
posed and some way Wanda managed
to coax her into acquiescence.
1t was a cool. windy morning the
next day. when they started for Pine
hurst, Courtney had chosen his own
car, low. two-seated French machine
He seemed rather silent as they swung
out along the shore road
1T isn't far. is it?" Wanda asked
lightly.
About eighteen miles. I'm going to
take the short cut"
Once outside the little seaside vii
lage, he turned off the main road and
took the one through the pines inland.
Wanda stole a glance at him again,
at the clean-cut, almost stern profile
beside her, and then at his hands and
the way they gripped the wheel,
"You don't really mind my going.
do you, Courtney?' she asked tenta-
lively.
mot at all now" Courtney returned
cordially.
"Halbert's very fond of Peggy.
self some time II she hadn't chosen
Captain Minturn."
Courtney smiled at the ribbon of
road unwinding before them. His eyes
were half closed. He knew every inch
Of this road. And every mile was TAX,
ing them from Pinehurst and the boat
landing. Yet he waited to make sure.
1t was at the fourteenth mile that he
slipped lever wrong and the machine
stopped.
With a quick apology he sprang out
and started to tinker away at the car,
Her ladyship chatted for few min
utes, waiting expectantly, but as the
minutes flew by she glanced around
curiously at the enfolding hills.
Courtney, are you really trying to
fix the car or just"
He sat up in the road, his cap on the
back of his head, and smiled at her.
You're not fixing it at all, are you
That's what you call it over here, ism I
it, fixing instead of repairing? Won't
it go at all?'
He shook his head contentedly. She
stepped from the car with dignity, de
lightful dignity he thought, consider
ing.
Il think / shall walk until l fine
some sort Of conveyance"
you can't, because we're about
seven miles at least from the last
house I'm going to stay here until
he glanced at his watch thoughtfully-
until 10: 80. They will have sailed by
then, don't you think SOP"
Wandas dark eyes were bright with
anger.
Il don't see how you dare to do this
Courtney Towne. They are my friends
and If | choose to go with them it is
absolutely my own affair"
Dear, you are not quite nineteen
said Courtney gently. "Halbert put you
in my care and can't conscientiously
let you chase down the coast with Peg
gy and have her marry you off to any
other crowd"
you mean Kent?" The color rose
in her face quickly.
| Courtney nodded.
Il know the whole thing, Wanda
| heard Kent bet that he would marry
you before you returned to England
You know as well as | do that old
Halbert is in debt to him badly. II
was part OF his game to make him so
1t gave him a surety of his consent
to his winning you, and | couldni
stand that sort of thing"
Wanda stood before him, white now
her hands clenched at her sides. II
had all been lark, her wanting to
go with Peg. She had not really
cared, but when he had made an is
sue of it, it had amused her to win
the point over him. Even though she
knew Kent Paxton was going, she had
not realized what it might mean
you see, dear" he went on slow
ly. "it isn't just for Halbert's sake
either. It's for your own. You know
that, don't you, Wanda? / haven't
been able to get word out to your
brother yet, but there's been little
run of luck for him, some money out
of a Mexican deal that has seemed
dead. We are both in on it, and l sold
out our interest last week There's
enough to pay up Kent. You needn't
catch the boat"
She caught the underlying bitterness
beneath his words and stretched out
her hand to him.
"Oh. Courtney, do need you"
''Of course, if you really want to GO
yet" he added unsteadily, 1.-The ma
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