The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1916-10-26
WHAT ABOUT SHIRLEY?
By IZoLA FORESTER.

Mary Ann
No. You kind of give it the French
uplift. don't you know? Marianne.
Mrs. Shirley Evarts Dean. She mar
ried Shirley Dean three months before
he was killed in an aeroplane accident
abroad He left her an awful lot of
money and Anita, his only sister. The
long and short of it is that Marianne
is on this side now and she has Anita
with her. Anita's twenty and she's
thirty. and they've got eight millions
between them
Peter had been listening idly to his
sisters chatter: 1t was the late Sun
lay morning breakfast hour and he
sat in a wave of newspapers. Sud
ienly his eye caught a line so star
tlingly pertinent to the subject in
hand that he was held by it.
Briefly, 1t stated that the Dean es-
ate was finally settled and, owing to
depreciation of securities and stocks.
t would barely reach $4,000. The
main residue. amounting to 5000, 900.
lad been conveyed by trust deed be-
.ore Mr.. Deans death to his beloved
laughter.
by George. Jane; listen" Peter
cad it over hurriedly. That cuts of
Nary Ann and Anita. didn't know
ie had daughter
Jane sat speechless. Mrs. Deans
etter lay in her lap. They had taken
,ver one Of the handsomest cottages
m the mountain for the fall season.
The whole little select colony was on
iptoe waiting the arrival OF the two
It waited later on with more expec.
ancy and alertness. wondering wheth-
" Anita or her pretty sister-in-law
would win the richest bachelor in
ieorgia. Peter Sewall. But Peter was
allied North repeatedly on urgent
BUSINESS, and 1t gradually leaked out
hat Dean had appointed him q trus-
ee over his daughters estate.
"Oh, Peter. you are almost abomin-
BILE sometimes" Jane told him.
When you know how anxious we all
re to know what she's like and when
te ever married before"
Her name is Shirley" said Peter.
pleasantly. "She is very beautiful
:irl and altogether charming. Her
Mother was New York singer. She
lied when Shirley was baby. That's
H."
Il believe you're in love with her"
,uspiciously.
Peters blue eyes twinkled.
Il am. l think she's adorable"
Then you should stop riding with
Anita every time you're here. and
eading her on to think you"
Jane. you women are so delight
ully vague and indefinite in your at.
.acks upon poor devil Of male. Are
you warning me against Anita?"
Il shall warn Anita against you.
Peter"
Nevertheless Peter rode late that
afternoon with Miss Dean. Peter looked
now and then at her fine clear profile.
the nose that Just escaped fitting a
challenge at the world, and the lips
that always held smile for him.
Has Jane warned you YETI" Peter
asked.
She smiled and nodded at him.
did you need warning?" Peter was
particularly aggravating.
Il don't think So" She glanced at
him amusedly. This affair over the
estate has worried Marianne 80 l
have not had time to think much Of
myself"
He was peculiar fellow anyway.
He had an idea that modern wealth
spoiled a girl or boy for the big aims
Of life. So he kept his daughter in
ignorance of his riches"
Did you find her well bred?'
"She is charming" Peter said
dreamily. She has lived with her
grandmother up in New York state,
and is mighty sweet. mighty sweet.
I wish you'd 60 to see her. OF course,
know how you and Mrs. Dean must
feel"
Il don't, not at all, and she wfll
marry again, OF course. am only
glad that Shirley found real love
somewhere. think his marriage with
Marianne was just an adventure,
don't you know"
Love is at best an adventure, pos.
sibly the great adventure. 1t seems
to illuminate life when It comes
Peter paused, adding musingly. You
see, am in love"
Anita's head lifted. She watched
the road ahead of her. To her the
road looked dark, yet Peter had just
said it was illumined. Into her life
with all it's little petty superfciali
ties, Peter had come. and he had
seemed some way to measure up to
what a man should be even when he
was handicapped by wealth. 1t
seemed almost as II Fate were put.
ting an extra twist in its torture when
it gave him to Shirley's daughter
gave her both the fortune and Peter
Il am in love-" repeated Peter glad
somely, reverently.
"You don't mind my telling you SO
soon? don't like to encourage Jane
too much in her sisterly plans, but