Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-09-29
Euening Story
HIS DOLLARS AND CENTS.
q, Flera,A. Monty.
Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)

| 81 fIoT1< ~. W0Uy
y Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure
| Newspaper Syndicate.)
"A trump Of school teacher! No
!! use! I'll not be extra nice to ner;
fretted thin, high pitched male
voice.
Beth shrunk into an alcove Of tie
garden wall and deliberately listened.
"Oh. come, Benson! She's not
trump. AS to her being teacher, she
doesn't spread It on, and she's abso.
lutely human, and alive to good time
The voice raised in protest was deep
and earnest Beth smiled thankfully.
Ned Greton's tones 10 we'll as his
words dulled the rasp Of the other.
80 much the worse. She'll be alive
i to my moneay and won't be safe
from her minute. That's the
trouble Of fellow who 10 born to
wealth" He sighed In compliment
sympathy for himself.
"Well, I understand that there'll be
one woman Of your class here-Miss
Mary Lange, who IL struggling through
life trying to spend the millions her
father left her" Ned laughed az eager
interest forced on the bored express
sion on James Benson's face.
Beth left her hiding place, unob-
served and Indignantly made her way
to her room. It was too bad that
habit Mrs. Edmond, her hostess, had
OF assigning beforehand to her men
guests the girls she expected them to
be nice Nto. Beth vowed that she
would veil herself In an icy courtesy
toward this wealthy Benson who mag
med himself target for all unmar.
ried women.
She chose her loveliest gown for her
appearance at dinner that evening. Be
It confessed that Beth's gowns were
few, so they we're chosen with that
serious consideration that arises from
necessity, and they very delicately de-
fined her charms. A soft wistaria col.
ored taffeta enveloped her with regal
grace and her golden hair made
shining auerole to crown 1t all.
To Ned Greton's mind. she made
most satisfactory contrast to Miss
Mary Lange. as the dinner guests as
sembled in the drawing room for the
first irtroductions. Miss LANCE went
in for social settlements, political
equality and advanced philanthropy.
and she looked the part. Added to
this. she attempted to wear smart
clothes, and affected coy manner
with men. Both efforts were uncon-
vincing, but. owing to the defensive
armor Of her millions, she was pro
tected from the effect Of her failures
and was received with difference
that fattered her soul
Now, the few ideas that were born
in James Benson's mind passed
through such a ''moneyed" atmosphere
that he simply could not grasp the fact
that wealth and beauty were not syn
onymous So when Beth and Mary
simultaneously were introduced he
listened not for names, but delivered
himself OF q reverential bow to the
wistaria gowned teacher and an icy
nod to Mary. He was so volubly az
fable throughout dinner. regardless OF
Beth's reserve. that she was bewilder-
ed, until in the course OF the converse
ton he addressed her as MY dear
Miss LANCE" Then, without enlighten-
ing him, she smiled an appreciation OF
the situation at Ned Greton who had
the remark.
Later in the evening. when the men
Joined the ladies'. James Benson direct
ed at Beth a fatuous look and lisped,
"Miss LANCE, do let me show you the
garden by moonlight" Beth met his
look with q disinterested stare. and
then turned away, while his right arm
was seized with an insistent clutch
and. with a gratffied shipper the real
Miss LANCE accepted his offer.
His thoughts took a sudden mental
turn and readjusted themselves to the
truth with difnculty as they passed
from the room. Mr.. Benson did not
enjoy that stroll in the moonlight.
In the days that followed, the young
millionaire admitted to himself with
what he considered as liberal conden-
cension the fact that Beth was not a
trump and that she was really enter.
taining And, finally. he became aware
OF the fact that Ned Greton. who had
nothing but his good looks and small
salary-though he came Of fine old
family-was carefully including Beth
in all that he planned and did and that
he. James Benson, resented Ned's at.
tentions to her as an intrusion on his
own superior rights.
Beth proved to be an elusive little
Her high spirits communi-
Gated themselves to her associates and
the hours were filed with gayety.
On the day Of the picnic. she was to
20 in the launch with Benson. but she
violent headache as the
boat was about to leave and remained
at the house. Shortly after the Young
people had assembled on the island
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