The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-05-04
0uTWITTTTING father
By LOUISA Ia RCcQUE.

away. I've something awful TO tell
you," she cried to someone who an
swered her call.
Cali right. I was just going to ring
you up and ask you to go for ride.
It's a peach of day, and can't settle
down to a thing for thinking of you"
Cali right, dear. I'd love to go. I'll
be ready in five minutes. Mind, It's
awful news I've got to tell you!
"Can't be worse than mine,' came
back gloomily. "We'n console each
other. That's something, anyway
In five minutes Jim Stetson's road
ster was at the door Of the Kingslands /
and Betty got il.
"What's wrong, dear?' The car
moved away toward the country, where
blossoms and young life were turning
the world into fairyland.
dad says he won't have you hang
ing round He called you all sorts of
dreadful things-a loafe1, ane spend |
thrift. and-and too gOOd-loOking for
your own or any girls happiness
that's what he said" she soDbed into
soft little handkerchief. "And he
said that he had-plans for me. There
was someone else he wanted NE to
marry"
'Well-I'll be hanged" exclaimed
Jim, putting an arm around her heav-
ing shoulders. 'sThat's about the dope
I've been getting from father, too
What's the matter with everybody"
Betty wiped her eyes Indignantly.
"You don't mean that your own father
is down on you, too!'
"NOt memo, it's you
'What do you mean?'
Gle said you were extravagant and
foolish, and that he wasn't going to
have me making a goose of myself over
a pair of eyes and a pretty facet"
"Jim! Why, he doesn't know what
look like! He never saw me!''
''No more did your father ever see
me. I'm as freshly Matched out of the
college egg as you are"
cts queer" sighed Betty, "and very
hard to bear! They can't make me
marry anybody else, so there. I'll die
first. Can you think of anything?"
I'm willing to do anything for you,
dear. I've always meant to go to work.
But fathers so busy with his patients,
he doesn't have time to think of me-
I've been waiting to have a good talk
with him."
"Why don't you go into a bank"
exclaimed Betty. And then suddenly,
81 have the very thing! Father says
he's looking for someone in the bank.
could get Uncle Harvey to recon-
mend you, and you could take another
name and make father see how won
derful you are"
."That wouldn't be a bad stunt. /
wonder if I can work it. I would like
to show your dad that I'm not alto
gether a good-for-nothing. I wish IA
Their could get to know you better, too.
I know what a splendid little person
you are! He was singing the praises
of his Office assistant who iust got mar
ried, and how she worried and did this
and that and the other hing.
Betty caught lis ara. Jim! Dc
you think I'd do:''
"You couldn't stand ti1s.t kind OF
work, It's very har1-and long hours
eff he doesn't have to have a regular
professional nurse, I believe I coult
do it. I'd soon learn, and I WOULDN'T
could get me the place."
'I'll try, Betty, dear, if you really
want me to-"
By pulling certain ropes and wire!
another week found Jim in Betty's ia
, theirs bank, and Betty in Jim's fathers
Office.
The days grew hot and air sitting
There was general exodus anon,
their friends to seashore and noun
tains, but they stuck to their post
and worked bravely on. Jim felt one
or twice that it was rather an uphill
| task when things were heaped on hin
{ that no one else wanted to do.
4 Betty, too, had days when she wa
\ too tired to care what happened. TIL
+ hottest, busiest ones seemed to be tn
). very time Doctor Stetson thought o
> restocking drugs or Of rearranging in
strument cabinets.
= Lately Doctor Stetson had praise
( her several times for quick judgmen
e and accuracy as we'll as courage
g you'll have to have a vacation soo1
K Miss knox," for such was the nam
j Betty had taken. "You are looking
j. bit tired. I'm thinking Of closing u
= the Office the last two weeks Of Jul,
Think you can last so long?"
ooh, thank you, yes!' answere
Betty gratefully.
Jim took his vacation then, also. 81
was going away with his father.
Out in launch on beautiful Can:
.: dian lake one day in the next fortnig l
the Kingslands passed another boa
containing two men.
"Jim Stetson cried Betty.
Doctor Stetson!" corrected her fl
Their, land young Mr.. Stockdale, VIII
; is in the bank
- In the other boat Jim had exclaime