Catoctin clarion., 1917-03-01
frederick COUNTY, MD, THURSDAY MARCH |, 1917.

up. She has had two poems published
that have been noticed, but she has to
grind away at teaching to earn liv-
ing. She went at it at eighteen. Her
father never made more than enough
to just scrape along on, and she's had
no Sc ciety, and you might say, no
youth"
The young man was staring at him
in wonderment.
"Oh, then yoI know herw he ex-
claimed.
YES" said Rankin. 81 know what
a clever, splendid girl she is, and if
had the money I'd send today for
consignment of new frocks for her
Why, | don't think she ever had on
a low-neck dress in her life. I hope
she never will put on one of those
such as we saw here last night, where
the low neck ends at the waistline Oh
the back"
May | ask you to introduce me to
this young lady?' asked Bailey, at the
same time transferring his card to the
other man.
what, after"
At this moment, as fate would have
it, the girl under discussion ran quick
ly up the steps and straight to the
elder man.
oh, Uncle Arthur she began, and
then, seeming to note the presence of
the other man, she paused abruptly in
confusion.
Janet, let me present Mr.. Bailey.
My niece, Miss Rankin, Mr.. Bailey.
She acknowledged the introduction
with quiet dignity, and went in.
The young mans face was one over
which less kindly man than Rankin
might have gloated in bOastful tri-
umph.
I'm more sorry than can tell yOu,"
he said in crimson modification.
"Now, never mind said the other.
you've taught me something. Let me
thank you instead" and he put out his
hand goodnaturedly. Bailey caught
1t in a firm grasp.
The next day he came upon Janet,
from the crowd of bathers, reading.
He asked if he might interrupt. Ja-
net had no objection. They talked,
and the time sped on till his watch
warned him he had broken an engage
ment, and he had to leave.
That evening at a hotel dance Janet.
with her uncle, sat watching the
Swirlng, rainbow-tinted clouds of tulle
ana chiffon float past on the modishly
;rrayed dancers. Her own gown, high
ncckcd and neat, might have suited
woman twice her age. No one asked
her to dance, and she felt strangely
alOof and out of it all. Tugging at her
heart was the question, why should
she be out of it? She wanted to dance
just as much rs any of those smiling.
happy girl whirling past. She saw
Bailey, one of the best dancers on the
floor, always with a pretty partner;
but he never seemed to see her. Her
uncle went out on the piazza to smoke
and she was left alone. Her isolation
began to be unbearable and she got up
suddenly Bailey rushed up to her and
asked her to dance. She excused her.
self and rejoined her uncle.
The next day box arrived for Ja-
net. Much bewildered she called in
her uncle to look at Il dream of an eve-
ming dress, and another frock, both In
good style. She made him "fess up"
and scoded him for doing 1t. He de-
clared some royalties on his last book
had come in, and that he could afford
it. SO Janet at the next dance was
positively stunning. She was besieged
with partners, and allowed Bailey
only one turn. In fact she treated him
so frigidly, he next day sought Rankin.
and begged him to let him know If he
had told her what he had said. Ram
kin replied he had not. But he added:
''If you really care to know her bet
ter, you've got to show her your metal.
You've got to win her. And just mon~
ey won't do it"
Three days later the Rankins left.
but not until Bailey had extracted u
promise that he might call. After cali
ing several times the young man made
u discovery. He impaired it to Janet.
She was really surprised.
81 wonder if you actually mean II"
she said.
well, please don't 60 on wonder
Ing" he cried.
"Well, won't" And with happy
little smile she let him take her In his
arms.