The Harrison times., 1917-07-07
WHAT ABOUT SHIRLEY?
BY lZoLA FORESTER.

'''''' o ''''''-
She signs herself Marianne" said
Jane, thoughtfully.
Mary ANN
No. You kind Of give it the French
uplift don't you know? Mariannel
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. ARitas 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
day morning breakfast hour and he
sat in a wave of newspapers. Sud
denly his eye caught a line so star
tlingly pertinent to the subject in
hand that he was held by it.
Briefly, it stated that the Dean es-
tate was finally settled and, owing to
depreciation of securities and stocks,
1t would barely reach $4,000. The
main residue, amounting to s5,0OO,000,
had been conveyed by trust deed be-
fore Mr. Deans death to his beloved
daughter.
by George, Jane; listen" Peter
read it over hurriedly. That cuts of
Mary Ann and Anita, I didn't know
he had a daughter 4eszy 5s-.s'as-~..
Jane sat speechless Mrs. Deans
letter lay in her lap. They had taken
over one of the handsomest cottages
on the mountain for the fall season.
The whole little select colony was on
tiptOe waiting the arrival of the two.
1t waited later on with more expec.
fancy and alertness, wondering wheth-
er Anita or her pretty sister-in-law
would win the richest bachelor in
Georgia, Peter Sewall But Peter was
called North repeatedly on urgent
business, and it gradually leaked out
that Dean had appointed him a trus-
tee over his daughters estate.
"Oh, Peter, you are almost abomin-
able sometimes, Jane told him.
When you know how anxious we all
are to know what she's like and when
he ever married before"
Her name is Shirley" said Peter,
pleasantly. She is a very beautiful
girl and altogether charming. Her
mother was New York singer. She
died when Shirley was baby. That's
all"
Il believe you're in love with her."
suspiciously
Peters blue eyes tWinkled.
q am. | think she's adorable
Then you should stop riding with
Anita every time you're here, and
leading her on to think you"
Jane, you women are so delight
fully vague and indefinite in your at
tacks 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
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 so |
have not had time to think much Of
myself"
He was a peculiar fellow anyway.
He had an idea that modern wealth
spoiled girl or boy for the big aims
of life. So he kept his daughter in
ignorance of his riches
Did you find her we'll bred?'
"She is charming" Peter said
dreamily. She has lived with her
grandmother up in New York state,
and is mighty sweet, mighty sweet
| 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 will
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 1t was illumined. Into her life,
with all its little petty superficial.
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 if Fate were put.
ting an extra twist in its torture when
it gave him to Shrleys daughter,
gave her both the fortune and Peter.