The Winslow mail., 1917-09-14


grind away at teaching to earn liv-
ing. She went at it at eighteen. Her
father never made more thar enough
to just scrape along on, and she's had
| no society, and you might say, NO
| youth
The young man was staring at him
in wonderment.
"Oh, then you know her!" he ex-
claimed.
"Yes." said Rankin. II know what
clever, splendid girl she is, and if |
had the money I'd send today for a.
consignment of new frocks for her.
Why, / don't think she ever had on
low-neck dress in her life. hope
she never will put on one of those
such as we saw here last night, where
the low neck ends at the waistline on
the back"
MAY l ask you to introduce me to
this young lady?" asked Bailey, at the
other man.
What. after"
At this moment, as fate would have
1t, 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 iy
confusion.
Janet, let me present Mr. Bailey
Ny niece. Miss Rankin, Mr.. Bailey"
She acknowledged the Introduction
with quiet dignity, and went in.
The young mans face was one over
which O less kindly man than Rankin
might have gloated in boastful tri-
umph.
I'm more sorry than 1 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 good-naturedly. Bailey caught
it in a firm grasp.
The next day he came upon Janet,
ensconced against a sand heap away
from the crowd of bathers, reading.
He asked if he might interrupt. ia.
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 hotel dance Janet,
with her uncle, sat watching the
swirling, rainbow tinted clouds of tulle
and chiffon float past on the modishly
arrayed dancers. Her own gown, high
necked and neat, might have suited a
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 as any of those smiling, |
happy girl; whirling past. She saw
Bailey, one of the best dancers on the
fRor, always with 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 |
and tried to make her way to the door, |
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 ia
net. Much bewildered she called in |
her uncle to look at dream of an eve-
ming dress, and another frock, both In |
good style. She made him "fess up,"
and scolded him for doing it. He de- i
clared some royalties On his last book |
had come in, and that he could afford |
1t. 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. Ran
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 a |
promise that he might call. After call !
ing several times the young man made
a discovery. He impaired it to Janet !
She was really surprised.
II wonder If you actually mean II"
she said.
''Well, please don't go on wonder.
ing" he cried.
"Well 1 won't" And with happy
little smile she let him take her In his |
arms.