The Raymer enterprise., 1917-08-09
TOUT A vous
BY CONSTANCE sEARLE.


looking-glas at its best was not very
good, was more or less crinkled and
mildewed on its silyered side.
1t was just one Of the little crosses
she had to bear, this glass into which
she had looked all of her girlhood. She
had seen herself In other mirrors and
knew that her eyes We're bright and
that her skin was satiny. with tinge
Of color that was the envy Of the sum
mer boarders who frequented the point
Of land that stuck its nose into the
Atlantic ocean down Cape Cod way.
This day, Valentines day, she was
angrier than she had ever been in her
life before Patience Cotton had shown
her valentine that had been slipped
under her door early that morning. 1t
was homemade affair, two cut-out
hearts with a bunch Of dried forget
me-nots tied together with Bit Of blue
ribbon.
In one corner was family traced
monogram entwined with the outlines
Of u rudely-drawn heart.
II was this monogram that had
ilared to white heat the anger smOlder-
ing in Charity's breast. ]. +. could
only mean Josiah Foote and he had
left her few nights before with
look In his eyes that had turaed her
world upside down.
She agreed that 1t had come from
Josiah. And of course she was glad
he cared so much for Patience. But
little later she mounted the steep
stairs To her room with tagging feet,
walked slowly across the room to the
chest of drawers, and with face be-
tween her two hands looked herself
straight In the eyes.
Her mothers voice brought her to
herself and recalled to her mind that
Josiah Footc had told her he was com
Ing over that evening to bring her
something he had bought in Boston
when he was there the week before.
To her surprise, Charity found him
In the hall taking Off his hat and coat
"Guess | might as well give II to
you here" he said nervously. "Yanr
mothers In the sitting room and |
mayn't have another chance" He
handed her an envelope, his face flush
ing as he did So
With halrpin she carefully slit the
envelope and drew from 1t a wonderful
confectlon of paper lace, cuplds and
hearts with dear little house half
hidden by Il lattice covered with roses.
Tied TO the top with clumsy bow of
blue ribbon was II ring set In turquoise
nots.
''Oht" she cried, 'for me? How did
you know ! wanted onef, How could
you know?"
He came a step nearer to her. II
didn't. Ipt 1t looked so like you when
saw it N the window in Boston that
| had to 90 in and buy 1t. Patience
Cotton happened to come along and
thought, as / did, that ii was real pret-
ty.p
The name brought her back to earth.
"Patlencei" she repeated the name
slowly, but looking at him. "She was
here this morning and told me you
had bought u ring for her and were go-
Ing to bring 1t TO her tonight-thnt
you had left n In Boston to have
date, and your initials and hers, en-
grayed in 1t. had forgotten Then
she Jared around upon him, eyes blaz-
Ing, color deepening. How dare you
bring this to met How dare your
He looked at her in amazement, then
swift anger took possession Of him.
'"There is nothing | do not dare"
he retorted, catching her wrist in his
hand as she flung past him. 'Noth-
ing-do you understand? But | will
know what you mean. What's all this
fuss about? Are you going to tel
meTn
mo- ....
He changed his tactics. Look at
me, Charity" As she did not lift her
head he put his dsengaged hand under
her chin and lifted her face. There
was little qulver Of the lips and TO
her everlasting shame the tears that
had filled her eyes rolled down her
cheeks.
LET me go. Jo. Let me CO."
mot until you have told me. You
see, Charity, / care so much that
don't intend to let foolishuess, or any
thing Patience Cotton may say, come
between us; that Is, he said dlitident.
ly, ''if you have the least thought Of
ne. bought the ring for you, moi
for her. Ii yon viii look inside you
will see the letters j. +. TO c. W. and
some French words.
Il told the jeweler that | wanted
something else besides the Initials,
and he said tout yous' was just
the thing"
For moment he struggled with his
New England reticenee before he could
speak the unaccustomed words with
their note Of tenderness. They mean
wholly yours. Do you feel that way
toward me, Charity?'
snow and always, Jo."
He leaned toward her, but move
ment In the sitting room brought him
suddenly erect.