The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-01-12
The TEST
BY EARL REED siLvERs.


Eleanor Rileigh had been at the seq
shore for exactly thirteen days. lie
vacation was rapidly approaching It
close and Eleanor was troubled. Sh
did not want to 60 back again to tn
hustle and hustle Of the city; she want
ed to stay at Seacliffe, where she coul
see Ned Stanley every morning. nooi
and night. For Eleanor had begun t
ARE very much for Ned. and In he
heart Of hearts she admitted to hersel
that she hoped Ned had begun to car
for her.
II had been a wonderful week. Dur
ing the first part of her stay at Sea
cliffe Eleanor had simply sat arount
the hotel porch. dressed In the prope
gowns, doing the proper things In tn
proper way. But just a week ago Net
had appeared, and after that thing
were different.
Eleanor gazed thoughtfully over tn
sun-kissed ocean,. She looked rathel
hopefully up and down the broad piaz
"a, but the object Of her thoughts wa!
nowhere to be seen. He was late fo'
supper, but directly after the mea
he met her on the steps Of the hotel
"Hello, little lady In WHITE" was
his method of greeting. "What shall
we do tonight"
"Just stay around. l guess" Hel
blue eyes rested q~uestionlngly on bis
Don't you want tot"
IL sure do" There was the slight
est hint of laughter in his voice. I'll
means the last time we will be to-
gether in Seacliffe."
"We've had a wonderful time, haven't
WEI" She seated herself behind him
on the porch.
"Just fine" He spoke enthusiast
tically. But we're going to keep right
on having good times, aren't wei"
"Do you mean after we 60 back ia
the cltyT
"Of course"
She smiled a little twisted smile
which bordered on the pathetic.
"Oh, you know how things always
are after summer vacation. People
forget"
"But we're not going to-" He spoke
earnestly. "Surely Wen see each other
In New York"
But how about all the girls you
have told me about; girls In your own
set. like Gladys Romano and Beverly
Baldwin," !
"They don't count now" he said.
But they will count" she persisted.
"You'll want to 60 to dances and house
parties just as you used to. and you'll
forget all about this summer-and
me-"
He smiled away her doubts.
81 couldn't forget about you" he
said.
"All right, LET'S don't talk about It,"
She laughed lightly. but her eyes were
troubled.
Side by side they made their way
into the ballroom, and 1t was not until
after midnight that Eleanor reverted
to the conversation of the early eve.
ming.
. ''This is our last time together" she
said softly.
"What do you meanT he looked up
quickly.
AFTER tonight you mustn't see me
any more" She tried to speak casu.
ally, but there was a tremor In her
voice which all her attempt at bravery
could not conceal.
"Oh, you don't mean that" he pro.
tested. II thought we were going to
see each other lots"
mo, I-guess it's all over, after
tonight"
He o S and stood so that the light
from the moon shone directly into her
face.
"Are you engaged" There was q
hurt look in his eyes.
mo"
He sighed r~elievedly.
'Then there isn't any reason why /
can't see you"
"There is. Won't you please take
my word for Il and not try TOT" she
pleaded.
He glanced down half angrily. Her
eyes were bOrdered with tears, and, as
he watched, n large drop quivered
In the moonlight aud rolled down her
cheeks. In an instant he was sitting
beside her, her head pillowed on his /
shoulder.
"Oh, you mustn't see mt any more"
she sobbed. "My name isn't Eleanor
Rileigh at all; it's just plain Ellen
Reilly, and I'm a stenographer down
town.
He raised her face to his.
sand do you think that will make
any differenceY'.
Eyes, it WILL" Her hand rested on
his arm. "If you We're only like people
l know, things would be all right. But
you're not, you're rich"
"You mustn't talk like that, dear"
he said softly. u love you; that's all
that Matters"
Through a veil Of tears she smiled
up at him.
"And you care, NJ matter what
am?' she asked happily.
Eyes more than ell the world"
Hastily she wiped the tears from
her eyes.
"I'm glad, Ned" she announced, and
her tone was Il caress, because I'm
not a stenographer, after ALL"
The expression on his face betokened
b~eWilderment.
"Then why did you tell me thnt?"
he asked wonderingly.