The Clio messenger., 1918-07-12
FACING FACTS
BY KATHERINE HoPsoN.

OF "unlucky thirteen from their class
by. becoming one, they had planned
to hold class reunion at their home !;
and one summer, five years after
their graduation, they succeeded In
bringing 1t about. They were all
there, the original thirteen. together
with the wives and husbands of the
six married ones.
On the outskirts of the merry group
sat Ethel Claxton. Somehow she vras
usually the odd girl in every gather
ing. She felt herself so now, al
though there was an even number of
men and girls at the Denbys' house
party. She knew that On the present
occasion their hostess had paired her
off with Ted Foster. Nevertheless
both he and Brian Hedrick We'd wsth
each other In their attentions to
pretty, frivolous Sibyl Landon.
The same state of affairs continued
next day when the entire party packed
in various conveyances, started to
Rainbow falls for beefsteak fry.
"It's really tragic" she thought
"Ths o'-the-wisp, endless-chain
business"-my caring for Ted and his
lnfatuation for Sibyl, who doesn't care
straw for him.
The day dragged and after the pic
mic dinner, while the others were
grouped about the camp fire, Ethel
stole away unobserved.
| 1t was not until couple of hours
later, when Mrs. DENLY was round
ing up her party preparatory to going
home, that they actually missed her.
Then the cry went up: where's
Ethel?"
"We must look for her." declared
Arthur DENLY. "She may have wan
dered much farther than she realized
and lost her way"
They separated, little groups going
In different directions. All felt a
sense of guilt for neglect toward the
girl whom they had known SO long,
yet none knew well.
II counted on you, Ted, to help
make things pleasant for Ethel" re-
proved Mrs. DENLY In an aside.
"Tm afraid I've been bit remiss."
Foster answered cOntritely. And In
that mood started Off alone, deter.
mined to find her. 1t seemed to him
that the green, rushing water of the
rapid mountain stream mocked him.
When he reached point that COM
manded a view of the falls he sud-
denly caught sight Of her quietly sit
ting on an overhanging rock watch
ing the changing play Of waters.
"Hello," he called, patent relief In
his voice. you've given us the scare
of our lives"
"Why, what's the matter?'
"We've been hunting you for the
last hour. Thought you were lost
sure enough"
'Is 1t latew she asked.
"Yes-yOu know darkness comes In
hurry up here in the mountains.
We'd better hurry back-the others
are ready to start home" Now that
she was found and was safe, he was
ready to relegate her to the back
ground once more.
For a moment she was silent, then
said: I'm not ready to go yet" She
spoke quietly, but there was q
strange gleam in her gray eyes.
mot ready? Why, they're all wait
ing" he returned In surprise.
"Let them waiti must have a
few minutes-yOu know when any
thing first comes out Of its shell It's
bit wabbly-and-needs little
time to recover ITSELF"
"What do you meanT In sheer
surprise he dropped down on the rock
beside her.
She laughed. "Just what I've said.
I've done a lot Of thinking In the two
hours I've been sitting here. I've
been facing facts, In other words, and
am determined to be a different sort
Of person than the one you've known
| before"
He still stared half-comprehend.
ingly, and she hurried on: II see that
the neglect and Indifference I've al.
ways met with have been largely my
own fault. didn't impress others.
I've decided to throw overheard ev.
erything I've cared for before and
start life on different basis-in
fighter vein as 1t were."
"What do you mean by things
| you've cared for before?v
"Well-you, for instance. admit
/ used to care tremendously. But you
you never paid any more attention
co me than IL I'd been a figure In the
wallpaper. But that's all over and
done with now. I'm born anew" She
rose with gesture Of pose and pow
er. "Tm ready to go now"
"But I'm not" he protested. "rm
not ready at all. Why-why Is 1t I've
been so blindT"
! "None are so blind as those who
will not see," she quoted.
with me 1t wasn't case OF
wouldn't-but simply not having my
eyes opened. They're open now all
right"
She started to go, but he laid de
tanning hands on her slender scarlet