The Washington times., 1918-10-14
The PlOtters
AN UNUSUAL SERIAL OF EAST AND WEST
Elizabeth Hears John Is Not Likely
to Return for Some Time---Gets
Written Message

three days. The other was from
Douglas wade. informing his sister
that he was leaving Immediately
for New Hampshire.
When Mrs. Chaplin heard the news
her grief subsidized perceptibly.
Just you tell the men to DC
what's got to be done till Clifford
gets here" she urged "Then he'll
see to everything. VIII you tell
them that. dear?"
Certainly" Elizabeth promised.
When she had done the widows
bidding she stood uncertainty "a
the hall. She longed to get away.
Then she appreciated that she
would have to remain here until
Douglas arrived. and this could not
be for several days yet
But surely John would arrange to
have her go elsewhere. Yet how
could she leave poor Mrs. Chaplin
at this crisis? Well. she would walt
for Johns return before deciding
anything.
Meanwhile she must get out Of the
house for a few minutes.
q Stealing from the back door, she
ran across the meadow down to the
Ike. Here hidden from the housa
by the brow OF the hill. she stepped
into the old fiat-bottomed boat ~
ing idle and roNyed herself down 20
the spot where she and John Butler
had gathered water lilies weeks
ago.
How far of that time seemed!
She shipped her oars and. sitting
under the dropping branches OF the
willows. unused on all that had
passed since that golden morning.
She recalled what John had said
then about his sister. and how
startled she (Elizabethl had been
to think that Douglas was probably
In love with a girl whom she had
never seen.
Now she knew that her entire
viewpoint had changed She loved
Douglas dearly and wanted him 70
come to her. But John was the
dearest thing in the world to her.
Well. nothing could affect his love
for her or hers for him.
She sat quiet until the reaiixa-
ton OF the great fact had sunk 50
deeply into her soul that she was
brave enough to face the harassing
present. Then she rowed slowly
back to the farm, and walked uD
the path TO the house.
From the front doorknob hoated
the emblem of woe. She shrank
from touching the black crepe
streamer and went around to the
back door. As she entered the
house Mrs. Miller came forward
while you was out a man came
up from Midland and brought you
this" she said He's waiting on the
side stoop for an answer"
She held out an envelope address,
ed in John Buffers handwriting.
The girls fingers closed on \
eagerly.
with a muttered Thank youP
she ran toward her room. The
instinct to be alone to read what
John had written was uppermost in
her mind.
Gets Message From John.
But as she reached the head Of
the stairs Mrs. Miller's voice a.
rested her.
Excuse me, my dear. but my husr
band was here for a minute juss
now. He wanted to know il we
wouldn't rather have him come over
here and stay till young ChsPln
comes hOme-that is, you know. AZ
nights What do you think OF III
1 thought you might feel safer baV-
ing a man sleeping here"
"Whyr-EliZabeth's tried TO gather
her scattered wits-"that must be
as Mrs. Chaplin thinks best. Ask
her. But-why-do you think it's
necessary to have Mr.. Miller heref
I mean-you see we will have Mr..
BUTTERFLY evening anyway-and II
Mr.. Miller you'd rather stay At
home
She stopped abruptly. arrested BY
the CLEAN OF interest that had
crept into the neighbours eyes. Mrs.
Miller came half way up the flight
Of stairs where Elizabeth stood.
and when she spoke it was In
stage whisper.
But my dear Miss Wade, you see
it amt likely that Mr.. Butler viii
be here again-that Is. not just yet
At least that's what my Sam says
But he thinks it's too bad, for he's
a lovely young man. And Amos
was always queer anyway. But.
there, I'll let you go up and read
your letter now. There'll be time
enough to talk about all this later.
To BE Continued.