Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1918-08-21
TWAS FALSE
BY VINCENT G. PERRY.
Copyright 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.J

he gave up with one more effort
81 tell you she is young-just about
t~wenty-one," he said holly. Because
she is an actress you think she has to
be old. There are some young ac-
tresseS, aren't there?'
Mervin Renton, his companion, was
quite willing to admit that there were
but this one, he claimed, was not you
can't tell me-" he argued. "This Dora
Fraleigh will never see thirty-fVe
again. Her hair is false, I'm willing
to wager anything. Did you ever see
curls like hers that were real? Every
thing about her IS false"
Arthur knew If he stayed he would
become angry. Mervin was Jealous
that was what was the matter, he felt.
Without another word Arthur left
the bath-house where the conversation
had been held and made for the beach
1t was q glorious day and the guests Of
the hotel were making the best Of the
bathing weather. He caught sight Of
Dora almost Immediately. Apparently
she was searching for something in the
water near the beach
~What have you lost?' he asked as
he waded toward her.
"Oh nothing" she answered q tribe
confused. "Isnt the water ine?"
After completely immersing himself
and swimming aimlessly about for a
few seconds, Arthur agreed that 1t
was '"Let's 90 out on the raft" he
suggested, but Dora seemed unwilling
to leave the shallow place. This was
surprising, for she had always seemed
anxious to get all the fun possible.
There was something troubling her.
She even seemed unwilling to go on
the beach for q sun bath, but finally
agreed.
sThere!" Arthur exclaimed, as he
stretched out on the sand. II thought
I never would get away from that
shallow part. There were so many
children there I didn't have q chance
to talk with you"
"You usually have lots Of opportuni-
ties" Dora smiled
3What's this" he asked, as he picked
up something his toes had been rub
bling against in the sand "Well, look
what's here! A false curl!" Sure
enough 1t was.
Dora took It from him eagerly. I
lost it," she exclaimed, as she jumped
to her feet. "I was searching for 1t
out there. Wait until I go and tell
auntIe. She'll be delighted"
She was off before Arthur could stop
her. He looked after her with an ex'
clamation Of dismay on his lips. To
think that those beautiful curls OF hers
were false. No, wonder she hadn't
talked much and had been confused.
So Mervin had been right!
When Dora joined him again ne was
trying to smile, but found he couldn't
"What makes you so quiet?" she asked,
after they had sat in silence for near
~ five minutes
Nothing very much" he replied to
her question. 81 "a thinking that l
was going home tomorrow"
"Going homei" she echoed why
YOU said last week that you would be
here all summer"
eT have changed my mind" he an
Swered, but when he saw the panied
look on Dora's face he wished he had
thought up an excuse.
The next morning Arthurs resolve
to 90 home had not faltered- He
wasn't going to stay there to be the
laughing stock of the whole hotel when
they found out about Dora's age. He
was only twenty-one and most likely
she was thirty, anyway. Nine years
was too much difference. He felt so
uncomfortable over it he went to the
station half an hour before the train
was due to leave. His going away
would leave the field open for Mervin.
That was too much. He left the train
in q hurry and left word with the bag
gage man to have his trunks sent back
to the hotel. He couldn't be happy
without Dora. even if she was eighty.
He found Dora in a secluded corner
of the veranda. Her eyes were red and
there were other traces of tears.
"You haven't gone yet" she cried
ioyfully, as she caught sight of him.
ST heard that you had gone without
even saying good-by to me-"
81 came pretty nearly doing it, dear
ne said, "but I couldn't go away and
leave you here. When I go I want to
take you with me- 1 want to marry
you"
eff you wanted to marry me, why
did you make me worry about your
leaving so unexpectedly?"' she asked.
trying not to smile. Last night was
the second night I have lost sleep by
worrying. The night before it was the
thought of having lost auntie's best
curl that"
sAuntie's curl?" he interrupted.
eyes, the curl you found yesterday"
sOh!" Arthur groaned. 81 thought
chat was your curl"