The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1918-04-26
JANEY PROPOSES
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BY AGNES c. eRocAN.
Icopyrisht. 1918. western NewspsperrS un,

1
scene of gayety. Always his place
seemed to be just at the outer edge of
things, never as participant. Years
| ago-fOr youth seemed a confused
memory to David, he had not danced
| or flirted, or even engaged in harmless
revelry with his college companions.
| Seriously, he had wondered at their
simple enjoyment as he applied him.
self to study. The admiring glances
of girls he had been too absorbed to
see alike their perplexity and disap-
pointment at his indifference, had
proved unnoticed.
Now, David, successful man of busi-
ness, authority upon matters of mo-
ment, realized suddenly and gloomily,
that pleasure had repaid him with the
forgetfulness he had given. Not that
1t ,mattered-much. Janey still came
to him with her merry or fearful con-
fidences, Janey, with an utter disre-
gard for decorum, stopped at his bach
elor nome on dismal, dreary evenings
to make his tea for him, to sit there
in bright red frock with her little
red slippers before the fire, talking
as only Janey could talk.
After her return from that last wear
at college there had been a self-con-
fident poise in the girls bearing which
had not been there before. David was
/ impatiently disappearing Of each sutton
who appeared upon the scene. No
! man seemed quite good enough for
Janey, and these conceited young idi-
ots-David fumed at their assurance.
The choice had now sifted down to
two. Frankly Janey discussed her
cavaliers before David's study fire.
"They both want to marry me-" she
remarked one evening.
Janey - married! The thought
caught in a painful manner at David's
heartstrings.
walt he advised hastily, 'do not
be in hurry, child; marriage is for a
lifetime"
"But if l wait like you, David" she
had ingenuously complained, 81 may
never choose at ALL"
So this night behind the palms he
had watched her fitting about. a
sought after vision in white, but there
was, he fancied, cloud upon the girls
piquant face.
Jack Irving moped in an opposite
corner against the wall; Billy Hayes
was conspicuOusly attentive to every
one but his adored Janey-what was
the matter?
David" asked small, meek voice,
"may I hide with you here for a
while?" Janey herself parted the cur
tains of his seclusion.
"You see, David, I'm in rather an
embarrassing predicament. Those sill
ly boys, both Of them, think that I'm
engaged"
David wheeled about sharply. EN-
gagged to whom"
Janey studied her outspread fingers.
ITO Them" she said. David stared.
"Jack did ask me last night" she con-
fessed, 'and Billy said something of
the sort while we were driving this
morning, but"
"But-" Knocked David. "Well, are
you engaged TO eltherT
Janey sighed. don't know" she
answered.
"Don't know" David was exasper-
ated; also his heart was hammering
heavily.
ut was this way" the girl explained.
Last night Jack got to talking about
his promising future, and-and how
he would like me to share it, David,
and we could go south on those business
trips Of his in the winter, and have
bungalow out near our golf links in
summer, and he wanted to know when
] would decide, and / said something
about leaving it until tonight"
'Under those circumstances" David
answered slowly, lit would appear that
young Irving has right to consider
you engaged"
wait" begged Janey. "This morn
ing, you remember, I went for a ride
with Billy, and Billy talked good deal
as Jack had, only-he wanted me to
marry him when he gets his degree,
and If would was to give him the
first dance this evening. He knew that
Jack had spoken for escort. And,
David, honestly, when Billy came for
ward l forgot all about his old degree
and gave him-the first dance. Ever
since then the two boys have been
scowling at each other and-and bully
me. So"- Janey threw out her hands
disparingly-"there you are"
David was also scowling. "You
should not play with them that way"
he said severely. "Both are nice boys,
and it is not fair. Make your choice
and find your happiness. What more
can you desire, Janey?" David sighed.
They have all the stakes, youth-that
greatest stake of all, and their future
before them"
Sometimes" said Janey, her. voice
was strangely unsteady, Its just as
well to have little of the future be-
hind one, David. Sometimes it makes
man kinder, more understanding.
And always, we women cannot choose
our own happiness, we've have to