Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-07-06
FACING FACTS
By KATHERINE HOPSON.

oy oetoIlus oue, lucy nHO planned to hold class reunion at their home {; and one summer, five years after their graduation, they succeeded in bringing it 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 was 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 vied with 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 q beefsteak fry.
 "lt's really tragic" she thought. 'Thls will-o'the-wisp, eudless-chain business"-my caring for Ted and his infatuation for Sibyl, who doesn't care straw for him.
 The day dragged and after the pie grouped about the camp fire, Ethel stole away unobserved.
 It was not until couple of hours later, when Mrs. Denby was round- ing up her party preparatory to going home, that they actually missed her. Then the cry went up: "Where's Ethel?"
 eve must look for her," declared Arthur Denby. "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.
 1 -"I counted on you, Ted, to help make things pleasant for Ethel," re- proved Mrs. Denby in an aside.
 -'1'm afraid I've been bit remiss," Foster answered contritely. And in that mood started off alone, deter- mined to find her. It seemed to him that the green, rushing water of the l 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. ! o1lo 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 it late?" she asked. '"Yes-you know darkness comes in a hurry qp 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 l ready to relegate her to the back ground once more.
 For moment sine was silent, then said: Tin not ready to go yet" She spoke quietly, but there was a strange gleam in her gray eyes.
 ."Not ready? Why, they're all wait ing" he returned in surprise.
 'Let them wait! I 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 mean?" In sheer surprise he dropped down on the rock beside her.
 She laughed. "Just what I've said. I've done 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: 1T see that the neglect and indifference I've al. ways met with have been largely my own fault. I didn't impress others. I've decided to throw overheard ev- erything I've cared for before and start life on different basis-ln lighter vein. as 1t were"
 "What do you mean by things you've cared for betore2"
 "Well--you. for instance. I admit used to care tremendously. But you you never paid any more attention to me than if I'd been a figure in the wallpaper. But that's all oyer and done with now. I'm born anew!" She rose with gesture of pose and pow CT. I'm ready. to go now."' :. ;,
 "But I'm not" he protested. .''1'm not ready at all. Why-why is 1t I've been so blindT' !. .,'e
 "None are so blind as those who will not see," she quoted.
 "With me it wasn't a 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- taining hands on her slender scarlet