Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1918-12-12
Brown-Betty
By AGNES C BRocAfs

tOopyri&eI AeAes western NsWzpapsf unioAD
Barney DEAR" said the girl. ''please
oh, please do not ask me again. ]
have thought II out through a long
sIeepIess night. never can marry
you. Barney, you are far too beauti-
full"
"Beautifuli" scofFed the man, -weIl
Of all the absurd reasons."
1T Is not absurd Betty protested.
"everywhere you 80 to sing. the women
flock about with adorlng eyes. Az II
yQuf fgce and figure do not make you
faeeinBtinn nnpnNh mtthouf the adds
tionaI charm Of golden voice. Just
could not stand it--being your wife !
mean.
MY nose turns up" the girl went on
"You sec that, don't your
TITS a cute saucy nose" her lover
insisted.
"And my mouth Is large" Betty add
ed mercilessiy.
tits n lovable mouth" said Barney.
when you see me-" Betty confessed.
Il am always at my best. dress up
for you Barney. study colors and
things But some morning when I'd
hurry down to the breakfast table look
Ing sallow, I'm often yellow in the
uorniDg-yOu'd be comparing me dis
eOntentedly. with some lovely face
among your admirers, and obi Bar
ney--" Unexpectedly Betty trembled
Into tears.
why you foolish child" her lover
murmurcd huskily, with his arms
around her.
Betty drew him te the mantel glass.
you can't deny that you are hand.
some. Barney" shs challenged
"Oh swpsh !" said Barney
"0r that ] am brown ns--as 4 brown
betty teApot." persisted the girl.
-Brown-betty tespots are mighty
comfortable things TO have around"
Barney remarked. We have q sort Of
Dresden fancy one at our house. I'm
always afraid someone viii knock the
dainty thing over in my lap, or that
II viii crack with heat. But the little
brown.betty looks like homo TO me-
comfortable. coy"
The girl laughed.
'vThal's very kind Of ron. donr," abe
said. hut n concert singer does not re-
auIre a eoEy comfy sort Of wife. Any
wny--T Betty frowned dcterminedly.
= ava not going TO marry you. Barney;
I won't give myself a miserable future.
And that IL what my jealousy would
make Of A. So you know now my
despicabie nature
barney Meclarsn turned away i'm.
patiently.
II know be replied. -your pervsrsity
BETTY. and 4 hnrta OF al tbs idiotie
Feasons fer refusing q mani You DON'T
love me. that's the truth"
Betty made no denial II sosmed wis.
or 70 leave Il that way.
The glri with hair and eyes ali duly
brown. waited TREMENDOUSLY.
"rm going TO enlist. now Barney
snapped. and was gone.
She wrote 20 him at the camp, OBJ
tanning the address from his mother.
Cheery. friendly letters they we're with
no reference to love or itn dlsappoini.
monis And the soldier whose golden
voice was silent now In his eountrS'a
need, responded TO the letters In 9 man.
ucr more perfunctory than pleasing.
oyer in France-for her lover had
gone Into active duty--some charming
French girl might prove 10 him how
mistaken he had been; and he would
write then TO thank her for her wis
dom. st this consoIing thought the
pcrverpe Betty bent her head In tears.
L was one morning when she went
down the street upon her usual round
81 errands. That Betty learned most
surprisingly that Barney Mcclaren had
been sent home-wounded. That was
why she had received no response TO
her later letters.
"My nurse IN beautiful" Barney
wrote y don't quite know just how
70 describe her, sort Of dresden.
chIna wonan--all dnintlness and soft
color" As an afterthought. he had
added postscript:
Il stiil prefer Brown-Betties." II
said.
Suddenly Betty pushed the letter
away. unsummonsd. she would go to
him II he had fallen in love with the
nurse. well, II would be good for her
20 know H.
There was restraint IN Mrs McCinr.
ems manner as she admitted the girl,
Barney was better. she said. hut
he had a strange aversion TO seeing his
friends. She was almost sure that Bet.
" would be refused.
Betty. painfully perplexed. waited
long for the mothers return. aud when
she did not come. like a little brown
shadow the girl crept anxiously up the
stairs. Then before the open door Of
the soldiers room she paused. and ali
at once Betty understood.
Barney lay upon the white bed. while
across his beautiful changed face
stretched q long curving scar.
'Bettyw he whispered. Beneath her
pitiful gaze he WINGED.
mot very nice to look upon" Bar
ney said humbly. "Won't be quite so
repulsiye, though. after awhile. A bit
OF shell lodged there. Betty. They
had hard time digging II out"
'Darlingl" cried the girl. With a lit
tie soft rush she ran to him, her arms
twined about his bruised body, ten
derby her lips touched for moment
the curving scar
4 can't let you sacrifice yourself
the soldier protested.
Brown Betty smiled through her
tears.
"You have made the sacrifice, dear"
she said.