Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-05-23
mot a bit Of it," he said. LET me

take the cherries"
Connie helplessIy passed them down
to him, and saw him carefully deposit
Ing them on the ground. "Just give me
your hand"
And what could Connie do? She
couldn't sternly order millionaire's
son to mosy around the house and
mind his own business until she got
some decent clothes on, though that
was what she yearned to do. Instead
she held out a slender hand, grimy and
red, with a few ugly scratches here
and there, and allowed herself to be
helped ANONYMOUSLY out from the shell
tering branches into the garish light of
day.
She looked at him reproachfully. He
never so much as smiled.
Laugh If you like" she said bitter
ly. II looked in the mirror. know all
about it."
| run along" he said, 'but don't be
gone long, will you? Can you trust me
with the cherries?"
Connie walked into the house with
great decorum, afraid the ragged skirts
might swing revealingly, but the young
man bent over the cherries while she
made her escape.
1t was another Connie who appeared
a little later, typical tennis girl, all in
white from the velvet band in her hair
to the canvas shoes on her dainty feet.
She held out the slender hand, no long
err grimy and stained, but its wilderness
still married with sorry scratches.
II am glad to see you" she said
gracefully, though can only pray you
won't carry mental picture of me
very long"
"Tm afraid / will, though" he said
teasingly.
'eThen please don't paint me verbally
for my sisters ears; they are always
so clever where / am concerned. It is
too bad they are out You'll stay for
luncheon with me, won't you? I'm all
alone-we'll have it in the yard"
at sounds tempting, but-perhaps
/ had better come again later in the
afternoon"
"You may do that, too" said Connie.
"But since you are here, I'm afraid !
must insist that you help amuse me-"
And she added ruefully, "Since have
done so well amusing you this morn
ing"
why, he's just like anybody else,'
she was thinking with relief. tits no
trouble to talk to him, at all. He's nice
In spite OF the millions"
He stayed for luncheon, he even
helped carry the folding table out be-
meath the cherry tree. and trotted
docilely back and forth with plates and
glasses, as Connie decreed.
1t was not until they were at lunch
con that the grand idea visited Connie.
Back to her remembrance flashed the
thousand witty sallies Of Carol and
Lark, the hundreds Of times she had
suffered at their hands. md for the
first time in her life, she saw clear
way Of getting even. And a million
aires son! Never was such revenge
fairly crying to be perpetrated.
''Will you do something for me, Mr.
HedgesT she asked. Connie was only
sixteen, but something that is born In
woman told her to lower her eyes shy
ly, and then loo'eup at him quickly be-
meath her lashes. And she saw In a
flash the ruse worked.
Then she told him softly, very pref
tily.
"But won't she dislike me, If doY'
he asked.
mo, she won't" said Connie. "We're
a family Of good laughers. We enjoy
joke nearly as much when it's on us
as when we are on top"
So it was arranged, and shortly aft.
er luncheon the young man in the i'm
maculate spring suit took his depar.
ture. Then Connie summoned her aunt
by phone, and told her she must hasten
home to help "get ready for the mil.
lionaire's son." 1t was after two when
the twins arrived, and Connie and their
aunt hurried them SO violently that
they hadn't time to ask how Connie
got her information.
He had arrived A millionaire's son
Instantly their enthusiasm returned to
them. The cushions on the couch were
carefully arranged for the reclining of
the semi-invalid aunt, who, with the
sweet young daughter of the house,
was upstairs waiting to be summoned
Connie, with the tennis racquet, was
in the shed, waiting to arrive theatre
cally. Carol, in her trim black gown
with white cap and apron, was a
dream.
And when he came she ushered him
in, courtesying in way known only
on the stage, and took his hat and
stick, and said softly:
eyes, sir-please come in, sir-I'n
call the ladies'"
She knew she was bewitching, of
course, since she had done it on pur-
pose, and she lifted her eyes just far
enough beneath the lashes to give the
properly coquettish effect. He caught
her hand, and drew her slowly toward
him. admiration in his eyes, but trepi-
dalton in his heart, as he followed Con-