The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-12
Dy CLYDE ARNfSwORTU. Copyright, 1919, by tho Iuternation-
 al News Bureau, Incl

There had been som c-hins of a stir when Betty made her first appear ance in the sleepy IIttlo Vermont town.
 She. had arrived on one of the two trains which ran up daily from Brat tlcboro, affurdirE the only thrill of their existence 10 the e,rizzled coter- is which trauped unhurriedly from the grocery store to the small. wsa- thcr-beaten station to watch their ar rival. and then piodded as lIgtlsssly back again.
 Betty had swept them with a glance as' she looked about for a vehicle of some kind to convey her to her board ing place She noted subconsciousiy the throb of outraged righteousness wtrich bristled tho chin whiskers ot tho nearest ass, she cleared the wide step of the carry-s-il and a flash of black stockings sleamed briefly in the afternoon san.
 She had sensed the chill dlSappro- val on her arrfvul. She had felt it, unspoken but tangible. during the weeks which had slipped by since that doy. She was amused-country folk were so funny, sometimes. What narrow, fruitle8s lives they lived! The women. drab. uubeautiful, toiling out their lives fin farmhouse Kitchens; the men, their doy's work accomplish ed. troopins to the corner store, the forum of the community, to gossip.
 John was the only human in the town--John Read. the young min fster, a year from theological sCucCI. He was differeut-but he didn't be- long there. Only a question Of time and he would be called to wider fields.
 Stfli-the place was quiet. And for the sake of 1t she endured the stag nation. Tho doctor had SO ordered. He must be obeycd.
 She and John were much together, naturally. Each had found in the other the necessary quality of com panionsiifp, n common sense of lon Illness in a strTFnse land. The town noticed 1t, of course, and comment cd. Native sons did not invite their lady loves to long walks along the s,inlit roads, nor did lowing couples .,,or,,r,v ea~ts other on uII-day rt.t-,.-.~ scuursions Local awaius had ways perched themselves precari- ously on ha.ircloth sofas while suing for the-h5nd of the chosen one, with mother and father safely within hearing in tho 'sittinE-roorn" next door.
 And 70 the town decided after pro- tractsd sessions about the sawdust box fin the grocery, that the city girl was mo better than she'd ouVhter be" and looked aslSance at the minis ter.
 And then. one evening, the tete-a- tete on Mrs. Hugytn5 porch was in terrupted. It was Sflas Bascom. pillar of the church, town modcrat tor and president of the local bank. who shuffled up to them in the dusk.
 Good evenin' Miss Pearson; even in parson," he greeted them.
 "Parson, if 'taint too much trou- bIe I'd like a word with you inside Can yo spare a minnit?"
 With n smile for the girl the young man led the deacon to his small bed room. As he closed the door and turned he noticed that Bascom held a folded paper in his hand. The ban. ker had assumed n belrgerent atti- tude with the turning of the knob.
 An now, parson. what I'll hev 10 say will be fer your own good" he perforated.
 ''You're young and don't know the ways of the world, maybe, but all inc more reason for your elders to give ye good advice. NI-. Read. tho church don't like your carryfn's on with that girl out in front. We can . in more than boy. anyhow. But you've been led into temptation by a painted nu@5y--"
 stop right there. MT. Bascon.'' in torrupted Read. stiffen!ng.
 You are speaking Of a young lady for whom you should have the hisn- est respect-and the young lady who I intend to marry"
 ''AIarry!" almost screamed tho old
 I ITv FF Tg c and soc if you're Eoin' 10 marry her!'' And he thrust the folded journal be- meath the nose of the minister.
 Road pushed tho paper from his to a distance where it was possible for him to perusc it without gazing popcyed. Thon he saw. and under stood.
 There was tho caption: 'T-rit7 Rose. whose twinkIiEg toes will charm the first-nishters at tho Gaiety in Why Stay Single" in October"
 And below it was the double close up of n strl-a bewitchins beauty Betty Pearson, to be exact. Read gnsped. Surely there must be some mistake! But no; there it wns ir black and white. Betty was a chorus girl. Tnere could he no doubt of it
 He turned to Bascom.
 What of it?' he demanded
 What of ftr' returned the other "Ain't that enough7 Amt 1t bad enough to have n painted actres, runnin' about the town without hevin minister of the gospel attachin hir-eIf to her coattails7 Wal. l guess Young man" and a horny forefingel vvisgIcd beneath Reads nose. "Younl man. you'u either renoupoe the devi an his wlles. or the next church meet inn reo you without a parish" AnC he was gone.
 Outside on the porch the youn. minister told Betty everything. Hei decision was instant.
 "we1l have 10 reconsider. John. she murrnured. her head buried fl h.s shoulder. ~I can't ruin your iif' your -careert Think of what 1t would moon if you lost the churchi I would follow you everywhere-th' story, I mean. we'II just say goodbye and Tn go back to to the stage
 -Nonsense, Betty You know iti not as simple that. Just beca us. tlisss poov people are narrow-mind ed IS no roason for wrecking two