Baxter Springs news., 1919-07-04

Decision

- oENEvIEvR ULMAR

tno Vuplu cnntterinB OF TWO uhnuineu
young sprigs Of wealth. She mani
tested q latent wearlness. an obvious
liberation. concealed with some difl-
Guilty.
Her chauffeur started up the ma
chine ut her word. and Miss Elvira
Dutton sank back upon the luxurious
cushions with n tired sigh. Then,
again haltlng before the shop Of q
fashionable mOdlste, she handed the
chauffeur a short list, which he dellv-
cred. and when he returned to the ma
chine three girl friends were lined up
at the curb converslng with the young
helress.
Arden Besley was forced to listen
to the shallow nothlngs uttered by the
chattering group. Then as the auto
again started up he heard Miss Dut-
ton utter q pettlsh. wearled exclama-
ton. Il was the FIRST time he had
driven the machine. having been en-
ployed by John Moore. the uncle Of
Miss Dutton, the day previous. The
latter did not even know his name,
but she spoke pleasantly:
"wiI you kindly drive out Of town
as far rs you like; do not care to
return till late afternoon. Do you
know any restful, picturesque spot
where can get away from this-thls
follyf"
Arden Besley bowed, marveling at
the w0ndrous beauty Of her face.
"The old river road winds In and out
for forty miles," he said. ''There Is a
beautiful prospect from the bluffs near
Vlnton. Is that too farr
mot ut ALL"
She sat back IN the seat with closed
eyes after that, and no further words
were spoken between them. When Ar
den Besley halted It was at the end
of q rise In the landscape. From the
apex Of the bluff Miss Dutton gazed
upon q varied scene spread before her
like q panorama. Her eyes were ra-
diant.
"Then I am to 60 back to Vlnton
and come here laterT questioned Ar.
den.
III you please" she responded, and
her eyes took In his face with atten-
ton for the first moment.
He reported to Mr.. Moore that he
was to 60 for Miss Dutton late In the
afternoon. At four o'clock Arden
drove back to the spot where he hnd
left Miss Dutton. She was flushed,
almost embarrassed. he fancled.. Her
wraps were nowhere in sight; she
handed him a sealed envelope.
"You will deliver that to Mr.. Moore.
please" she said. "When he questions
you tell him left you no indication
Of where I was going. That Is all.
and thank you"
She fitted away without another
word. leaving Arden fairly stupeflcd.
BE felt sure that these abrupt orders |
covered some strange action on the |
part Of Miss DuttOn. Mr.. Moore Ques. |
toned him closely when, with a star
tied face. he read the letter. He asked |
in detail Of the mysterious trip. Then |
he looked decidedly angry. His lips |
closed tightly.
'You need say nothing Of this Incl.
dent to Others" he observed. Arden
saw no more Of Miss Dutton. Her
name was not mentioned In the house.
Another young lady had appeared.
and casually Arden learned that whlm-
sical. purse-prOud John Moore had
chosen Miss Dutton as his heIress,
that after six months Of hlgh-schoOl
life she had written him, tired Of the
sham, hollow life Of riches nlOne, and
that he had chosen q new helress.
At the end Of two. months Arden
Besley gave up his position as chauf-
reur. 1t had been assumed only to
Keep from being idle during the sum-
ner vacation. He was principal Of q
school and must now return to his reg
llar duties at BortonvilIe. fifty miles
iistant, where his mother and sister
Zept house for him.
It was his sister Leila who met him
It the depot with q warm welcome
md the words:
II hnve something to tell you before
We so home. il Is a strange story"
md these were its details: Two
months previous Miss DuttOn had ap-
,eared at their home near the bluffs, h
skiing for q meal. Something IN the
Ieat, cheerful old house had attracted
er, her two hostesses, humble, mod. II
st and h0spltRDle, had chained her.
he told them she had been a sbcOOl-
eacher and had been taken frOn that
osltion to become the helress Of John
foore. The experiment had Ghown
er the holl0wness Of the new life into {
Thlch she had been ushered. She
sked leave to become q boarIlcr uhtIl II
chOol began again, hoping to secure
teachers position.
I'VE knew that you had secured q
osltlon with Mr.. Moore" proceeded I
ella, 'and had been her chauffeur,
ut we decided to say nothing Of that.
he did not know your name. but she
as waited anxiOusly. hoping that you
= = -. - HI "a a