The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1919-08-23
CURING HIM
BY JOAN N. GRAY.
(CopyrIght, 1913. by the Mcclure Nsvsps-
per Syndicate)

Elizabeth sat by the window watch
Ing the snow fiuttering down. II was
n pretty picture. sleeping garden
covered with Its blanket OF snow, and
vet Elizabeth did not gee 1t. One can.
not always see beauty when one Is n
bit unhappy More often one sees the
cause Of that unhappiness. That WINS
why Elizabeth. gazing out Into the
snow. saw Malcolm. handsome, haSn'
eyed Malcolm. who had been her baby.,
hood playmate. her childhood sweet
heort. md was now her sweetheart
chum.
When one Is only seventeen sweet.
heart is very essential thing; that 10.
n sweetheart of ones very own. NAL
colin had been just that to Elizabeth
until two weeks ago. So EliZabeth
Wondered. The first time, when ne
had asked her to go skating and Ind
not come for her. she had been sur
prIscd. Then he Ind explained the
next day that Bob hnd insisted on his
escortIng girl who was visiting
Bobs sister to matinee. Two days
later she had forgiven him and had
gone skating with him and Bob and
Leila. And tonight he had forgotten
that he had asked to run around with
some music" md had taken visiting
girl to the movies. Leila's voice over
the telephone Ind told Elizabeth that,
Just before she had kissed her father
and mother good night" and Ind gone
to her pretty room to gaze from the
window.
"Oh. Betty" Leila had said, ut WINS
the most wonderful picture and the
girl was denr. As for the man. just
wait till you see him! And guess who
was there? Can't2 Malcolm and the
girl who Is visiting Mrs. Glidden.
was so sure. Oh. you were just going
to bed? Well. I'll see you some time.
Good night"
It really was too much. and lump
that could not he swallowed threat
ened to make the tears flow.
Early the next morning her mother
called her to the phone. Its NAL
colin. Betty, dear" she said. "but re-
member we must get the 9:40 train"
"Hello. Betty" said well.known
voice. "You aren't mad. IRE you" A
slight pause. "I-you know, was 60
night. but 4"
you forgot all about it," Elizabeth
broke In. Don't worry about that,
Malcolm. was rather busy last eve
ming"
"oh." said the voice. Then. "who
was her
"No one you know. But must 10
now. Mother and I are going to town,
since there's no school today"
AZ he waited, ns usual, at her cor
ner for her on Monday morning. he
saw her approaching with Arthur Fer
gusOn. Unheard OIL For a year now
he and Betty had walked to school to-
gether. and now she passed him BY
for Art.
A week passed; a week Of uneasi.
ness and remorse; week during
which he had seen Betty much cav
altered by Arthur. There were 9TH
ers who were taking advantage Of his
absence. At last he managed to STAN
mer nm Invitation over the phone.
"I'm going constIng with Herbert
this evening, Malcolm" she said
sweetly. "but tomorrow"
"Will you go with me tomorrow"
he broke In eagerly. "Oh, Betty! I'll
be there ut seven sharp.
AT ten minutes before seven he rang
Betty's bell and was greeted by her
mother.
rs Betty rendy7" he asked.
Betty has gone to Helen's marty
with Arthur" said Betty's mother.
"But come in, Malcolm. We haven't
seen you for long time"
mo. thanks. I'm go home,
guess" he said. "Good night" He
went dejectcdly down the steps, leav-
ing Mrs. Norris smiling wisely after
him.
The next morning he called for Betty
instead Of waiting at the corner. and
thus had five minutes without Art.
"I'll call for you Mt seven tonight to
go skating with me, Betty. and I'm
going to walk home with you. and II
you go of with anyone else-Oh. Bet
ty, you will, won't you? You won't.
will you?"
I'D love to CO." she said casually.
"Of course, I'll wait for you. At seven
sharp. oh, good morning. Arthur"
1t wns with msgivings that he rang
her bell that evening. However. 1t
was Betty In red sweater and cap who
greeted him; Betty who leased him
and raced him to the pond; Betty who
chose him to put on her skates. refus-
Ing Arthur, who eagerly rushed to her
assistance. A wonderful star-Iit eve
ming
They were walking home together:
she laughing. he silent. Finally she
stopped and looked up at him. "Yes!
No. Yes! Nor she said. talk,
talk WHATS the matter with our