Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-04-04
Her
Decision
tcsssrlrst. 1913. b. Weston x.wsg.p.r UaiosJ
By n


giant automobile, languidly holding a
thousand-dollar parssol over her head
and listening with forced attention to
the vapid chattering Of two dandlned
young sprigs Of wealth. She mani
tested n latent wearintss, an obvious
federation. concealed with some Diff
Guilty.
Her chauffeur started up the ma
chine at her word, and Miss Elvira
Dutton sank back upon the luxurious
cushions with a tired sigh. Then,
again hating before the shop Of a
IA fashionable modiste, 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
ut the curb conversing with the young
heiress.
Arden Besley was forced to listen
to the shallow nothings uttered by the
chattering group. Then Is the auto
again started I'D he heard Miss Dut-
ton utter a pettisb. wearied exclama-
tion. 1t was the first time he had
driven the machine. having been en-
ployed by John Moore, the uncle Of
Miss button. the day previous. The
latter did not even know his name,
but she spoke pleasantly:
"will you kindly drive out of town
as far as you like; I do not care to
return till late afternoon. Do you
know any restful, picturesque spot
where l can get away from this-thls
foIIyf'
Arden Besiey bowed. marveling at
the wondrous beauty of her face.
THE old river road winds In and out
for forty miles," he said. "There Is q
beautiful prospect from the bluffs near
vinfon. Is that too farf'
mot at 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 1t was at the end
OF y rise In the landscape. From the
npex OF the bluff Miss Dutton gazed
upon y varied scene spread before her
like a panorama. Her eyes were ra-
disnt.
Then ! am to 20 back to Vinton
and come here laterf' questioned Ar.
den
III you please" she responded, and
her eyes took In his face with atten.
ton for the first moment.
lie reported to Nh. 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 had
left Miss Dutton. She was flushed,
almost embarrassed, he fancied. 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 ] was going. That Ia all,
and iAsnk Seas-
Sns fitted away without another
word. leaving Arden fairly stupefed.
He felt sure that these abrupt orders
covered some strange action on the
part of Miss Button. 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.
~ssYou need say nothing of this Incl.
dent to Others" he observed. Arden
Saw no more of Miss Button. Her
name was not mentioned in the house.
Another young lady had appeared,
ami casually Arden learned that whim-
steal. pu~rse-proud John Moore had
chosen Miss Dutton as his heiress,
that after six months Of high-school
life she had written him, tired of the
sham. hollow life of riches alone, and
that he had chosen q new heiress.
AT the end Of two months Arden
Besley ave up his position as chauf-
four. 1t had been assumed only to
keep from being idle during the sum-
mer vacation. He was principal of a
school and must now return to his reg
ulnr duties at B~ortonville, fifty miles
distant, where his mother and sister
kepg house for him.
II was his sister Leila who met him
Mt the depot with a warm welcome
aud the words:
II have something to tell you before
we 60 home. II IL q strange story
and these were its details: Two
months previous Miss Dutton had ap.
peared at their home nea the bluffs.
asking for q meal. Something in the
neat, cheerful old house had attracted
her, her two hestesses. humble. mod
est and h~ospitable. had charmed her.
She told them she had been Q shcool-
teacher and had been taken from that
position to become the heiress Of John
Moore. The experiment had shown
her the holiowness of the new life into
which she had been ushered. She
asked leave to become a boarder until
school began again. hoping to secure
teachers position.
I'VE knew that you had secured q
position with Mr.. Moore" proceeded
Leiia. ''and had been her chauffeur,
but we decided to say nothing Of that,
She did not know your name. but she
has waited anxiously, hoping that you
can use your influence to secure her
the position she desires"
There was mutual embarrassment
when those two met, but 1t was OF
brief duration. Then new acquaint.
aneeship drifted rapidly into mutual
appreciation, that OF a girl In a thou
sand for a nan who. like herself. dis.