The Little River news., 1919-09-17

dear little girl even though she was the butterfly type he detested. Of course, he did not guess that Harriet had made up the society role to show him just how impossible lOve-makins with her would be. But despite it all he proposed to her the day she an nounced her intention of leaving for home.
 ''I could not think of such thing she answered in dismay. "GOodnesS, no!
 Melville did not wait to plead his cause He went away without saying word, leaving Harriet wondering whether to laugh or cry. She did not have time to do either. Just a few minutes remained in which to catch her train, and she hurried to get ready.
 The train was late. and as Harriet waited at the station she had an op- portunity to think it over. She had been an idiot to act the way she had, she decided. Even if he was poor he was perfect. What was poverty com pared to happiness? She loved him. Now she knew it, it was too late. Per- hapS it was not too late. Her bag gage was checked through, but she did not think of that. She was beside her aunts hired man in the old ram- shackle buggy, and was ordering him to drive to the farm where Melville worked, just as the train whistled at the bend
 He has gone to the river" the farm CT told her.
 The river! Harriet's head swan. There was only one thought in her mind. Melville had gone to end his life because she had so cruelty reject ed him. She seized the lines from the startled hired man and whipped up the old horse. The beast responded nobly, but to Harriet it was a snaiPs pace. The river hove in sight. She was out before they stopped at the bridge, and then stopped. panting. On the bank just a few yards from the road sat Melville, calmly fishing. Harriet stopped long enough to get her heart back to it's normal beat and then crept silently toward him.
 Melville Was staring out over the river, far-aWay look on his face. The minute her arms encircled his neck he knew who it was, and took her in his arms.
 She did not sob until her whole con l,GI Tn I1It Melville kissed the tears away. The sun was slowly sinking, the shadows were on the river, it would have made a splendid ending had not Harriet re- membered her trunk
 My baggage" she cried. Tt has gone on the train What will I do?"
 s'Tll telephone my man in the city to get it at the station. and bring it back here. Or will get him to come here with the car and we will drive to the city after it.'
 "YOur man, your car" Harriet gasped. Do you live in the city?'
 q am president of the automobile firm that bears my name,' he smiled. "I am helping out here partly to rest my nerves, but mainly to do what 1 can to help win the war. My eyesight won't pass me for the army"
 Harriet did not seem to be able to believe it all, so quickly did every thing happen. There was such an at- tractive little ivy-clad church in the village they could not resist it. But on the way back to the city MT. and Mrs. Melville Reynolds had chance to think it over. As she nestled close beside her husband on the softly up- hOlstered seat of the touring car, Harriet counted the buttons on her dress idly. Rich man." she started on the second round. There remained one more button. She heSitated t0 pronounce the next two words. Her fingers closed on the button and she was just going to say "poor man" when the button slipped off into her hand. She sighed in retiel. Melville smiled knowingly
 What if it had hern poor man, dear|' he asked
 It would have been all the same" she answered as she placed the button in his open hand and let his fingers close on hers. "Rich man or poor man, you are my own dear man