Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-06-06
Her
Decision

By GENEVlEVE ULMAR


thouSand-dollnr parasol over her head
ana listening with forced attention to
the vapid chattering of two dandified
young sprigS Of wealth. She mani
tested latent WEAKNESS, an obvious
federation, concealed with some diff
Guilty.
Her chauffeur started up the ma
chine ut her word, and Miss Elvira
Dutton sank back upon the luxurious
cushions with tired sigh. Then,
again hating before the shop of
fashionable modiste. she handed the
chauffeur u short list, which he deliv.
cred, and when he returned to the ma
chine three girl friends were lined I'D
at the curb conversing with the young
heiress.
Arden Besley was forced to listen
to the shallow nothings uttered by the
chattering group. Then as the auto
again started up he heard Miss Dut-
ton utter pettish, wearied exclama-
ton. 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 can get away from this-this
folly?"
Arden Besley bowed, marveling at
The old river road winds in and out
for forty miles," he said. "There is a
beautiful prospect from the bluffs near
Vinton. Is that too far?"
mot Mt 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 varied scene spread before her
like panorama. Her eyes were IA.
diant.
"Then I am to 60 back to Vinton
and come here later?" questioned Ar.
den.
IF you please" she responded, and
her eyes took in his face with attep.
ton for the first moment.
He reported to Mr.. Moore that he
was to go 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 1 left you no indication
of where I was going. That is all,
and thank YOU"
She fitted away without another
word, leaving Arden fairly stupefied.
He 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 whim.
steal, purse-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 new ,heiress.
At the end of two months Arden
Besley gave up his position as chauf.
feur. 1t had been assumed only to
keep from being idle during the sum.
mer vacation. He was principal of q
school and must now return to his reg.
ular duties ut Bortonville, fifty miles
distant, where his mother and sister
kept house for him.
1t was his sister Leila who met him
ut the depot with a warm welcome
and the words:
II have something to tell you before
we 60 home. 1t Is strange story"
and these were its details: Two
months previous Miss Dutton had ap.
peared at their home near the bluffs,
asking for a meal. Something in the
neat, cheerful old house had attracted
her, her two hostesses, humble, mod
est and hospitable, had charmed her.
She told them she had been shcool-
teacher and had been taken from that
position to become the heiress of John
Moore. The experiment had shown
her the hollowness of the new life into
which she had been .ushered. She
asked leave to become boarder until
school began again, hoping to secure
teachers position.
I'VE knew that you had secured a
position with Mr.. Moore" proceeded
Leila. Mand had heen hor. nhnrffo.,.