The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-09-18
The Heart Member
By RAY KILEOURNE

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"Oh, dear Miss Travis you are in
deed a member of hearts!'
Vivian Moore spoke with fervor and
her eyes glowed with the sincerest
gratitude and devotion. She sat on a
stool at the feet of her hostess, her
hands resting in her lap, looking up
into face that bore winning, pa
uent smile Of gentleness.
"Why do you say that. VivianY in
CURED Ora Travis.
Because they all say it There isn't
q girl in, our set who hasn't you to
thank for good advice and kindly
deeds. And oh, to think Of it! Just
from what you said got over my
wicked tiff ut BARLEY Peyton. l was
proud and unreasonable and / should
have died Of broken heart If Bart
ley had gone away. And now I've
had my lesson, and we've made 1t all
up, and we're engaged, and ! am so
happy" and the tears came into
vivian's eyes, and she kissed Ora's
hands. and then snuggled closer to
her Miss Travis softly stroked the
golden hair. A far-away look came
into her calm, thoughtful eyes.
"My DEAR" she said, Il count 1t a
blessing If have been helpful to you.
It is pride or jealousy that sever
many souls that otherwise would have
been happy and united. Many head.
less girl wrecks her life by allowing
some petty trif1e to change her whole
career. l am going to make you my
first confdant- Five years ago, like
you, was capricious and exacting.
was engaged to Ransome Drury.
This is his picture" and she opened a
locket and showed to Vivian hand
some, engaging face. @All this hap
pened far away from here. His par
ents wished him to marry another
girl and that made me cherish hard
feelings towards them. One evening
Ransome told me that he would have
to spend the following one at home to
meet some family friends. Out Of IN
just prejudice against them fiared
up and told him that If he preferred
their company to my own, he need not
come back again He was q proud,
sensitive man and we drifted apart.
Then heard that he had arranged to
20 abroad. and then that my cruelty
had driven him to dissipation. His
parents died and he was lost to the
knowledge Of his former friend.
have not heard Of him for two years
and shall carry to my grave the
memory Of how wronged him."
That pathetic interview Vivian
Moore who had become Vivian Pey-
ton, often recalled. She did not tell
her husband Of the debt Of gratitude
she owed Miss Travis, nor Of her
mournful experience.
BARLEY would sometimes take an
afternoon to make his collections
and Vivian would accompany him In"
the automobile The machine broke
down in front Of the Gresham flats
one afternoon, and the repairer from
a near garage, whittier 1t was toWed,
advised BARLEY that it would take
three hours to mend the break. Bart
lev ordered the man to return the auto
to the flats when ready, and suggested
that Vivian stay there with lady
who was hired to look after the ten
ants while he went to the office and
came back later to drive her home.
The lady in question welcomed
Vivian to her apartment and soon in
terested the young wife telling OF the
people who lived in the house. She
had some Cruel on the kitchen stove
and finally, after glance at the clock,
arose and said it was time to visit a
Young man on the next floor who was
very i'll.
II feel very pitiful towards Mr..
Drury," she explained to Vivian, "for
he seems to have no friends or rela-
tives in the city"
At once Vivian was struck by the
mention of the same name Miss Trav-
is had pronounced. won't you let
me accompany your" she asked. Il
will be interested In seeing how these
poor people live"
II was three weeks after that when
BARLEY by mere accident overheard
some gossip between the chauffeur
and the housemaid. The former
was telling Of the strange interest OF
his mistress in Mr.. Drury who lived
in the Gresham apartments.
"You'd think he was an own broth.
err" said the chauffeur. Every day
she has taken fruits and delicacies to
him, and for two days I've driven him
and her around the parks"
A sensation of being disturbed, of
dawning mystery afflicted BARLEY as
he went in search of Vivian. He found
her in the library. She greeted him
with unusual warmth and tenderness.
"Oh, Bartley!" she spoke, I'm go
ing to ask a great favor Of you. !
want you to find a position for a
young man."
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