The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-05-13
LISTENING IN !
sy MARJORIE eyRpy.

~ 4sSos " AcCiure NeWupoDer -9ynoieate.)
Doris Laird's gaze passed idly over
the dainty room In which she lay ID
duiging in an unaccustotned afternoon
est-mentally she contrasted its pref
ty appointments with the simple fur
niture Of her bedroom in the little Yer.
mont town where she taught school.
1t hardly seemed possible that she
was here In this lovely home to be
Nina Hazen's maid OF honor-Nina,
the wealthiest and most accomplished
girl in the school which they had both
attended, but in which Doris, lacking
the pretty clothes and the means to do
the things in which the other girls in
dulged, remained almost unknown.
But 1t was just like warm-hearted
Nina to choose quiet little Doris to b.
her first attendant at her marriage to
Phil Crosby. No wonder all the other
young men in Nina's set were so en-
vious Of Phil's success
Everyone at the Hazens' had been
kind and courteous-Nina's friends
had helped Doris choose her gown, and
there had always been plenty Of es-
corts for the different affairs. But
still Doris was naturally Of retiring
nature and everyone seemed to take
rather an impersonal interest in her.
Just now she was thinking that Nina
was the only person in this great house
whom she could call an intimate
friend.
Her day dreaming was interrupted
by knock at the door, which opened
to admit one Of the housemaids. miss
Nina is calling you from downstairs,
Miss Laird" she said.
Doris, fastening into the corridor.
heard Nina ealing: Run to the extern
Ted Manning, Phil's best man. and this
Is the only chance you two will have
to become acquainted before tomor-
row."
By this time Doris had lifted the re-
ceiver from its hook and heard Nina
very prettily speaking the necessary
introduction. "You two will have
great deal in common tomorrow" she
added, land want you to know one
another before the big event" Then.
with hurried apology about being
called for final fitting, Nina's re-
ceiver was placed on its hook with a
sharp click.
There was moments embarrassing
silence, then the mans voice came to
the rescue in hearty tones. Doris rec
ognized Western accent and soon she
found herself talking to this utter
stranger as If they had been lifelong
friends. They spoke only Of conven-
tional things, but there was something
in Ted Manning's courteous words. as
they drifted over the wire. that made
Doris very curious to know more Of
him.
Twenty minutes later Nina. passing
through the library. caught Doris just
hanging up the receiver.
"Why, Doris Laird You don't mean
to say Ted Manning hasikept you talk
ing ali this time Do come and see the
gorgeous iavalliere that Aunt Harriet
has sent" And the two girls ran hap
PLY downstairs. i
The morning hours were busy ones
for Doris, but through all the prepara-
tions ran curious thoughts Of Ted Man.
ming. She dressed with a carefulness
not entirely due to the occasion, and
the result was really very satisfactory.
Her gown Of many dainty mauve ruff
fies made her look very much like a
little girl dressed in long skirts for the
first time. Beneath rose-crowned
poke her hair framed her face in pret-
ty brown waves, and in place Of the
conventional roses and orchids she car
ried quaint little old-fashioned nose
gay, with its white lace frill.
Doris recognized Ted Manning the
minute she entered the drawing room
and heard him as he moved from one
friend to another. And then some one
was introducing them. "Your eyes
match your voice, Miss Doris Laird"
was Ted's rather extraordinary ac-
knowledgment of the Introduction. And
the elderly gentleman who had brought
them together decided they were get
ting along very nicely together and
took HE departure. = t
As the wedding party moved down
the church aisle Nha's stately beauty
held the eyes of all the guests. but
there was many an admiring glance
for the. little girl in, mauve.
After 1t was over Doris remained for
few days with Mrs. Hazen, as Nina
had said, "Just until she, becomes ac-
customed to my being away"
During her stay there Ted called
upon her as many times as convention
would allow, and used every possible
excuse he could invent to converse
with her by telephone.
His rapid courtship. accompanied by
lavish offers of flowers aud sweets,
would have swept almost any girl of
her feet. But Doris had sensible lit
tie head on her shoulders and would
not have releuted so easily had she
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