The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1920-02-27
FORGETTING
BY MARJoRy E. WEBSTER.
SS9eSSSeSSSeSeSeSeSeSes
10. 1920. by Mcclur. Newspaper syndlc.te)

| OSOSOSO N6kSG " ~ W ~ W ~ wv
| 70. 1870. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
| Betty's heart was broken--never.
never to be mended. She had quar-,
relied with Tom, broken her engage
ment, and come up to visit her aunt
In this little village among the hills,
In order to forget him.
"If you weren't quite so selfish, and
could forget yourself for Ave minutes
| ut time, you would be little bit
happier. Betty her aunt said one day,
| her voice softening her words.
Betty didn't even turn from the win
dow, where she was gloomlly looking
down the road. Everything looked
even more dismal than usual in the
grayness of drizzling rain.
A little later her aunt called her out
into the kitchen. where she was pack
ing some jelly In basket.
Betty, 1 wish you would take this
jelly down to Mrs. Emery--she lives
In that white house near the cross
roads, you know. was going myself,
but my rheumatism is troubling me
and I'm afraid 1t would make 1t worse
to go out In this rain. The jeNy's
especially for her son--he nearly died
with pneumonia this fall, and is just
beginning to sit up now. l thought
perhaps you could cheer him up lit
tie. You don't mind, do your"
Il don't mind saking the Jelly
down." Betty replied. "but I'm not go
ing in, because I don't want to see
him. / don't feel like trying to cheer
up anyone, anyway, especially when
they're men,"
Betty ltrudged down the road mood
lily. At the Emery place Mrs. Emery
herself opened the door, and greeted
her In such a warm, friendly way,
that she was ashamed of her cross
ness.
II made some pumpkin pies this
morning, and I want to send one up
to your aunt Come in and wait in
the sitting room, while I wrap 1t up"
Mrs. Emery said, drawing Betty in,
in spite Of herself, and pushing her
into the coy, old-fashioned living
room. Here's someone TO talk to-
Don-Jessica's little$ niece, Miss
Southall. You must entertain her I'M
til / get that pie wrapped up"
"My, but 1t seems good to see sopc-
one from outside" he said. You're
all wet; sit down near the fireplace"
Betty obeyed. He didn't look any
thing like Tom--she was glad of that.
He was sitting In an armchair, all
bundled up in a red and white crazy
quilt. His face was very thin and
drawn-until he smiled, and then he
looked surprisingly bright. He asked
her about her trip up and about her
self-not q bit like Tom, whose con-
versation was always mostly about
himself-and by the time Mrs. Emery
came back, Betty had promised to
come down the following afternoon
and play crlbbnge with him.
In the weeks that followed. while
he was cOnvalescing. she went down
often. Sometimes she read to him,
sometimes they played cribbage, or
the fireplace. sometimes they just
talked. When he grew stronger, and
there was no longer any excuse for |
her to visit him, he began to call |
often at Aunt Jessica's house. Later, |
when he was quite well again, they |
,nowshoed and skated together, and |
ne took her sleighing behind his new
ind fav0rite horse. whose name he
hanged from Dolly to Betty, because
{ sounded so much better. Betty
,oon forgot that she wasn't happy,
,ut she was too busy to notice the
way her aunt's eyes twinkled at times.
when she looked at her.
1t was some time later that Betty
the doorbeli one afternoon
10 find Tom Rollinsford standing on
the doorstep.
"What forsaken hole Of place
to hide away in" were his first words.
II couldn't get anyone to bring me up
from the station and had to walk all
the way" His voice was somewhat
irritable. for he was very cold
"What shamer Betty sympa-
thized as she led him into the living
room wondering to herself what she
had ever seen In him.
When she had closed the door, he
seized both hands-just as Of old
and said:
swell, well. Betty, you're prettier
than ever. You were unreasonable
last summer-about Louise. I mean
but I'll admit 1t was partly my fault,
so thought had better come up and
apologize and take you back home be-
fore some farmer up here married
you"
"If that's why you came up" Betty |
said, I'm afraid you've come too
late" She pulled the curtain aside
and pointed down the road. tSeet that
white house down there--the one with
the big barn7 Well. next month am |
going to marry the man who lives
there. Yes. he is farmer, but he
isn't cad"
Betty. you're JokIngw
"Oh. no. I'm not. See my ring, He
is coming TO supper tonight. Won't |
you walt and meet him7"