The Washington herald., 1920-09-04


except that-well. everything 5
fixed for me to marry Hiram Dodd
next Thursday evening. Hi has
got 200 acres of land with a lot
of shore front, and one of the
best truck farms on the island.
But this morning ! had my horse
saddled up-he's a white horse
named Dancer-and | rode over
to the station. | told EN- at home
l was going to spend the day
with Susie Adams. 1t was a
story. l guess. but ! don't care.
And l came to New York on the
train, and / met Mr-Mr. Flip on
the street. and asked him II he
knew where l could find Go"
Nov. Miss Lowery," broke in
Tripp loudly. and with much bad
taste, l thought. as she hesitated
with her word. you like this
young man, Hiram Dodd. don't
you? He's all right. and good to
you. amt he?
"Of course like him." said
Miss Lowery emphatically. His
all right. And of course he's
good to me. So is everybody"
could have sworn il myself.
Throughout Miss Ada Lowery's
life all men would be good to
her. They would strive. contrlve.
struggle and compete to hold UNI
brellas over her hat. check her
trunk. pick up her handkerchief.
and buy her soda at the fountain.
But went on Miss Lowery,
last night l got to thinking
about G-GeOrge, and i"
Down went the bright gold
head upon her dimpled clasped
hands on the table. Such a beau
tiful April storm! Unrestrained-
ly she sobbed | wished | could
have comforted her. But was
not George. And l was glad I
was not Hiram-and yet I was
sorry, too.
BY and by the shower passed.
She Strengthened up. brave and
halfway smiling. She would have
made Il splendid wife. for crying
only made her eyes more bright
and tender. She tobk a gumdrop
and began her story.
Il guess I'm a terrible hay
seed" she said between her little
gulps and sighs. but l can't help
it. G-GeOrge Brown and Were
sweethearts since he was eight
and | was FIVE. When he was
nineteen-that was four years
ago-he left GreenburE and went
to the city. He said he was GO
ing to be a policeman or a rail-
road president. or something. Ana
then he was coming back for me.
But l never heard from him any
more. And I-I-liked him"
Another flow of tears seemed
imminent, but Trip hurled him
self into the crevasse and damn
ed it. Confound him. could see
his game. He was trying to make
a story of it for his sordid ends
and profit.
Go on. Mr.. Chalmers" said he.
'and tell the lady what's the
proper caper. That's what I told
her-you'd hand it to her straight.
Spiel up"
I coughed and tried to feel less
wrathful toward ~Tripp. saw
my duty. Cunningly had been
inveigled, but I was securely
trapped. Trips first dictum to
me had been just and correct.
The young lady must BE sent back
to Greenburg that day. She must
be argued with, convinced, as
sured, instructed. ticketed, and
returned without delay. I hated
Hiram and despised George. but
duty must be done. Noblesse
ohlige and only five silver dollars
are not strictly romantic compat-
ibles. but some metimes they can be
made to tibe. IT was mine to be
Sir Oracle, and then pay the
freight. So I assumed an air that
mingled Solomon's with that of
the general passenger agent of
the Long Island Railroad.
Miss Lowery," said l. as i'm
pressively as 1 could, life is a
rather queer proposition after
all There was a familiar sound
to these words after l had spoken
them, and I hoped Miss Lowery
had never heard Mr.. Cohen's
song. Those whom we first love
we seldom wed. Our earlier ro-
mances, tinsed with the magic
radiance of youth, often fail to
materialize." The last three words
sounded somewhat trite when
they struck the air. But those
Hondly cherished dreams" 1 went
on. may cast a pleasant after
glow on our future lives, how
ever impracticable and vague
they may have been. But life is
full of realities as well as Wis
ions and dreams. One cannot live
on memories. May ask, Miss
Lowery, IL you think you could
pass a happy-that is, a content
ed and harmonious life with Mr..
-er-Dodd-if in other ways
than romantic recollections he
seems to-er-ill the bill. as 1
might say?"
"Oh. His all right" answered
Miss Lowery. YES. could get
along with him fine. Hk's prom
ised me an automobile and q mo-
tor boat. But somehow. when 1t
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