The pioneer-review. [volume] (Philip, Haakon County, S.D.) 1920-current, 1920-12-30

outY' And each night she sought her
Louis XVI bed convinced that there
wasn't. Perhaps lf there had been
no Billy in the background it would
have been easier, although she felt
that she could never have loved Court
ney.
Only, If she couldn't have Billy,
Courtney did as well as any other.
He was older than she, but she had
always known him. A few years ago
he had been engaged to a woman who
had quite suddenly aud inexplicab,y
married somebody else. And Virginia
fancied that. on the whole, he cared
DO more for her than she did for him.
1t was evidently for them both Just
suitable marriage"
Three days before the wedding, Vir-
giuia begged a respite from dinner
dances and bridal luncheons, pleading
the need for rest to look her best on
the great day. Aunt Julia finally
Welded and packed Virginia off to
quiet little inn In the Berkshires with
| the elderly woman who acted as maid
She even agreed not to tell Courtney
of her nieee's hiding place." figuring.
perhaps, that it was girlish whim
more easy to crafty than most.
Quiet the inn in the Berkshires GER
| tainly was at that time of the season
| but not so utterly forsaken that
occasional motoring parties did not
roll UP the winding, graveled drive for
| quiet chicken dinners In Its famous
| grill.
| Such a party arrived one day as
| Virginia came down the stairs Face
/ 70 face, she met them-Courtney and
/ the woman to whom he had once been
engaged-and the tender regard of the
| glance which Virginia interrupted.
i left no doubt of the feeling he still
/ entertained.
Virginia stood stock STILL For
minute the the silence silence tlundered. Then.
/ with an unuttered but heartfelt
Thank heavenr' on her lips. the girl
/ turned away. her head high.
Three months later the Gardner
4 lthlich0tiiE dIONt SioW1F OuI VI Tie IVY
covered gateway of the Gardner resi-
/ dence on Ridgeiy road Severely erect
| on the cushioned seat sat an uncom-
i promising figure who looked askance
| through the window as the scenery
! unrolled-first elm-shaded drives, then
| pavements. then succession of ir-
regular streets blocked out with non-
descript houses,
In front of one of these the machine
: | came slowly to a stop. 81 shall be
here only. few minutes" the lady
said as she alighted. ''Then you may
drive TO Mime. Pritchard's."
She walked up the Irregular path
marked with borders of candytuft
"Love in a cottage!" she shifted.
i AT that instant the door was flung
4 onen. "Auntie!" cried radiant vir-
ginia with no air of penitence what
ever "Oh. Billy !'--this to depths
| within. AUNT Julia has come to see
usr'
/ Under the jubilant welcome of the
tall, smiling-eyed man and the effer-
vescing, chattering Virginia, Aunt Ju-
liza thawed bit How well the girl
was looking
And this is our Kitchen" cried yir-
ginia, who was doing the honors. "at
least, we call ii kitchen because IT
| has sink And this Is the den and
very important because II Is where
| Billy practices the wonderful editor
ials he is going to write some day.
Isn't II so, Billy? You know he isn't
with the Courier now. He's got 8
much better position with the Star
And now YOU must have some tea.
Get the lemon in the ice box, dear,
and slice it thin.'
An hour later, Mrs. Julia Gardner
again sat back In her richly uphol-
stored car She had missed her fit
ting and the meeting of the Juvenile
Uplift Committee. But there was still
time for Mrs. Delabarre's musicale
and a moment at the Cargill tea. Then
home and dinner and the opera and
after all, what did she do@with life
but go on--and on-and on
She leaned forward to the speak
ing tube, wearily. Home, James,
she said.