Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-02-19
FORGETTING
BY MARJoRy E. WEBSTER.
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(G. 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicats)
Betty's heart was broken-neyer,
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 five minutes
ut a time, you would be a 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 gloomily looking
down the road. Everything looked
even more dismal than usual In the
srayness of drizzling rain.
A little later her aunt called her out
ing some Jelly in II basket.
Betty, 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 it would make it worse
to go out in this rain. The jellys
especially for her son--he nearly died
with pneumonia this fall. and is just
beginning to sit up now. thought
perhaps you could cheer him up lit
tie. You don't mind, do you?"
II don't mind taking the jelly
down. Betty replied but I'm not 60
ing in, because don't want to see
him. I don't feel like trying to cheer
up anyone, anyway, especially when
they're men"
Betty trudged down the road mood
lily. AT the Emery place Mrs. Emery
herself opened the door, and greeted
her in such warm. friendly way,
that she was ashamed of her cross
ness.
Il made some pumpkin pies this
morning, and ! wont to send one up
to your aunt. Come in and wait in
The sitting room. while l wrap 1t up"
Mrs. Emery said, drawing Betty in,
in spite of herself. and pushing her
into the cozy, old-fashioned living
room. Here's someone to talk to-.
Don-.Jessica's little niece, Miss
Southal. You must entertain her un-
til get that pie wrapped up"
"My, but it seems good to see some
one from outside" lie 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, ali
bundled up in 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.
versation was always mostly about
hmself-and by the time Mrs. Emery
came back, Betty had promised to
come down the following afternoon
and play cribbage 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
roasted chestnuts or popped corn In
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 we'll again, they
sncXshoed and skated together. and
he took her sleighing behind his new
AMI favorite horse. whose name he
changed from Dolly to Betty, because
it sounded so much better Betty
soon forgot that she wasn't happy,
but She was too busy to notice the
way her aunts eyes twinkled at times
when she looked at her.
1t was some time later that Betty
answered the dOOrbell one afternoon
to find Tom Rollinsford standing on
:ha doorstep
what a forsalzen hole of n place
Ia hide away in" We're his first words
q couldn't get anyone to bring me up
ON the station and had to walk all
'he way" His voice was somewhat
irritable. for he was very cold.
What shame" Betty sympa.
thZed, as she led him into the living
room, wondering to herself what She
mad ever seen in him.
When she had closed the door, he
seized both hands-just as of old
and said
'Well, we'll, Betty. you're prettier
than ever. You were unreasonable
last summer-about Louise, / mean
but I'll admit it 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. See that
white house down there-the one with
the big barn? Well, next month / am
going to marry the man who lives
there. Yes, he is Il farmer but he
isn't a cad"
Betty, you're joking!"
"Oh, no, I'm not. See my ring. He
IL coming to supper tonight. Won't
you wait and meet him?"
The look of unbelief on his face
changed to one of injured pride Look.
Ing at his watch, he said stiffiy:
NO thank you. I've got to catch
that $50 train back-an impor.
tant engagement. you know-so I'll
tear along"
With little smile in her eyes, Betty