Graham guardian., 1920-01-09
Her Quiet Ways
BY VICTOR REDcLIFFE

| Copyright. 1919. by Western Newspaper Union)
He never forgot the few lively, al.
most riotous weeks that followed his
| graduation. Leslie Warren had won
the best college prizes. His father
was more than ready to start him In
business in good way. And there
was Norma Waldroni
Succeeding the period of vacation
and festiviU awarded by his student
friends there had come week spent
at Hazelwood, the palatial country
home of the Waldrons. About d Sc
lected dozen were invited. Norma and
her closest college girl friends were
the hostesses and from the start Leslie
had been attracted by Norma, and at
the finish IL was pretty generally se-
lieved that there would be match
Norma was yeritable madcap. IL
never occurred to Leslie that his staid,
emlnently, conservative parents would
never receive as prospective daughter
in-law a romp, mere butterfly of
fiashiness, folly and mischief. The
practical phase Of marriage he had
never paused to consider. 1t was the
last evening of his visit when he man.
aged TO get Norma alone to himself.
Norma" he said. 'there is some
thing ] must tell you before we part"
She slipped from his caress and
moved away with tantalizIng swift
ness and grace.
Don't spoil it ALI" she responded.
"Wait till we meet again."
"Rut when?" he demonstrated.
"Very soon--I promise it. Then you
shall tell me all your troubles"
Troubles! You mean the cause
of my alternate delirious hopes and
blackest despair"
"Listen--they are coming. They
will be here in a few moments. Ruth
Glidden has invited me to spend a
week at 0akhurst., You know her
brother Percy well. will SO arrange
1t that you, too, shall be there during
my stay. Is not that enough to sus-
tain yoIr hopes and Danish your
despair, my loyal and trusted cheva-
lier?'
And then she fitted away, daz-
zling sprite, and Leslie felt as though
the rarest gifts of the gods were his
OF verify. Oh he was sure he had
found, unending happiness and he
was still more certain Of it when Per-
cy Glidden met him one day and said
TO him:
This next week of yours belongs
to my sister Ruth and Norma Wal
dron. OF course we can count on you,"
and Leslie flushed slightly at the sure
intimatlon that his friend was aware
of his attachment for Norma. '.You
see, Norma is so used to excitement
and variety and lots of company that
II would be pretty duh for her down
at Oakhurst. Ny sister is the dear
est, loveliest being In the world, but
her quiet ways are in very strong con.
trast TO the flashing, dashing methods
of our charming Norma
The thought of meeting Norma and
of having her all to himself greatly
relieved Leslie. During that interven-
ing week, however, he, had been q
good deal disturbed with rumors that
his capricious ladylove was acting
the firt and coquette. There was a
flashy stranger who was said to be
paying her unusual attention.
Leslie knew Percy Glidden well,
his sister Ruth only slightly When
he reached 0akhurst and was driven
along its quiet streets, 1t seemed good
to him to experience certain restful
calm after the arduous social activity
that Mad become continuous and
wearisome. Somehow the old-fash-
ioned home of the Gliddens presented
haven of restfulness. There was
severe disappointment at the start
however.
Sorry, Leslie" Percy Glidden told
him. 'but Norma is not coming until
next week-some Important engage
ments is her plea. Do you think YOU
can stand seven lonely days of our
dull routineT
Give me a hammock and book
and I'll be the very peacefulest beihg
In the world, Percy" declared Leslie.
A grand old place 1t was, indeed,
and within twenty-four hours it
seemed as though salutary spell wis
cast over the volatile spirits of the
guest He had always known that
Ruth, with her quiet ways. was a
strong contrast to Norma, but now,
as those quiet ways accorded with the
sweet, soothing peacefulness of her
environment, Leslie began to take an
interest In her that absorbed him.
Gracious, gentle, almost queenly in
her quiet, glrlish dignity, when he was
not In her presence strange new in
fiuence seemed to have come into his
existence
What was it-,.new surroundings, the
fever of excitement subdued by calm
and wholesome environment, or was
1t an uprising of genuine love quench-
ing the fitful flash Of fancy? Leslie
seemed TO have entered upon new
life. The house, Its occupants, all ma
ture appeared in harmony complete
with rational enjoyment, and Leslie
was sorry when that week neared its
end.
He was unedsy. He was almost
10 leaye 0akhurst, not car
ing to again meet the old idol Of his
dreams. Then. onening q neMspnner