St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1920-11-27
A Speedy Choice
By GENEVIEVE ULMAR
90. 1920. Western Newspaper Union.>
"And the beaux, vfnniePn

4
very nice young men. who seem to like
my company, and have divided it
pretty evenly between them"
1.-TWO? You are getting on fast, my
DEAR" commented Elsa Revere, the
closest friend Winnie had. 81 don't
wonder. You are growing prettiea
every day, and everybody thinks you
charming and clever"
At which Winnie flushed Geliciously.
Tor she knew the compliment was sin.
cere.
| Winnie was proud Of the two young
men who had met her simultaneously
at her first "coming-out" party.
Maurice Delevan had introduced an
acquaintance, Rudolph Pyle, and from
that moment they became friendly RI
walls. They were about the same age,
tWenty-three, and had good positions
and the favorable opinion Of people In
| general. They seemed flawless SO far
as reputation, habits and business rec
ord were concerned, and any girl
might feel proud of their admiration
and esteem.
There was a strong contrast between
the two young men as to temperament.
Both were courteous, good looking and
entertaining, but Maurice was some
what quiet and reserved Of manner,
while Rudolph was all impulse and &C.
tivity. Tt was difficult at the first for
Winnie to decide which pleased her
most, the lively ways of the impetu-
GUS Rudolph or the even, kindly man
ners Of his less demonstrative rival.
AS time went on these two young
men seemed to grow more and more
desperately in love. Then, too, they
began to outrival one another in the
way Of flowers, bonbons and entertain
ments. One day Rudolph Pyle drove
up to the Ream home to show Winnie
his brand-new automobile. It was a
pretty little machine, as IL purposely
made for two lovers, and that first
spin along well-paved boulevard was
a delightful experience Winnie did not
soon forget. Rudolph was very proud
of his new acquisition, and wondered
what Maurice would think of IL. Not
to be outdistanced in the race for the
love Of the charming Winnie, Maurice
the next day, to the discontinue of
Rudolph and the wonderment, yet de-
light Of the subject of all this ador-
ing tribute, drove boldly up to the
Ream home In an automobile shade
more elaborate than that Of Rudolph.
It was a comfortable five-passenger
car.
IT have thought all along that when
bought car I would get one with
room enough to give pleasure to 9TH
ers," Maurice explained to Winnie. 81
hope you will take many drives with
me, and as there Is room for your IA
ther and mother we should be happy
party, don't you think?"
At first Winnie rather favored Ru-
dolph. His car seemed cozily built
for two. There was an Irresistible fas-
ctnatfon for Winnie In listening to his
pleasing talk, in his delicate atten-
lions, as though she was the only
woman in the world. After there had
been several drives with Maurice, how
ever, in which the trips seemed ideal,
such happy group did they repre-
sent that Winnie felt inestimable graft
tude toward him for the pleasure he
was bestowing upon her parents.
One day Rudolph's car broke down
on lonely country road. "It win
take me a full hour to mend things,s
declared Rudolph, irritably and impa-
tiehtly. "You can put In the time
strolling among those wild flowers"
Winnie was not averse to gather
ing some wild lilies she especially
liked, but half an hour later returning
to the roadside she was surprised and
then shocked at the behavior and
words of Rudolph, who had not no.
ticed her. He was abusing the auto
as though it were some stubborn ami
NAL. He kicked 1t In a paroxysm Of
anger because it would not respond to
his efforts to adjust 1t. He flung the
hood upon the ground and actually
beat It with the wrench In his hand
like some vicious, uncomfortable child;
banged the windshield, cracking 1t,
and then started away, evidently bound
for the nearest town and its garage.
Winnie sat down, upset and enilght-
ened. The outburst Of temper had
unmasked Rudolph as to his real char
acter. In about half an hour Rudolph
reappeared with an auto and driver,
which took them back home, the In
jured machine being left to the care
Of the garage people.
The illness of a relative In another
town called Rudolph away for week.
and Winnie was glad Of 1t. Somehow
she was entirely disenchanted. There
followed delightful week for Maurice
Delevan, for he took Winnie and her
parents out every day. It had turned
quite cold, and Vinnie's heart warmed
as she noticed how thoughtfully MaGr-
ice blanketed the machine, as though
caring for some real creature needing
protection, and how careful and SEN
sible he was when one day the auto
broke down.
Before Rudolph returned Winnie In
tuitively knew that 1t was In the mind
Of her chivalrous escort to confess his
love. She told her mother of this inn
preston, and incidentally related the
incident Of her experience with Ru-
dolph.
tt, H.. Il III