Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-03-25
FORGETTING
,SessSSsSsseSeSsS11G
~ MARJoRY Z. WEOsTEr

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,
Ina order to forget him.
III you weren't quite so selfish, and
could forget yourself for i've minutes
at a time. you would he little bill
happier. Betty" her aunt said one day.
her voice softsnIng her words.
Betty didn't even turn from the win
dow. where she was gloomiiy looking
down the road. Everything looked
even more dismal than usual in the
grsyness or drizzling rain.
A little later her aunt called her out
into the kitchen, where she was pack
ing some Jelly In 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 IL would make II worse
10 go out in this rain. The ieliys
especially for her son--he nearly died
with pneumonia this fall and is Just
beginning 10 sit up now. thought
perhaps you could cheer him up lit
lie. You don't mind, do your
~ don't mind taking the jelly
down" Betty replied, but I'm not go
ing ia. because don't want 10 sea
him. | 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.
~ made some pumpkin pies this
morning. aud l want to send Que up
TO your aunt. Come Ia and walt In
the sitting room. while | wrap Il up.
Mrs. Emery said, drawing Betty In.
Ia spite OF herself, aud pushing her
into the coy, oldfs shioned living
room Here's someone TO talk 10.
Don-Jessica's little niece. Miss
Southan. You must entertain her un-
III | get that pie wrapped up"
MY. but IL seems good 10 see some
one from outside" he said. You're
all wet sit down near the fireplace
Betty obeyed He didn't look any
thing Ike Tom-she was glad or that.
He was sitting In an armchair. all
bundled up la red and white crazy
quilt His face was very thin ana
drawn-until he smiled. and then he
looked surprisingly bright He asked
her about her trip mp and about her
self-not bit Ike Tom, whose con
versation was always mostly about
himself-snd by the time Mrs. Emery
came back. Betty had promised To
come down the following afternoon
and play crlbbage with him.
In the weeks that followed. while
he was convslescing, she went down
often. Sometimes she read 10 him,
sometimes they played crlbbage, or
roasted chestnuts or popped corn IN
the fireplace, sometimes they Just
talked. When he grew stronger. and
there was no longer any excuse Tor
her TO visit him. he began 10 call
often AZ Aunt Jesslca's house. Later,
when he was quite we'll again. they
snowshoed and skated together, and
he took her sleighing behind his new
and favOrite horse, whose name he
changed from Dolly 70 Betty, because
II 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 al her.
II was some time later that Betty
answered the doorbell one afternoon
10 find Tom Rollinsford standing on
the doorstep.
"what forsaken hole Of place
to hide away In" were his first words
81 couldn't get anyone To bring me up
from the station and had TO walk all
the way" His voice was somewhat
irritable for he was very cold.
What shame Betty sympa
thized. as she led him into the living
room. wondering 70 herself what she
had ever seen I'm him.
When she had closed the door he
seized both hands--just as Of old
and said:
"Well. well. Betty, you're prettier
than ever You We're unreasonable
last summer-about Louise. I mean
but TT admit II was partly my fault,
so thought ! had better come up aud
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 mary the man who lives
there. Yes. he Is farmer, but he
isn't q cad"
Betty. you're joking"
"Oh no. I'm not See my ring. He
lie coming 10 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 stiffy
mo. thank you. I've got to catch
that $50 train back--an lmpor.
tant engagement, you know--so I'll
tear along"
With little smile in her eyes. Betty
t.H. I.A Il l..