The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1920-03-05
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FORGETTING
BY MAaJoRY {. WEBSTER.

,@. 1890. by Mcclure Newspaper syndlcate.i
Betty's hearl was broken--neser.
never to be mended. She had quar-.
reled with Tom. broken her engage
ment. and come up TO visit her aunt
IN ibis little village among the hills.
IN order TO forget him.
IF you weren't quite so selfish, and
could forget yourself for five minutes
at time, you would be u little Bit
happier. Betty her aunt said one day.
her voice softenng her words.
Betty didn't even turn from the win
dow, where she was gloomily looking
Town the road. Everything looked
even more dismal than usual In the
grayness of 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
I'M thar white house near the cross
roads, You know was going myself,
but my rheunatism is troubling me
and Pm afraid it would make 1t worse
TO 20 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
lie. You don't mind, do your"
81 don't mind taking the jelly
down." Betty replied, "but I'm not go
ing in, because don't want to see
him. don't feel like trying to cheer
up anyone. anyway. especially when
they're men,"
Betty trudged down the road mood
ily. 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
81 made some pumpkin pies this
morning. and want to send one up
TO your aunt Come in and wait In
he sitting room. while | wrap II up"
Mrs. Emery said drawing Betty In,
In spite of herself and pushing her
MO the coy, old-fashioned living
room. Here's someone to talk to,
Don-Jessica's little niece. Miss
Southall. You must entertain her I'M
I'll get that pie wrapped up
"AIy. but 1t seems good to see some
one from outside" he 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.
lie was sitting in an armchair. all
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
self-not bit like Tom. whose con-
versaton was always mostly about
himsef--and by the time Mrs Emery
came hack. 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 well again, they
snowshoed and slsated together, and
he took her sleighing behind his new
and fayorite horse, whose name he
changed from Dolly to Betty, because
il sounded so much better Betty
soon forget that she wasn't happy.
hut she was too busy to notice the
wav her aunt's 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
the doorstep. r.
'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 70. lie was very cold.
'What a sllamei" Rstty sympa-
thized, as she led hins into the living
room, wondering to herself what she
had ever seen in him,
When she had closed the door. he
seized both hands just as of old
and said:
swell well, Betty, you're prettier
than ever. You were unreasonable
last summer-about Louise. l mean--
but I'll admit It was partly my fault.
so thought | had better come up and
apologize and take yon back home be-
fore some farmer up here married
your
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 harm? Well. next month am
going to marry the man who lives
there. Yes, he is farmer, but he
Isn't cad.r
Betty, you're jokinglr
''Oh, no, FIN not. See my ring. He