Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-10-15
By HOLWORTHY HALL

l.. 1 like you better than any
body else In the world-all but two.
l liked to be kissed by people I
like and you know
it's sort of like sunlight; need lots
of it. People have always fused
over me. - Here she gave a
| poignant sigh for her lost youth. "Only
|. It's funny. too but
one of the two people do like bet
ter than l do you in a diff
ferent way Is 49,. is Rufe
| Waring. He's Jealous as n
tom cat but somehow j don't
mind It from him; always like IT..
F, He was so frightfully jealous
about you. and / teased him
about that. 1t was Just because he
thought you weren't quite good enough
for me, I guess. And you've got to
give him credit for that. now. haven't
you? And / hope
you and Carol II be awfully happy to-
gether."
Dear girl ~ said Hilliard gently.
'Do you understandT Her eyes
were very pleading. very misty.
Understand yes. Can 1 wish you
happiness, too7"
mot yet" she said. adorably prim.
'He hasn't oh, we both know
about It, but he's got to graduate from
law school first, and-after that q.
maybe can travel little"
She blushed shamefully. "You needn't
grin like Cheshire cat-I guess I'll
see Niagara Falls, anyway
81 wasn't grlnning," he said. 'T
was smiling at you right out Of my
heart. But I do wish happi-
ness to you-always and always. And
I'm happier myself than I've been for
ages dear :" He stop
ped, swamped by the recollection
share in the demonstration of his per-
fdy. To wish happiness to an exc
cutioner-and not be hypocrite7 In
credible-yet true. Hilliard wished
him happiness.
"What is it?" she demanded alert
to his altered expression.
Nothing. I'm just sorry
I'm not a Mormon ~
You're fibbingi Still :"
Hilliard rose hastily.
"Waitl" she said. you can't go
until you've told me one more thing
you don't honestly think Rufes
underhanded. now, do your"
"No-oh, no, Angela. A man can be
so upset that he can" a-y-s-
"You know we were just shocked
and surprised-and Dads awfully
quick tempered. And 1t was so sud-
| denl We didn't stop to talk it over.
we sailed right into him, and all of us
| got excited, and then you came in.
We didn't know how frightfully jeal-
GUS Rufe could be-he's been bad
limit-and it's only because he's boy.
It's sort of primeval. You
know"
YES. dear-yes
And he did know us
long before he ever knew you. He
thought he was protecting us. 1t was
| just an obsession-"
IT'S all right-quite all right.
Pleasev' He touched her hair lightly.
81 wish were as sure you'd always de-
fend me as l am that you1l stick to
/ nm, hhetid
That's twice you've said that .
and you know what think I've told
| you. And are you going off
without telling me anything at all ~
Her voice betrayed the irreparabe in
jury In 1t.
Hilliard moistened his lips.
angela, dear, next TO one other per-
son love you better than any one else
on earth"
That's nice" she said. with a sigh
of perfect content
He bent to her. but she eluded him.
"Oh, moi" she gasped In fluttering
protest. Even II you but
I've told you about Rufe now-you
haven't told me about Carol. but It's
plain as day-it wouldn't be right ~
angela !"
She reiented swiftly; his voice was
something to rely on.
"Well-Just my cheek. then. Hon
estly, l :"
No. dear" said Hilliard. He com
PEELED her chin upward, and smiled
down into her lovely. startled eyes,
and stopped and kissed her forehead
l.. then her lips.
That's for good-by," he said. ito
the dearest little girl l ever knew.
/. We're both growing up aren't
wei"