The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1921-06-10
False and True
b MARTHA nd. WILLIAMS

10 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper syndIcateD
why did they call me Linnetl OF
all namesl The rest Of the world is
saddest when l singr" Linnet Ware
said plaintively to her newest victim,
Selden Moore.
He laughed, softly answering, Praise
be for that. In this day of musical
prodigality, you're an oasis"
I'm a desert of melody Thanks for
them kind words" Llnnet flung back.
settling herself comfortably in q nest
OF rainbow cushions. Yet even they
could not make her look washed out,
so vivid was the yellow of her hair,
the violet Of her eyes, the healthy
scarlet Of her very perfect mouth.
Her skin had the texture Of a camel
liza p~etal--she was further shapely,
and extra well finished. There was
a look Of race to accent all this.
What wonder that she had gone
rather to the heads of her cOuntrymen
lat least that moiety of them lucky
enough TO know her? This in spite
Of the fact that she danced without
enthusiasm, was a dub at tennis, and
refused even to look on at golf. Polo
she lOved-but sex and convention for
babe playing II. So she took to going
cr~oss-country in any weather, never
dunking the stiffest jumps, 0 mind
ing hazardous spills.
The spills were few-she had ap-
parently as much influence over
hunters as over men. Anything
bittable became plant to her will
after a few miles-to the disgust OF
Amazonian hOrsewomen who got re-
suits with malice aforethought. she
was so confoundedly, 20 c~onfounded-
ly feminine, with her side saddle. her
soft collar, her p%lcturesquely untidy
tam that had always a bright knot
tucked amid It's folds, 1t was disgust
ing to have her almost always In the
FIRST flight, and not winning prizes
solely through refusing to compete
for them. She mounted herself well
but not extravagantIy. "Any good
horse will golf You get the best In
him." she explained more than once.
Which moved her much tired mother
to add; IF only you'd be as sensible
about men as horses, II would take
a load off my mind and heart
Being interpreted, this meant, con-
cretely, a shrinking estate, and the
Wendell King millions. All through
Llnnet's bringing up Mrs. Ware had
had the millions in the back of her
mind. Retrieving them was poetic
justice, since they had been unjustly
diverted from Llnnet's father through
his elderly uncle's marriage with the
beautiful Widow King.
He had settled them upon her in
the first flush Of infatuation-when
the pair went down with their ship
upon a long wedding tour, the wrong
was put beyond righting. Wendell, a
quiet, kindly, dull-witted lad Of fifteen,
had Inherited them from his mother 10
trust for possible children. So II had
been out Of his power to do more
than make handsome gifts to the
Wares.
Linnet, an elhn, no-colOred child, had
appealed only TO his pity until at If
teen she blOOmed with that beauty Of
the devil which works so many evil
miracles. Seeing her round and flush
and glow, his plan Of life changed.
When she was twenty she must marry
him, and begin q fairy tale existence.
Until then let her play to her hearts
cOntent-he knew he could trust her
besides, there was her mother.
Mrs. Ware was far from heaFtless-
Indeed, love for her child was the spur
to her worldliness. She said nothing
10 Linnet Of the future beyond adyis-
ing a wise choice II any. She knew
Linnet would rebel against a cut.and-
dried family arrangement-much bet.
ter let her continue to think Of Wen,
dell as a liberal pseudo-kinsman who
regarded her as a child to be teased
land spoiled. When she had had her
fling playing with the youngsters Lin.
met might senslbly DRIFT into love
with her doting fairy rodfsther
Llnnet showed a zest il playing With
the youngsters equal TO her zest cross
country. vet until the era Of Solder
Moore her mother had never been tn,
least uneasy. For her girl had played
the game with the fine reserve Of
igentlewoman, making her safety II
numbers and surrounding herself with
ian aura Of untouchableness beautiful
to see,
But Moore was different. Toward
him she glowed as a gem, a star
often when he had left her She sa.
silent, smiling happily or rousing I,
hug her mother tight and whisper
"Is there anything like real lover
Moore was only rich enough to be
competent ldler. Living was, he said
business enough for a gentleman
wherefore why swamp himself witt
the risks and the turmoil Of actiy,
work, when he was so much NOR,
valuable as an example OF moderation
Linnet scarcely scnsed the question
but her mother pondered It deeply
To her 1t meant either, that Moor.