The Adair County news., 1921-09-27

Ben LiUuIerorGs daughter had
changed much in many ways. She had
tried as hard as ever mortal tried to
learn the correct use of words; and
Mrs. Dale had been patient, painstak-
ing and efficient in her teachings. Not
that Elizabeth was educated, in any
real sense of the word. Far from it.
But her Improvement was, in all truth,
quite remarkable. She wore more or
less costly gowns now, and a few
jewels, thanks to Mrs. Dale, and
wherever she went she attracted ad-
miring glances.
Jimmy Fayne had been coming to
see her when Mrs. Dale would per-
nit it, which was not very often. Jim,
my Fayne. as Patricia McLaurin had
once been moved to say, was a far
seeing young man for all his weak
neSseS; he had known in advance that
the laurel bloom would change to q
rose, and then to a white hyacinth.
Perhaps he even considered the fact
that she would make a better wife for
him. and a better mother for his chill
dren, than some fragile and Over-cul-
tured woman of patrician house that
had about run out. At any rate, jim
my Fayne. the ultra-SpOiled, had de-
cided that he would marry her.
During those weeks that had been
made happy by an occasional hour al
the home of the Dales, Fayne had no,
once mentioned marriage. He figured
and wisely enough. that to be toe
quick with his proposal would be to
lose everything.
But now he meant to propose, FOR he
knew that Miss LittleforI intended go
ing home for visit-and he knew that
when she went home she would see
Carlyle Dale. The truth was, of
course, that Miss LittlefOrd was 60
ing to Tennessee to attend the Oc-
tOber term of court at Cartersville.
1t was a little after the middle of
bright afternoon. He found her sit
ting on an iron settee in a secluded
corner of the lawn, where cape jessa-
mines and lilac bushes grew in order
ly array. She wore light wrap, and
there was an easy-to-read book in her
hands; but she wasn't trying to read
at the moment.
He barred his head, greeted her
pleasantly, and asked permission to
sit down beside her. She looked up
at him. He was Immediately dressed.
"Of course" she granted with
smile that was very winsOme.
He stated his mission briefly, for
Mrs. Dale might appear at any min
ute
81 came, Elizabeth, to ask you to
marry me-"
She sat as still as though she had
not heard. He went on hastily:
81 confess that I'm a little ashamed
Of trying to take you away from Car
lyle Dale, for he was always very nice
to me. But 1 may be forgiven for
that, think, because care for you
a grea. deal. Anyway-'AlI is fair
in love and war-you know"
His voice was hardly businesslike.
but it lacked original fire. Elizabeth
LittlefOrd closed the book in her lap,
and lifted her clear brown eyes to his
eager face.
NO" she disagreed, "all ain't-isn't
fair in love and war. That's one O.
the very silIiest sayin's I've ever heard.
AS for the Other-I like you, Jimmy,
but not in the way you want me to.
It's Bill Dale that like-in that way,
Jimmy"
Fayne looked disappointed. He was
silent.
You're a good boy, Jimmy" she
went on, "and hate to make you
feel the least bit bad. 1t makes me-
oh, Jimmy, it makes me blue. l wish
you hadn't asked me. I'm sure you'll
find some better girl than me-than
for a wife,"
"There is no better girl than you.
Elizabeth. I'm going to wait-and
hope"
He took up one Of her hands and
kissed it. rose and went toward the
rJHS thNs h->=aSS