The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1921-12-01
A Late Choice
By OTILLIA E. PFEIFFER

"And who may the favored lady be' |
pray?" interrogated the latter.
II thought she was Patty the Pastry
Cook at first / found out later thas
she was Miss Patricia Elscen; nh@
family, some means-a real charlty |
worker; loves children, and that |
the keynote to the entire situation.
81 hardly understand" submitted the
other in puzzled way.
"WeH, you know my rich brother |
Ronald. When our sister died he took |
charge of her three children. About |
six months ago Ronald offered me |
home and an Income If | would marry |
some worthy girl, as he put it, who |
would become sort of mother to the |
children. I've been away ever since |
until last week. Came back to step |
into a pretty little restaurant near the |
nurses school,"
az know of it-home cooking an0 |
all that. Go on with your story"
"There. past the tables, within the
food room was the daintiest, most ex- I
Quisite young lady l ever saw. she
assistants. although behoured ana |
aproned and brisk. ] ate three pieces
of cherry pie just to keep my place |
where I could see her Then [ waited |
around outside. In about an hour, ele- /
gantly alfred she came out and was |
whirled away in a luxurious Limousine"
"Ahl You found out that she was
rrsrIc of
taurant."
THAT'S it."
"And then"
ST felt that couldn't resist her.
You know Ned Archer. Well, he has
secured me an invitation to function
where Miss Elsden will be tomorrow
evening. Then l shall see her"
"And, l suppose, the usual topo-
graphical points of our romantic Wit
Iage covered. Lovers Lane 'Cupid'F
Crossroads Honeymoon HighwaysY
"No. I shan't daily. I like her; she
NAV like me- Wedding, home, income
and everything settled for llfe," spoke
the self-sufticient Clyde.
His companion bade him adieu, but
glanced after him with a queer express
sion on his face.
II wonder that Clyde hasn't heard
It's common gossip" he solilOquized.
"Oh, well! Live and learn"
Now what had happened was tina.
Ronald Martin had 'woke up He
wac tired of the ways of spoiled, sor-
did .sad selfish Clyde. He was wor-
ried because there was no one in the
house to award to the three little chill
dren the love and care they deserved.
During the absence of his brother,
Ronald had been induced by some
friends to attend some social gather
ings. He was a courtly and a hand
some man and he realized that he
looked it. The thought had suddenly
come TO him: why not anticipate the
dilatory Clyde and himself find mother
and friend for the little ones?
There was a great crush at the So
cial function where Clyde expected to
meet his friend and receive an intro
duction to Miss Elsden.
AS fate would have it. his friend
through illness Clyde feasted his eyes
on peerless Patty at a distance. Wan
dering about the conservatory, he was
fully amazed to come across his broth
er Ronald arrayed as the best of them.
and an unusual smile of satisfaction
on his usually serious face.
"Well, 1 never expected to meet you
i u vx-if u
bluntless devoid of any delicacy.
"Why not?" challenged Ronald I'M
perturbably.
ST thought you had eschewed fash
IONS follies."
"Have you?"
mo, but-er-I say, Ronald, you look
Young and full of life. How long has
this been going on?"
"Since you deserted me and showed
no inclination to provide our three lit.
tie ones with a mother"
"You are mistaken, spoke Clyde hur-
riedly. I'm ready. That is, l havs
selected my bride that is to be-"
"Is it possible?"
eyes. Do you notice that being OF
beauty near the piano"
"You mean Miss Patricia Elsdenr
Intercepted Ronald.
"Ohl You know her"
ayes, I have met her several times
lately"
"WelI, am going to make up to her.
All I need is an introduction"
"I can serve you there" observed
Ronald, a queer twinkle in his eye.
Good! I'll do the rest. She has
some money, / heard, and is good as
gold, generally"
The introduction took place. Thence
forth for the remainder of the evening
Clyde devoted himself exclusively to
impressing Miss Elsden with a due
sense of his importance. And of his /
intentions, as well. He was a rapid |
wooer, and finally in a quiet corner
of the conservatory he began a dis
sertation on his profound regard for
her that warned her that declara-
ton of love was coming. She arose
to leave him.
"You are treading on forbidden |
ground. Mr.. Martin" she observed |
with becoming dignity. I'm order to
save YOU embarrassment / must anti
cipate what must soon be public. |
am already engaged"
"Oh. come, now! Err, say" f1oun-
ao.od Ct1vdo WJ navpr dreamed that