The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1921-11-18
An Act of
Providence
By MARTHA NJ. WILLIAMS.


1900 $500 1888
answered. adding with a smile: Never
mind the knOts-it's a sure sign when
your thread ties up so youu be mar
ried and happy before what you are
sewing on wears out"
III | believed that" Elinor be-
gan with a lurking smile. But Of
course it's nonsense-superstitions all
are"
I'm not so sure Doris said teas
ingly. Science is finding out that a
heap of superstitions. so called, are
surface indications of important facts"
How ridiculous !" from Ellnor.
Doris went on reiectively Sup
pose something inside you powerful
enough TO captivate a big man was
also powerful enough to make your
thread electric-yOu know almost
everything oes back now to cleo
trlcity-"
Il don't know any such thing
and ] wish you wouldn't parade the
fact that you do. You make my
head ache worse- and its bad enough
at best. Unless / get help somehow,
this rubbishy thing, touching her
work scornfully, will never get done
in time--nor be fit TO look at"
"%Stepmama will help IL you ask
her nicely" Doris bantered.
Elinor sprang up. stamping her foot,
angry tears flooding her cheeks You
know ! won't ask her--I can't" she
sobbed "She ought to do it with
out asking taking my mothers place.
And you, my own cousin. ought to
help
Like heaven, w help those who
help themselves Doris returned.
EinOr flung herself across the bed,
crying hard. But 3, the sound Of
her name, spoken in a strong. young
voice below stairs. the tears ceased
mRgically-afteF some little business
with the p%Owderpun, she trtpped
away, a pattern Of April sunshine.
III | knew enough, I'd write a pro
found thesis on The Alternative Value
Of q Timely Beau" Doris commented
philOeophicslly: Bat those who need
It would neither read Il. nor heed II.
Dick Browuley least Of all. He thinks
Miss Bliucr came straight from heaven
by air-express. Because. forsooth. she
has b~aby-curls a beautiful baby.stare.
dances like q sunbeam. and sings like
q seraph. Strictly ornamental-hne
for keeping 10 cotton woOl-Or under
q glass case, but apt to get Clipped in
this rouEh-and.tumble world. How
ever. " Is none of my funeral. I'm
no feminine knight-errant yearning to
save men from iha desires OF their
own hearts"
Elinor rushed back crying: Put on
your hat, DO-Dick wants us 10 go
motOring-you know | can't. unless
you will, Thanks TO a stepmOther.
We're to be gone all day--lunch at
some swagger country club. and dine at
another. She-stepmother, you know
has planned 10 teach me canning this
afternoon. Fancy spending II In The
kitchen-with such weather outside"
"YOu might do orse. I'd prefer it
to playing gooseberry." Doris said,
her eyes speculative. oh. You won't
do that-Dlck Is to pick up another
man-over al he Travers place"
Ellnor said coaxinRly do come. old
dear. Everything may depend on it,"
In spite 90 better Judgment, Doris
went. She was really sorry for Elinor,
a badly spoiled child, suddenly brought
under q curb. strict II kindly. MT
urally she was unhappy. Marriage
was a way Quit might also be a
way into worse and more lasting un-
happiness. Dick BROMLEY was as
spoiled as Elinor, as headstrong, and
extravagant. He would make ducks
and brakes of a decent inheritance II
unchecked. Elinor would not check
him. But, said Doris to herself, smil.
ing whlmsically What a good time
they will have spending everything
together"
The man picked up should have
warned DOris-he was so deepdyed
a cleric, pallid almost to anemia and
solemn as an owl. He looked. indeed,
much like the bird Of wisdom, peer.
ing through huge horn-rimmed glasses
set astride a beaky nose. Enter.
tanning him was easy-it Involved no
more than playing audience. But his
droning answered to mask the amorous
dialogue in full blast on the front
seat. Luncheon az the country club
reduced it TO the terms Of bushes,
giggles ana heads touching as they
bent together over the menu Sill
Doris was obtuse-it was, she thought
only the rebound. ElinOr had been
held at home sewing for the two
days past. Naturally, accumulated
affection broke out now.
But presently rs they sped past
a roadside stone Doris knew that
they were In another state. Then
she became uneasy-this nelghboi
state was a Gretna Green for i'm.
)atlent couples in that they had Quilted
She touched Dicks shoulder, asking
"ls this an elopement--or what?"
mot yet, but soon he answered
with grin, "we1l see Rigby in
about zen minutes
81 say not" Doris retorted.