The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-06-22
: A LITTLE COURAGE 5;
BY GRACE CANFIELD.
SSSSSRSgSSSSSS SSSSSgSSSSSg
% 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicat

Charlie Wetherbee," remarked
that young man to his own reflection
as he tugged at a colorful tie, do
you realize that you are twenty-one
today--a rising business man, and yet
boobl Ardeth Appel doesn't even
know that you exist. Are you never
going to forget her and go hunt up
wife?"
The blue eyes glared back at him
for a moment, then twinkled irrepres-
sibly.
ayes, by gum, I am" replied the
other Charlie. And I'm going to be-
gin todayl / appoint myself a COM
mittee of one to declare holiday"
The fates had been preparing
little joke on Charlie wetherbee.
Here was a girl, beautiful, rich, and
full of the love of adventure, who,
unknown to herself, had been adored
for years by youth strong, active
and poor, but also loving adventure.
Ardeth Appel did not know Charlie
at all-or she had not until the fates
took a hand.
Charlie smiled blithely as he swung
down the street to the station on his
way TO New York on his search for
wife. But every step took him
away from her, and by the time he
bought his ticket, his smile had faded
little.
Wonderful weather." he remarked
TO himself enthusiastically, and forced
large, artificial smile. He won
dered II. after all, he wanted q wife,
when he couldn't have Ardeth. He
propped up the fast-fading grin with
two fingers.
"Why grieve SO hardY asked an old
gentleman.
81 beg your pardonT stammered
Charlie.
Charlie looked at him earnestly,
seized with a sudden desire TO con-
fide in someone. S.
II am sad" he confessed, "and so
would you be II you had loved q girl
for five years without ever meeting
her"
But why don't you meet herr"
Cant. l am only a poor working
boy, and her father IS a millionaire
more or less. She sure is a winner,
though" in a musing tone.
Charles smile was gone now, and
1t had been his -undoing. II he had
not been so busy trying TO hold on
to 1t he would have seen Ardeth
Appel get in at the other end of the
car. She, too, had felt the urge of
adventure that morning, and had
slipped out of the house before her
father could stop her.
Now as Charlie Wetherbee told his
sorrows to the kind gentleman, some
thing strange happened to him. He
had just said: ITS pretty hopeless.
guess" when he suddenly felt that
IL couldn't belt mustn't be hopeless
Unaware that the train had stopped,
and that the passengers were fling
out, he said in a loud, determined
voice, looking straight ahead:
mo, it IS noti Some day." ne con-
tinued with conviction. II am going
to marry that gIrl!' And as he spoke
he looked right into the eyes of the
girl herselfl The Fates chuckled with
| glee.
Ardeth, at first inclined TO feel In.
| suited, was suddenly amused. Look
ing calmly back into the clear, hon
est eyes OF the stranger she an
swered:
You may consider yourself accept
ed" Before the astonished young
man could follow she was speeding
away in the luxurious limousine of
a school friend.
1t was two years before the Fates
gave him the opportunity. The morn
| ing was perfect, and Charlie quite
looked the successful young business
| man as he boarded the train-bound
| for q conference IN New York. The
train was crowded and when Charlie
saw that he must share the seat with
Ardeth Appel or stand up, he felt
that the moment was indeed his.
He settled himself beside Ardeth
with a polite, impersonal bow, and
began TO read story.
| Things like this just don't happen,
you know" He broke the silence cas-
ually. Ardeth. startled, looked a
question.
Like this story" he went on. Man
| loved q girl for years without her
knowing il. He sees her on the train
one day and throwing all caution TO
the winds. proposes to her.
How improbable" But the girls
| cheeks were suddenly flushed.
"She calls his blaff, though" he
continued in the same impersonal
tone. "and accepts him."
You say he has always loved herT'
The girls voice was faint.
since he was kid. But her IA
Their had no use for him. Good chap,
too" he added. brazenly.
The girl recognized him suddenly,
and an overpowering embarrassment
seized her. What would this terri.
BILE young man say nextg
Then Charlie Wetherbee took his
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