The L'Anse sentinel., 1921-03-11
A LITTLE COURAGE
BY GRACE cANFIELD.


that young man to his own reflection
as he tugged at q colorful tie, "do
you realize that you are twenty -one
t0day--a rising business man. and yet
you haven't got glrl3 You poor
boob! Ardeth Appel doesn't even
know that you exist. Are you never
going to forget her and 60 hunt up
| a wife?"
The blue eyes glared back at him
for a moment, then twinkled irrepres-
sibly.
"Yes, by gum. l am" replied the
other Charlie. "And I'm going to be-
gin todayl l appoint myself COM
mittee OF one to declare holiday"
The fates had been preparing a
little joke on Charlie Wetherbee.
Here was girl, beautiful, rich, and
full Of the love of adventure, who,
unknown to herself, had been adored
for years by a 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 hand.
| Charlie smiled blithely as he swung
down the street to the station on his
way to New York on his search for
a wife. But every step took him
away from her, and by the time he
bought his ticket. his smile had faded
a little.
Wonderful weather." he remarked
to himself enthusiastically, and forced
q large. artificial smile. He won
when he couldn't have Ardeth. He
propped up the fast-fading grin with
two fingers.
"Why grleye so hard? asked an old
gentleman.
II beg your pardonT stammered
| Charlie.
| Charlie looked at him earnestly,
seized with sudden desire to con-
fide in someone.
| II am sad" he confessed "and so
would you be If you had loved a girl
for five years without ever meeting
her"
But why don't you meet herr"
Cant. | am only a poor working
boy, and her father is a millionaire
more or less. She sure is winner,
though" in a musing tone.
Charles smile was gone now, and
II had been his undoing. If he had
not been SO busy trying to hold on
to It 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
thing strange happened to him. He
had just said: ITS pretty hopeless,
| ! guess" when he suddenly felt that
1t couldn't bet mustn't beshopeless
Unaware that the train had stopped,
and that the passengers were filing
out, he said in loud, determined
voice, looking straight ahead:
mo, II Is not! Some day" he 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
school friend.
II 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 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 q
question.
Like this story" he went on. MAN
loved girl for years without hel
knowing 1t. He sees her on the trair
one day and. throwing all caution tt
the winds. proposes to her.
"How improbableI" But the girl.
cheeks were suddenly flushed.
"She calls his bluff, though" hi
continued In the same lmpersonal
tone, "and accepts him."
"You say he has always loved herr
The girls voice was faint.
"Slnce he was kid. But her fa
ther had no use for him. Good chap
too," he added. brazenly.
The girl recognized him suddenly
and an overpowerlng embarrassment
seized her. What would this terri
bic young man say next?
Then Charlie wetherbee took hi
life In his hands and leaned forward