The Belding banner-news., 1921-10-05

because yore mother she said | would
be burden to Mis- McI.aurn, that's
why"
Mrs. McLaurin," said Dale; mot
Mis- McLaurin."
"A burden to Mrs. McLaurin, and /
amt a-goin' TO he "A burden to no
body!' vehemently. In softer voice,
she went on, Mrs. McLaurin and her
husband and her folks has done made
up friendly, Bill Dale Mrs. McLau-
rims pap-I mean her father-he
brung 'em big lot o silver
things.
Bill Dale, had big time. Every
body liked me but yOre own maw-l
mean yore mother. My goodness
gracious--they dress awful tlne, don't
they? Why, silk ain't nothin'. But
whar all o. their money comes from, !
shore CANT see. Say, | showed some
o. Pats friends how to dance our old
hill dances and the Whole town was
crazy about 'em when | left. Jimmy
Eayne is awful good-loolin' and rich,
amt he. Bill? lie liked me better'n
any of em. less il was Pat herself
You know Jimmy, don't We. Bill?"
Dale nodded, frowned, and turned
his sober gaze toward the toes of his
high laced boots Yes. he knew Jimmy
Fayne, and he held him in contempt.
The pampered son of Il wealthy cotton
specuator weak, devoted 10 high
nights, remarkably handsome to ro-
mantle and -unSophisticated girls but
not to men and women who had cut
their wisdom-teetll--that was Jimmy
Fayne
Babe Littleford was speaking again:
II 'cided to come back here, Bill
Dale, because | thought they might
need me here as well as.because | was
afeard | would he burden TO Pat-I
mean afraid would be burden 10
Pat Seems like | CANT talk proper
at all I've tried and tried. I've spent
half o. my time jest a-tryin' TO talk
proper. Pat, she'd put down words |
mustn't say on sheer o paper, and
III study 'em. Afeard. shore, pap,
cause, amt, hain't-and all o. them.
with EN- SOS I'd know.
"Yore mother was the last 10 come
10 see me. Bill so this she says To
Par, is the barbarian princess" l
didn't know what that meant, but l
'spect it's somethin bad. | went into
the house. because l didn't want To
say anything, and her yore own moth
er. But ! listened, and | heard her
say the rest, aud this is it
"'What will you do when the in-in-
innovation wears OF. Patricia?' she
says. She'll be burden to you,
Patricia; you'll have halfsavage
person tagging after you, like lady
bear
That's what II was she said. Bin
Dale. I'm shore they do need
me here, and | AK We this, Bill Dale:
Are you sorry To see me come back?'
Perhaps they do need you" Dale
slowly stripped the tiny leaves from a
fern. But that is not sufficient rea-
son 10 warrant your staying here. OF
course. I'm not sorry to see you, Babe.
But you must go back 10 Patricia very
soon. III you had been a burden 10
Patricia she would have told you"
Babe put out foot and idly rolled
an acorn across the path with one
bare big toe.
But II don't think ! want TO go
back" she protested. I'D rather stay
here heap rather"
"But you must go back" declared
Dale. You really must
Ben Littleford's daughter was ST.
lent. For moment she absently
watched the playful antics Of a little
boomer squirrel OH the side of near
by hickory. Then she arose.
Look" she urged-it was one of
the charming wiles OF her-"Look at
my new dress. Me and Pat made il,
every stitch Of II. Don't you think it's
nice?"
"Sure. it's NICE" Dale agreed. But
any dress looks nice on you, Babe. If
only you'd stick with Mrs. McLaurin
and let her educate you. You
shouldn't have cared anything about
what my mother said; my mother
doesn't always see things in the true
light. You'll go back, won't you?"
She bent toward him and asked
pointedly:g.
"Bill Dale, what makes you so anx-
ious fo' me to go?'
Because" readily, II want you TO
have an education"
"What makes you want me to have
n education, Bill Dale?"
Because you'd be such a splendid
woman, n you had an education"
Babe Littleford pursued with child
like >eagerness: "And what makes
you want me TO be such s-splendid
woman
Dale lifted his gray eyes and an
swered her frankly:
Because expect to marry you
some day"
Babe Littieford bIushed deeply. Her
eyes were glad, filled with rejoicing.
II Be didn't love her now. ~ least Just