Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-09-29

/ ing and efficient In her teachings. Not
that Elizabeth was educated, in any
real sense of the word. Far from it.
But her improvement was, In all truth,
quite remarkable. She wore more or
less costly gowns now, and a few
| Jewels, thanks to Mrs. Dale, and
wherever she went she attracted adj
miring glances.
Jimmy Fayne had been coming to
see her when Mrs. Dale would per-
nit It, which was not very often. Jim
my Fayne, as Patricia McLaurin had
once been moved to say, was a far
seeing young man for all his weak
nesses; he had known in advance that
the laurel bloom would change to
rose, and then to a white hyacinth.
Perhaps he even considered the fact
that she would make better wife for
him, and better mother for his chill
dren, than some fragile and over-cul-
tured woman of a patriclan house that
had about run out. At any rate, jim
my Fayne, the ultra-spOiled, had de-
cided that he would marry her.
During those weeks that had been
made happy by an occasional hour at
the home of the Dales, Fayne had not
once mentioned marriage. He figured.
and wisely enough, that to be too
quick with his proposal would be to
lose everything.
But now he meant to propose, for ha
knew that Miss Littleford intended GO
ing home for a visit-and he knew that
when she went home she would see
Carlyle Dale. The truth was, of
course, that Miss Littleford was go
ing to Tennessee to attend the Oc-
tober term of court at Gainesville.
1t was little after the middle of
bright afternoon. He found her sit
ting on an iron settee In a secluded
corner of the lawn, where cape jessa-
mines and lilac bushes grew in order
ly array. She wore light wrap. and
there was an easy-to-read book In her
hands; but she wasn't trying to read
at the moment.
He barred his head, greeted her
and asked permission to
sit down beside her. She looked up
ut him. He was Immediately dressed.
"Of ceufse," she granted with a
smile that was very winsome.
He stated his mission briefly, for
Mrs Dale might appear at any min
ute.
Il came, Elizabeth, to ask you to
marry me-"
She sat as still as though she had
not heard. He went on hastily:
81 confess that I'm little ashamed
Of trying to take you away from Car
lyle Dale, for he was always very nice
to me. But i may be forgiven for
that, think. because care for y0u
a great deal. Anyway-'AIl 10 fair
In love and war'-you know"
His voice was hardly busineSslike.
but it lacked original fire. Elizabeth
LittLeford closed the book in her lap.
and lifted her clear brown eyes to his
eager face.
"No," she disagreed, "all ain't-isn't
fair in love and war. That's one o.
he very silliest sayln's I've ever heard.
As for the other-I like vow Jimmy,
tut not In the way you want me to.
It's Bill Dale that like-in that way,
Jimmy"
Fayne looked disappointed. He was
ilent.
you're a good boy, Jimmy" she
vent on, land hate to make you
eel the least bit bad. 1t makes me
III, Jimmy, it makes me blue. wish
ou hadn't asked me. I'm sure you'll
ind some better girl than me--than l
for wife,"
"There Is no better girl than you,
elizabeth. I'm going to wait-and
ope.'
He took up one of her hands and
Used it, rose and went toward the
treet. Before he had gone minute,
he rose, her face little pale. and
tared after him, sorely tempted-for
agnes money could bring her people
ut of their long night of ignorance
Well, If she didn't marry Bill Dale
and she feared that she wouldn't
he would marry Jimmy Fayne. II he
till wanted her-if he would agree
, help her people. After all, 1t wasn't
0 much to give. What was one poor
tile, unhappy human life?
1t was late, that night, when Efiz.
beth Littleford went to sleep. And
hen at last she slept, she dreamed of
'alklng through fragrant green
Ieadow with Bill Dale. There was
he low humming of wild bees about
he purple crowns of the lronweed and
he scarlet bloom of the clover; there
as the mating call Of the partridge,
nd the Ioyelorn coo of dove.