The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-02-26
False and True
Gy MARTHA Me. WILLIAMS


| &c 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper syniIcatr
"Why did they call me Linnet? OF
| all names, The rest of the world is
saddrst when | sing Linnet Ware
said plaintiyrly to her newest victim,
Seldcn Moore.
lie laughed, softly answering. Praise
be for that. In this day OF musical
pIodigaiity. you're AN OASIS"
an d desert Of melody Thanks for
them kind words Liun"t flung back.
settling herself comfortably 10 a nest
Of rainbow cushions. lci even they
could not make her look washed out.
So vivid WAS the yellow Of her hair.
the violet of her eyes. the healthy
scarlet of her very perfect mouth.
Her skin had the texture nf ii camel
lia petal-She was further Shaprly,
and extra well finished. There vas
a look of race 10 accent all this.
What wonder that she had gone
rather 10 the heads of her cuuntrymen
at least that mojrty of them lucky
enough 20 know her? This in spite
Of the fact that she danced without
enthusiasm. WAS a dub at tennis, ami
refused even 10 look on at golf. Polo
she lOvcd-but sex and convention for
babe playing il. So she took To going
CrOSS-cOuntry in any weather, never
hunking the stif'cSt jumps. nor mind
Ing hazardous spills.
The spills were few-She had ap-
parently as much Influence over
hunters as over men. Anything
bittable became plant to her will
after n few mileS-tO the disgust of
AmaZonian hOrSewOmen who got re-
suits with malice aforethOught. She
was So c"nfoundedly. So confounded-
ly feminine. with her side saddle. her
soft collar. her pictureSquely untidy
tam that had always bright knot
tucked amid its folds. il was disgust
ing to have her almost always in the
solely through refusing To compete
for them. She mounted herself well
but not eXtravagantly. "Any good
horse will gO-if you get the hest i'm
him." she explained more than once.
Which moved her much tired mother
To add: 'If only you'd he as sensible
about men as horses. il would take
a load off my mind and heart"
Being interpreted, this meant. CON
cretely. shrinking estate. and the |
Wendell King millions All through |
Linnet's bringing up Mrs. Ware had |
had the millions in the back of her
mind. Retrieving them was poetic
Justice. since they had been uniuStly
diverted from Linnet's father through
his elderly uncle's marriage with the
beautiful Widow King.
He haG settled them upon her in
he first flush of infatUation-whpn
he pair went down with their ship
ipon long wedding tour. the wrong
Sas put beyond righting. Wendell a
iuiet. kindly. dull-witted lad Of fifteen.
lad Inherited them from his mother in
rust for possible children. SO it had
'een out of his power to do more
han make handsome gifts to the
Wares.
Linnet. an elfin, nO-cOlored child. had
only to his pity until at fif-
cen she bloOmed with that beauty Of
he devil which works so MANY evil
Miracles. Seeing her round and flush
nd glow. his plan of life changed.
When she was twenty she must marry ,
I'm, and begin fairy tale existence.
Until then let her play to her hearts
Ontent-he knew he could trust her
eSides. there was her mother.
Mrs. Ware was far from heartIess- f;
ideed, love for her child was the spur |
D her wOrldlineSs. She said nothing I
D Llnnet of the future beyond advis- 5
lg wise choice if any. She knew {
innet would rebel against n cut-and {
rled family arrangcment-much bet {
n let her continue to think of Wen 5
ell as a liberal pseudO-kinSman who {
egarded her as child TO be teased G
nd spoiled. When she had had her '
ing playing with the youngsters Lin. a
ct might sensibly drift into love c
18th her doting fairy godfather. a
Linnet showed zest in playing with v
he youngsters equal TO her zest cross v
Iuntry, yet until the era of Selden A
l0ore her mother had never been the
asst uneasy. For her girl had PLAYED
lie game with the fine reserve of a
making her safety in b
lmbers and surrounding herself with 4
aura of untouchableness beautiful,
see. \
But Moore was different. Toward n
IN she glowed as gem. a star ii
ten when he had left her she SAT- a
lent, smiling happily or rousing TO b
ig her mother tight and whisper.
S there anything like real loveTr
GORE was only rich enough to be
idler. Living was. he said /.
lsineSs enough for a gentleman q
therefore, why swamp himself with n
e risks and the turmoil of active u
)rk. when he was so much more n
luable as an example of moderationP h
Linnet scarcely SenSed the uupStion n.