Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-04-22
Looking Like a
Million
By WILL T. AMES

e. Il
When Beth Bedell came back to
North Gilead, after two years all
sence in the metropolis, the clothes she
wore produced exactly opposite inn
pressions In the minds of Hugh Silsby
and lmogene Dart.
lmogene, though she had but a heet-
ing glimpse Of Beth as the 'jit" from
Gilead snorted through the village. ex-
ultantly reported to Amy Austin that
Beth Bedell is home. wearing about
dollar and a quarters worth Of dress
and forty cents worth Of hat!'
Hugh. however. experienced sud-
den sinking sensation around the heart
when he made an errand over to the
Bedells' that afternoon and found Beth
looking, as he told himself, like mil
lion dollars"
Beth's face lighted as the tall young
farmer came through the gate. and If
Hugh had been less stunned by the
luxurious aspect Of the hOmecomer he
might have noticed that the rose of
her cheeks grew deeper as she shook
hands with him.
What really absorbed Hughs mind
to most melancholy effect was the con-
victiOn that 1t had all worked out with
Beth precisely as 1t always did In the
Gilead theater mOvles-Beth had be-
come regular fashionable city girl,
quite unattainable for plain fellow
like himself. Why, her clothes alone
must cost lot more in year than he
could clear on his place even with the
best of luck
Dispirited, vaguely but keenly dis
appointed-fOr he had been thinking
deal, and with secret hopefulness,
about Beth ever since he heard she
was coming home-Hugh followed the
well-blazed trail Of Ingenious youth In
such case made and provided. He
sulked, and his sulks took the guise of
stiff formality.
Glad to see you home. Miss Bedell."
he said solemnly.
Miss Bedell!" laughed Beth. "Since
when? Don't be silly, Hugh. It's aw-
fully good to see you. Why don't you
tell me I'm looking well?'
you look mighty nifty. If that's
what you mean," replied Hugh with
elaborate ungraciousness; but you
look like somebody else-somebody
that flies high. Guess you perch on a
different tree from old friends nova
days, don't you? Your father in?'
For an instant Beth stared amazed.
Then the rose in her cheeks died till
In either tiny red spot remained.
Hes out at the barn." she said, and
!, without further word walked straight
Into the house.
North Gilead was a very small place.
1t boosted of only one rich man, and
Of him 1t boosted not greatly. Merton
Phelps at twenty-five was a shade
stingier than his father had been at
seventy-two, when after lifetime of
loved mortgages and securities to his
only son.
Young Phelps dressed showily, II
with infinite regard for bargain, for
he was vain. He cultivated the man.
ner of village beau, for he had q
no North Gilead girl could truthfully
maintain that Merton had ever spent
nickel on her. Still there is a certain
glamour to hundred and fifty thou.
sand dollars, and girls were not want.
ing to welcome his inexpensive and In.
sinuating batteries.
On the afternoon of Beth's home.
coming, within an hour after Hugh's
brief visit, she met Phelps in the posi-
office. And when, spurred by the fas
cination Of beauty exceptionally
groomed and fetchingly gowned, hi
asked II he might drop around ant
set on the porch" with her that eve
ming, Beth granted him the privilege
with condescension quite new to hill
experiences.
Two evenings after that North Gil
cad was shaken to Its foundations b.
the news. spread like wildfire, tina
Merton Phelps had actually hired Et
Godfrey's new roadster and taken Betl
Bedell to ride, leaving his own second
had fiivver idle In the garage. Ant
when, next day, It transpired that h,
had taken her to Lake Chemung nnt
paid four dollars for something to en-
at the Chemung pavilion, the com
munity almost became speechless.
That was the beginning. For tw,
weeks Merton Phelps belled his repu
tation and his antecedents at ruin
GUS rate. The dark-green roadster WA
at the Bedells' door daily. And whel
1t wasn't carrying Beth off on som,
frightfully costly excursion or other !
was chasing Into Gilead after choco
lates and, finally, for box Of orchids
especially ordered from the Gilea,
florist.
Meantime Hugh Silsbs had suffered
agonles of remorse for his churlish be
havior toward Beth--and continued t.
sulk the deeper. Not again did he Sc
Beth. save at distance. except one