The Press., 1921-02-17
@Left-Overs
 s
By LILY WANDELL


 ,G; iY2n by McClure Newspaper syndica'e.I
 The usual series of parties for an engaged couple began, Cam generally in the background watching Deborah out of the corner of his eye. How she baSketl im the continual sunshine ot admiration !. Il thrilled him to thlnK that he had won her. She was new in town aud ll9.eusely popular. and he had .StlwaNs; been 100 engF0Ssed in sFOl- lowing his vUc;ltiOn or professor 10 bother about social affairs. But deborah. with her. brilIlaice of a wOulan in* full .hlOnm. bad shaken him i;Hul@Of. his rslirelneAt:s 2>4 ..a.. . :.,>+ very young girl, too short TOT .t%ni'~ taste had sealed herself on the other elu of the ,sufa.- Cam 5lanced at her. and decided he did not like her. l She was too small, her hair too straight and black, her skin, too dark and her eyes. slantiHg like an Orien- ] taI's black<s and large, and her lips being small and painted very red. She smiled faintly. almost timfdly. .. I ''Tm your neighbOr," she Ventured. 1 He did not like her voice. either. It was lOw-pitched and throaty. De- borah's was clear and distinct.
 ''Neighhors?'' then smiling at the l settee. "Oh. I see.'
 "That was not what meant. 1 am visiting Mrs. Ingram, who lives next door to you. I've seen you loads Of times" .. ....
 IL sounded slightly repr0achfuI, and Cameron Daw, being of sensitive nature. fell then and there called to make up for his seeming inciviliy.
 Later before the party was over, when she expressed a desire to go home, Gam accompanied her the short way, simply As courtesy 10 Mrs. ln- gram, to whom ne felt indebted for many little neighborly kindnesses. Somehow or other he got talking about stars to the girl. and when he returned rO the scene of feStivity the guests had left. including Deborah. He was amazed; he had had no idea that he had stood more than an hour explain Ing the solar system to q sIan-eye girl. At any rate he went home con- graduating himself that he was en- gagged to Deborah and not to Mrs. In- grams young visitor, poor little thing. He felt sorry for her. she seemed so fOrsaken, a little different from other girls. Even her name, Vasht1, had heathenish sound, quite in tune with those dark almond shaped eyes and painted lips.
 The next day he fingered near the party fence. This had nothing to do with his neighbours guest; he was in- tereSted In a vine growing there, a troublesome vine that needed no end of tying and adjusting. And after he had fussed with 1t for quite a while, :- Vashti did appear and came over to see what he was doing. She might have. been a hardy little brown plant herself. as she stood there in wood- cOlOred skirt and sweater. adorned by single splash of. red. a: ripe berry, her painted lips.
 He explained the vine to her, all @ss about lis botanical family, and similar @ wild vines that grew in. nearby wood- { lands He suggested that after his classes they might look for some. | It was not oD this walk, but during tlIeIr second or third jaISnt, that he learned about BObsie. Vashti in con- trldiDg whispers told him all about the quarrel that had occurred the day be- fore his sisters party. Bobsie, it ~ proved was senior, and from Wash ti's. description, very hard-hearted and Mnforglving. He was not taking any steps to make up; he seemed to take a malicious enjoyment seeing her lone S &o1 kN know what 10 do about 1t.
 "I.ets stir him up to action" sug- gtslptl. Cam hOyishly, make him see the Green-eyed mOnster-frighten him and Ihen-" he stopped a moment and added slowly: "T'm sure Deborah 5- won, mind" It did not sound very positive.
 ''''Whn. +uli earth is pehorah?' giv- ing the. ,liaIne d funny IittIr twist. ' 'f "Why.- surely you know. Miss Heath? ,Em engaged 10 be married"
 Vashti interrupted with a delicious j.. laugh. "Ill not he fooled 1 don't be- l Iieye for moment that you would marry a left-over"
 ,"Vashti!" cried Gam in a shocked voice, really you don't realize what you're saying! Leftover! DebOrah's not more than lhirty-twO or three, f quite hit younger than E!'
 But quite $ bil foo old for you y mlmickeA the girl, laughing, and then, $ with. appealing sweetness, I'm sorry thOughI' And Cam did not know whether slIe neant that sine was sorry for him or for her rude remark about left-overS.
 . He explained 10 his tiancee over the telephone about his obligations to Mrs Ingram and thp very nice opportunity
 he had of recIprMatiHg iIy helping her
 to entertain her guest. He hoped be
 berah would understand. She said Slle did perfectly. anh rPMinled him of one or two dinner daIeS and about making
 a list for the We'idtng invitations
 Gam found himself sQuirmng out
 of different social engagements. His | flancee was very sweet about hls seem
 ing neglect; i.e almost wished $ht
 would be. htrle huTy and more ex
 acting. Rul she was very busy herself
 with tlreSslnakers and shopping. ant , all sorts. of showers. and iunchpUnS ], Nevertheless Deborah was bound, t'
 nolirr how things >4mm: she was cl"v . CT. though. and refrainett from nag
 gitlg. and went oil with gay prplara
 lions
 - As for Cam, he wonhere,l why h'
 had ever insisted upon so short an en
 gagenient period. Here was his we'd
 ding coming off in less than two weeks! He could not believe it; II
 colid not he possible. He did not like : being hurried like this; he Wantef
 time to think. Think about what? Tben- and there he determinett 1c
 fight the thing out Why be q coward
 and lie to himself? Why procrasti 1! nate? He was wildly in love with little :I N1., ,.,n r,,.rn hn ,,.n,