Fair play., 1921-12-31
FAIRIES
BY IRENE BEERS

Betty Lou did so, rejecting that
Aunt Louise was a most unsatisfac-
tory storyteller of late. She would
pausc aud stare into the fire as though
She saw the fire fairies themselves,
lutte oblivious of her small niece. Dur
ing the progress of being undressed
mid put to bed, Betty Lou recalled the
Joyous times she used to have with
Aunt Louise--special trips to the won
lcrland of dolls, jars of barley candy
and the iolliest automobile rides. or
course. those were mostly in Mr. Har-
rison's roadster, when tucked in be-
tween him and Aunt Louise, the car
tore over miles of country road. And
once there had been n picnic! Betty
Lou sighed rap,urously over the men,
Dry Of 1t. and, Sighkng, fell asleep.
Meanwhile, Louise Birch, the best
beloved aunt, sat frowning at the blue
ana red fire fairies dancing mpudent-
Is over the crumbling leg.
"\nd they lived happily ever afte.,"
she murmured. Yes, | will write to
Nallic and put it in Che fire. At least
it will he safety valve for my feel
ingS. He'll never see 1t, so I'll just
write exactly us I feel. 1t is seven
weeks today that it happened. Surely
he must have known there was some
reason why ] didn't keep that engage
ment-only he's too stubborn to ask
Tor an explanation :" She reached
back to the table for her writing case
TN write a couple Of letters first and
save Wallc's till last"
1t was late when at last a letter,
vhimsically addirSsed to Wallace in
care of the fire fairies, lay sealed on
he little pile of letters, and Louise
rose to crush a piece of paper to
euiiven the fire. 1t may have been
the Scmi-dr rkncSs of the fire-lt room,
or the binding tears in her brown
ewes. or perhaps the fire fairies them
selves that saved Wallace's letter from
the flames. At any rate, when she
rraCllrd down u fumbling hand and.
with Il bitter little laugh, tossed a let
'rr on 'll" lcaping fire. the envelope
was addressed to Mrs. Lawrence Cur
is. and made no mention of fire fair
les.
"kind uf Il p0st-mOrtem for Wal
lic." she managed between Sobs, and
without q glance at the other letters
Shr. went W"nrily 10 bed. determined
to roIt all thought of Wallace from
her mind.
Mother forbade Betty Lou to 50
much rs Iip-toc into Aunt Louisc's
room. The home Of the fire fairies
If Aunt LGuiSc's stories drew her over
10 tie fireplace. There stood the biz
armchair where She and Aunt Louise
hui sat WHEN tfc latter told of the
udTrnturcs of the forgotten prin-
'csS--Hnd living on the cushion was
q little pile of letters, all sealed and
addressed, waiting for stamps.
Guess .Aunt Louise wants these
mailed" remarked Betty, lingering
them curiously. shed let me stick
he stamps on and put 'em in the
box if she was awake. P'hapS
they're awful important. I'd better
mail EN-
"Now what do YOU think of that"
Silt tNIDlSl Ululfll us SIll luubIItINlN
! dcciphcrcd "ro Wallace, in care of the
/ Fire Fairies" Aunt Louise does be
/ Hove IN fairies. | told Billy so. Fire
/ fairies don't bother with mail. The
posman brings letters She must
have forgottcn--oh goody. goody 4!
! III write the address myself. | can
! print most rs good as Billy n he's
! nnc'
without further ado, She pumped
/ down on IN" floor, and with many
! Nrinkings o. her small forehead she
j printed The Wcll-known address, for
! Wallace lived right next door, except
now. in the summer when he was at
the seashore. Now that Betty Lou
considered. It seemed funny that he
had not been To see them all sum
mcr, and 1t was September now. lie
l>cd to spend lots of time at their
house, and once she had heard nurse
'cll cook that she guessed Mr.. Wal
lace was Miss Louise's beau.
Betty Lou mentioned this at ihr
,able. and mother replied that She
must not mention Mr.. Wallace while
Aunt Louise was there.
The next night there was no "good
night" story for Betty Lou. Aunt
Louise seemed 10 have forgotten all
about the fire fairies, although she
had entrusted them with a very i'm
pOrtant letter. But, as Betty Lou
could have assured you, the fire fair
les never forget If YOU believe in
them. They fly up the chimney
abroad in the world and bring you
your hearts desire. Didn't Bett,
Lou have new fairy tale book Will
colored pictures? Hadn't Aunt Louis,
kissed her small niece and told he
that fairies really lived? For tina
afternoon Betty Lou had seen AIr
Wallace race up Ibe drive and catch
Ing Aunt Louise in his arms, kiss her
An1 wasn't she TO call HIN "Uncl,
WallyT
'Guess you'll be flower girl, sur,