The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-05-05
BETTY
BY RuBY II. MARTIN.

&c. 1871. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
Betty Aliens red hair famed loose
In the sunshine as she ran up the trim
gravel path with the letter clutched IN
one hand and the soft parcel tucked
carelessly under her blue gingham
sleeve. Back in the kitchen she tossed
the parcel on the chair and hurried 10
turn the ham In the smoking spider
The letter she tore open and read in
the fragrant haze of the cooking din
ner.
VERY nice about wanting me to
come and sends a present to wear"
she paraphrased at the end.
Her brother Bob mumbled something
into the hand towel he was using Oh
his suds-fecked face. Bob understood
that the letter was from cousin. Jane
Dow Winslow. whom Betty had discov-
cred In Don's home city. Don had
worked on local road survey for
month, that was long enough for him
to discover Betty. and now Betty was
| going to visit this cousin Jane, whom;
the Aliens had never seen, and run the
gauntlet of Don's family under her
wing.
Il suppose city people expect a coun-
try girl to have dowdy duds," flareJ
Betty. as she fipped the ham again.
II just guess they don't need to send
me clothes. If we are poor"
Find out what's come before you
fly clear off the handle" suggested
Bob.
Betty shipped the parcel string with
the lampwick scissors, which hap
pened to be handiest. The stiff paper
and soft. white inner wrappings fell
from the folds of silken stuff that biz
lowed out over her firm. brown hands.
RED" gasped Betty, flushing hotiy
Bob gazed with manly admiration at
the crepe de chine that glowed and
cleaned in his sisters hands. He had
never imagined that stuff for clothes
could be quite SO alluringly beautiful.
Its peach of color" he said.
It'll make me look like a perfect
fright! You never heard of red dress
on red-haired girl, and might just
as well give up the whole trip as wear
this color a single time. And it's real
crepe de chine that I've always dream
ed / might have dress of If fairy
dreams could come truel" walled
Betty.
'Then why in tunket didn't they
send black piece of goods?' tempor-
lied Bob.
II hate black" flashed Betty. 81
hate the everlasting colors red hair
has to wear, and If you know how l
want to get into the glaringest red
nfb trfr1c a \
don't use hair dye"
''Send the goods back. Tell the Jane
we can get up clothes enough for you,
said Bob.
I'D go in my old silk If this wasn't
red. don't know just what to think.
Bob. Either cousin Jane is an awful
cat or she wants to see her present
come flying back. and declare. If she
Is going TO see that!"
There was wry smile on Betty's
piquant face as she put the smooth
folds of the silken stuff on parlor
chair. She was determined to run the
gauntlet of cousin Jane and the Wins
low family with her head In the air.
Betty was flying the colors of her love
for Don as she made drastic plans for
tnat crepe de cnlne.
She reached the city some weeks
later in the dusk of feathery snow.
Her new shoes slid awkwardly on the
soft rugs that lay on counsin Jane
polished floors. There were strange
hands to take off her wraps; and up in
her own room Betty peered with some
alarm at the cavernous closets aud
tiled bath and cheval mirrors anil
shaded lights.
Could Betty have guessed 1t, CousiI
Jane in her own luxurious room was
even more uncomfortable.
"The child has red hair!" she
walled. II knew Don raved about red,
but never guessed the reason"
Cousin James husband grlnned
| Il wonder If her temper matches.
he ventured
II wonder what she thought of thai
red stuff. The Aliens always did have
sense enough to know when they are
insulted. But If Betty shows herself
to Don Winslow in that shade of red
he'll blink
Cousin Jane snapped the clasp of
her bracelet. She crossed the hall,nnd
knocked al Betty's door. When there
was no answer she pushed open the
door. A plain brush lay on the dress
ing table; Betty's shoes stood with
heels against the wall. but Betty her
self was not there ttH
Don's voice was what Cousin Jane
heard as she went down the wide
staircase. and slender radiant Bet
ty in shimmering black smiled shyiy
from the deep chair Don had drawn
to the open fire.
At midnight Betty knelt by Consin
Jane. too happy for many words.
"Don's determined to keep loving
me. and his people were dear. And
when I'm so happy | don't want to