Cottonwood chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1917-current, 1921-06-24
WHICH?
BY DOROTHY l. DUFF.

We were gathered on the hotel piaz-
"a. four former classmates VINO hau
Lot met for a year. Ii was a glorious
reunion, and of course each had
story to tell. Kitty is a teacher OF
languages. Nell is now Eleanor Marsh
Whitney, authoress; Alice. the class
beauty, Is married; while | am set
Element worker
my story?" asked Nell, in answer to
Kltty's question. well, yes, ] have
story to tell, but 1t is about someone
else"
Lets hear IT," we all cried, and so
she began:
when Billy Appleton struck New
York he had with him u suitcase con-
tanning his clothes, 500 and picture
c: Elsie Hill, in silver frame.
BILLY was designer Of ability. lie
loved the work. much TO the disap'
pointment of his father, who thought
the boy would quickly tire Of art II
left TO himself, and would return
home ready TO enter business.
Back In Portland. Conn, where BIZ
ly was born, Appleton Cn. " the
leading dry goods store, and MIR. APP
pleton was portland's most prominent
citizen. Proud of the fact, Mr. Apple
ton had his mind all made up that his
only son should follow In his footsteps.
Billy, however, had other plans. He
wanted TO he something more than a
big toad In a small puddle-he wanted
to be famous. And so. with only 500
In his pocket and his fathers anger on
his head. he struck out for New YORK.
"Of course, he hated 10 leave Elsie.
but a fellow had to have his chance In
business before he could get married.
anyway. Billy. with the confidence OF
youth, assured Elsie that he would
soon make his fortune and then she
could come to New York and they
would live happily ever afterward.
but Billy soon discovered that life
in New York was very different from
life In Portland In Portland he lived
in big white house with a lawn In
front; he had two horses and little
runabout; he had an adorlng mother.
up In doing things for PiIy. In New
York he lived In one small hall bed
room, without cheerful thing In II
except Elsie's pretty face. The ele-
waited train rumbled by night and day
and made him wish with all his might
for Portland. And the landlady
seemed to be ever present with her
hand out TO take some OF Bllly's
precious cash.
"In Portland nc had been the one
and only designer; but here In New
York; Well, here In New York every
body seemed TO be designer.
AT last, however, Billy found job:
not q very good one, but at least
Job which would feed him and pay
his room rent with little to spare.
He was set to work designing borders
and figures which were to be used on
the beautiful windows made by that
firm for churches and public buildings.
ABOUT this time the firm offered a
prize to their employees for the best
design for window. Billy had many
ideas. and he worked all his spare time
on that design. He wrote TO Elsie
about 1t; all his work was for her.
Every girl he saw he compared with
her, much TO the strangers disparage-
ment.
"And then he met Adele. II was
quite unexpected, and Bllly's heart
thrilled as II had never thrilled before,
Adeles eyes were as black as midnight.
and she had straight black hair, quite
contrast to little golden-haired Elsie
with the blue eyes. adele was won
derful girl She liked to dance and
Billy liked TO dance, and II took all Of
his spare change to pay for the din
ners and the theaters and the flowers
which Adele demanded. Billy himself
was in the seventh heaven OF delight.
and time flew for him much faster
than ever before.
AT last came day when Billy was
awarded the prize for the window de.
sign. He was wild with JOY. for with
II he also received substantial in
crease In salary. Now Elsie could
come TO the city, was his first thought,
now they could be married and be for
ever happy.
But did he want to marry Elsie
What OF Adelef He loved Elsie. oh,
yes. nobody could doubt that; but
didn't he love Adele? Elsie seemed
like a dream, while Adele was an ever
present reality.
And then Billy Appleton had the
hardest day OF his life. He was at his
wits end. He sat down and looked al
their pictures. When he looked nj
Elsie he was sure that he loved hei
and no one else; but when he looked
mt Adele he was not so sure Would
quiet little Elsie be happy In the nols,
city? Would Adele be happy In qulet
Portland?
about midnight Billy wrote letter
of proposal. Should he send Il to Ell
sic? OR TO Adele7 Then slowly, slowl,
he slipped 1t into the envelope anC
just as slowly addressed II. He pu
on his hat and coat and went out
After moments thought he dropped
it into the letter box. And then
Nell paused.
"But to whom did he address II