Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1922-02-02
POOR BETSY.
BY JACK LANTON.
g. 1921. westera Newspaper Union. }


Barrie sat, in a brown study, the
pages Of his manuscript scattered be-
fore him. Through an open window
of the WIDE room of the country home
he had ren~ed came alluring scents and
sounds of summer time. Work evaded
him: Troublesome realities again
protruded to the banishment of
romance; he must settle this affair of
the brown-eyed maid at once. Betsy,
was becoming too much of an obses-
sion, when he could not write
seriously for pausing to remember some
ingenious remark of hers, or to smile
at the recollection Of her childish
adoring gaZe,-it was time to stop.
Barrie was sure that Betsy's gaze
was adoring, for had not women wor-
shipped him everywhere?
There was Pauline, back In his own
world, waiting for his coming back,
to win the appreciation of her wealthy
father. Pauline would have q great
deal Of money some day. Probably
with the very advent of her marriage,
but tirst,-that father must be assured
of Barrie's success In the literary
world. Barrie had made a good start,
which was one reason why the foolish
women were ready to idolize him.
hut-it would need an assured posi-
ton to launch him fairly, and Pau
line co1ld provide that position.
He would have to drop the small
rustic Betsy person, and overlook the
matter of her wounded heart. They
had spent pleasant times together In
the picturesque garden of the deserted
big home, where he often elected to
write. He had been told that it's
owner, frail and elderly woman,
spent most of her summer at the sea-
side. her pretentlOus old country home
remaining vacant during the period.
1t was an inspiring spot with
fountain trickling over cleaning
stones, and rustic bench in the arbor.
Betsy too, had loved to wander through
these gardens, afternoons, when her
simple tasks were completed. Betsy
kept house for her humble father in
q quaint shabby little place down the
lane. And Barrie, collecting his pages
of manuscript, and folding them away,
remembered-not contritely, but with
an old triumphant thrill, certain swift
shy glances of Betsy's in response to
some laughing tenderness upon his
part, startled glances they had been,
as at some minor discovery.
Love was in her soft eyes Barrie
was sure. whenever he startled her
from day dream, sorrow too per-
haps, In that she understood
their separate ways. Yet he felt
it expedient to go to her now
and tell her of Pauline. But first
he must know for a certainty of her
love, Whyf-Barrie could not have
told; still, he must know. So he found
her In the quaint parlor, and sang to
her. If Barrie had not determined to
be a writer, his voice might have
gained him fame. 1t was a voice Of
tenderly sympathetic quality, part of
his charm for women. SO he sang his
most thrilling love song for little Betsy,
and eagerly watched her face. He
was unprepared for the sudden change
that came over 1t, at his repeated
words.
Il love you, o! love you"
Barrie had expected Betsy to grow
rosy red and glimpse him with her
startled eyes, but for her to grow
white, so quickly white was another
thing. Then, presently, with her head
bowed upon the old piano, Betsy
brOkenly urged him to go.
Please" she begged, "go now-at
once"
When Barrie would have placed a
comforting arm across her shoulder
she shook him off tempestuously and
ran out into the garden. Slowly, anu
not at all unhappily as he should,
Barrie departed. Back In his own
room, he decided to see her again
later and tell her about Pauline.