The Press., 1922-04-13
An Act of Providence
By MARTHA M. WILLIAMS.

l DuC-uOl. QultG us muCH dS So0 love new frocks-pretty Ones," Doris answered, adding with a smile: Never mind the knOts-it's sure sign when your thread ties up so you'll be mar ried and happy before what you are sewing on wears out"
 If l believed that" Elinor be. gan with a lurking smile. But of course it's nonsense-superstiti all are.''
 Pm not so sure," Doris said teas ingly. Science is finding out that 8 heap of SuperStitiOns, so called, are surface indications of important facts"
 How ridiculOuS!'' from Elinor. Doris went on reftectiYely: Sup pose something inside you powerful enough to captivate a big man was also powerful enough to make your thread electric-yOu know almost everything goes back now to elec- l tricity-"
 "I don't know any such thing and 1 wish you wouldn't parade the fact that you do. You make my head ache worse-and it's bad enough at best. Unless I get help somehow, this rubbishy thing, touching her work scornfully, Twill never get done in time-nOr be ft to look att
 "Stepmama will help if you ask her nicely" Doris bantered. ElinOr sprang up, stamping her foot, angry tears flooding her cheeks. You know I won't ask her-I can't" she sobbed. "She ought to do it with cut asking taking my mothers place. And you, my own cousin, ought to help."
 Like heaven, we help those who help themselves" Doris returned.
 Elinor flung herself across the bed, crying hard. But at the sound of her name, spoken in a strong, young voice below stairs, the tears ceased magically-after some little business with the pOwder-puf, she tripped away, a pattern of April sunshine.
 "If I knew enough, I'd write 8 pro- found thesis OD The Alternative Value of Timely Beau" Doris commented philOsophically: But those who need 1t would neither read it, nor heed it. Dick Brownley least of all. He thinks Miss ElinoT came straight from heaven by air-expregs. Because, fOTSOOth, she has baby-curls, a beautiful baby-stare, dances like a sunbeam, and sings like 0 seraph. Strictly Ornamental-f1ne for keeping in cOttRR "WOol-or under & glass case, but apt to get clipped in this rOugh@nd-tumble world. How ever, it is none of my funeral I'm ne feminine knight-errant yearning to save men from tte desires of their own hearts"
 ElinOr rushed back crying: Put on your hat. DO-Dick wants us to go mOtOring-yOu know can't, unless4 you will. Thanks to a StePnother: We're to be gone all day-lunch at some swagger country club and dine at another. She-StepmOther, you know, has planned to teach me canning this afternoon. Fancy spending it in the kitchen-With such weather outside"
 You might do worse. I'd prefer it to playing goOseberry," Doris said, her eyes speculative. "Oh! You won't do that-Dick is to pick up another man-Over at the TraverS place" Elinor said cOaxingly: Do come, old dear. Everything may depend on it"
 In spite of better judgment, Doris went. She was really sorry for ElinOr a badly spoiled child, suddenly brought under a curb, strict if kindly. Nat urally she was unhappy. Marriage was a way out-it might also be 8 way into worse and more lasting un- happiness. Dick BrOwnley was as spoiled as ElinOr, as headstrong, and extravagant. He would make ducks and drakes of a decent inheritance if unchecked. ElinOr would not check him. But, said Doris to herself, smil- ing whimsically: "Wbat g good time they will have spending everything together"
 The man picked up should have warned DOFis-he was so deep-dyed . cleric, pallid almost to anemia and solemn as an 0wl. He looked, indeed, much like the bird of wisdom, peer ing through huge hOrn-rimmed glasses set astride 8 beaky nose. Enter taining him was easy-it involved no more than playing audience. But his droning answered to mask the amOrouS dialogue in full blast on the front seat. Luncheon at the country club reduced it to the terms Of bluSheS, giggles and heads touching as they bent together ever the menu. Still Doris was Obtuse-lt was, she thought, only the rebound. Elinor had been held at home sewing for the two days past. Naturally, accumulated affection broke out now.
 But presently as they sped past a roadside stone Doris knew that they were in another state. Then she became uneasy-thiS neighbor state was Gretna Green for inn patient couples in that they had quilted. She touched Dicks shoulder, asking "IS this an elopement-or What?"
 Met yet, but SOon," he answered with a grin. "We'lI see Rigby in about ten minutes"
 T say not," Doris retorted.
 "You don't mean you'll try to peach!" Dick demanded, flushing deeply.
 q won't see Elinor perjure her self," from Doris "She is not eigh- teen-sO can't marry without her fathers consent" "She will, all samee, Dick said mpudently. ''FOr. if you try to block he game, right here is where you get off. We've no use for trouble-makers. Unless you promise to be good, our you go, right here and now-''
 "Oh, Dick!" Elin0r protested, hid no her faon ECVnu- Ann r1,,,S+D;t But l will" from Dick grimly, checking the car. Doris gave him a cutting smile. ''I wonder yeu don't throw me out" she said. But that might make trouble later.
 "ElinOr dear, come with me-"
 "L-I-knOw ought tO-but-but I ,an,tn EIinnc zailah The car Shot