The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1922-05-11
The REPORTER
ey MARY BIRMINGHAM.
9 9E2Ses9SS1 S9eSSSeeSe

lilies of the valley completed the bridal
costume
= The society reporter tapped out her
story with nimble, eager fingers while
she smiled dreamily as she recalled
the happy event Of which she was
writing.
"NIiss Frances" beloved the stem
torian voice of the city editor In the
direction of the young reporter who,
woman-like, was lost in the reverie OF
the beautiful gowns of the wedding
party.
"The charming maid of honor in her
gown of pink and silver" typed on
| the facilc story-teller of society events.
II say, Miss Frances"'
The louder tone awoke the young re-
porter with jerk to her surroundings.
eyes. sir" she replied in the quick
response Of the newspaper worker,
"Call up this Girls club and find out
inst what Kind Of social their novelty
party is going to e.. Find out lust
| what the nature o. the correction Is
that Mrs Fisk-Buf! + wants made in
| the date Of the clarity ball. 0, yes
| here Run out and cover tits wedding.
| It's the most noted one Of the season
Here's the picture If the bride, Con-
stance Compton. Al Habson, the col
loge athlete, is the groom. Take the
next train, and have the story for the
early edition."
"Al Ea)son is the grG0m" At the
words The whole world seemed to swing
into wild emotion, and then to settle
down into Il dre0ry, heayT-solidty that
terrified her. AL Bahs0n was to be
married He who had held her in his
arms and pledged remembrance unto
death. Like Il flash she saw the sta
ton crowded with khaki-clad figures
heard low g0od-bys being whispered by
those heroes departing for the war
and felt once more the reverent kiss
of her departing lover upon her trem'
bling lips.
With n dcsparng sob the brown
head dropped to the toil-worn hands
while the tired lonely heart of the
grl cried ont her hrolen-hearted
disappointment. Ii was the loud
voiced conductor haWling out the
station that aroused her IRON heF srl'1
to the world OF o. NY liV'ilS Nne
stumbled uncertainty from me 'rllh
TO he station platform, furrively' dry
ing her toar-tillcf eyes behind the
grateful conceaIlIl2nf OF neF 'no''S"
ven.
\ slnArt-coa;"t chlNlle(lr all'f"acle"
her with si'f lat heid de1efehti"iIy III
hand. Without. WAITING Tor eNN'Afa-
non or n3f".'uc'l u lie '"''' '''''"7't
"'r'F'rl re- !" " ,'''',.'@' ''''''''e''
limousine waiting @''h"'F l"! "il OF
of'h''
Ihfro was n short, cam ride ~
cushioned haven through quiet streets
Then the car Grew M pel"'e " STORY
book mansion. Eager hlnhs bore
the newcomer into wh!te-fuTnlshcd
chamber which seemed like sancfu-
airy to the wondering reporter
MY dear" smiled the happy bride.
chow good Of you 70 come to fill in at
such Sholt notice. I'm 81 sorry that
3litl spraucG Ecr ankle, but i'i0 glad
she sent n sul2stitute-and such a
pretty substitute. The bridesmaids
gowns is right in tho other room.
Tho pink-rlad fairy who nodded t"
her from he mirror told hei lN''t
rs we'll as INC &nSh or "HihlFat'oh
from the happy hr'"e.
"What darling you are. she
syufO1 'ff11t4eett-F- -tllfii4lss tht:- slllsl.-
tute is even pretticr than Edi'h would
have been! just wait till Al sees
you!"
1t was sooner than she expected. AS
she descended the broad stairs she
saw him.
In the instant he caught sight Of her
With one bound he reached her side
and clasped her trembling form in
tender. strong arms pressing reverent
lips upon the brown head lying so
helplessly on his shoulder.
"Ellen, Ellen. my little Ellen. where
have YOU been hiding yourself? Why
have I not seen you before this?