The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-17

- 9, 3 ath5
The days had passed swiftly, and au-
ytumn was far advanced. Save for a
/ few chrysanthemums and asters that
grew In places sheltered from the
frosts, the flowers We're all gone; the
naples We're shedding their leaves of
brown, crimson and gold. ~. .,s 2
Ben Littleford,s daughter had
changed much in many ways. She had
tried as hard as ever mortal tried to
learn the correct use Of words; and
Mrs. Dale had been patient, pafnstak-
ing and efficient IN her teachings. Not
that Elizabeth was educated. in any
real sense Of the. word. Far from 1t.
But iler Improvement was, in all truth.
quite remarkable. She wore; mere or
lessS1cOstlg gowns now, and 4 d few
jewels, thanks to Mrs. Dale, and
wherever She went she attracted adj
miring glances. ,2sg5$5s 2 n
Jimmy Fayne had been coming to
see her when Mrs. Dale would per-
NIT it, which was not very often. JIM
my Fayne as Patricia McLaurln had
once been moved to say, was a far.
seeing young man for all his weak
nesses; he had known in advance that
the laurel bloom would change to q
rose, and then to a white hyacinth.
Perhaps he even considered the fact
that she would make better wife for
him, and a better mother for his chill
dren, than some fragile and over-cul-
Ntured woman Of patrician house that
had about run out At any rate. JIM
my Fayne, the ultra-spoiled,. had de-
cided that he would marry her.
During those weeks that had been
made happy by an occasional hour at
the home Of the Dales. Fayne had not
once mentioned marriage. he figured,
and wisely enough, that to be too
quick with his proposal would be to
lose everything. =,
But now he meant to propose, for ne
! knew that Miss LittlefOrd intended go
ing home for visit-and he knew thar
when she went home she would see
Carlyle Dale. The truth was. OK
course, that Miss Littleford was 60
Ing to Tennessee to attend the Oc-
tober term of court at Gainesville.
1t wassa little after the middle of a
bright afternoon. He found her sit
ting on an iron settee in a secluded
corner of the lawn. where cape jessa-
mines and lilac BUSHES grew in order
" array. She wore Il light wrap, and
T7there was an casy-to-read book in her
hands; but she wasn't trying to read
at tho moment. -@s ~
He barred his head, greeted her
pleasantly. and asked permission. TO
! sit down beside her. She looked up
INT him. He was Immediately dressed
'4* "Of course. she granted with I
smile that was very winst'me. i =,
lie stated, his mission briefly, for
Mrs. Dale might appear at any min
ute. + -. -" +.
LIT came, Elizabeth, TO ask you to
marry me" 81 T. ~ =. =. =
She sat as still as though she had
not heard He went ON hastily: ~.
"E,confcss that I'm q little ashamed
ofGtrying, to take you away from Car
lyle Dale, for he was always very nice
to ME. But may be- forgiven for
that, + think, because I;care for You
Il great deal. Anyway-tAll is fair
in love ana (war'--you know" r.
His voice was hardly businesslike,
hut 1T lacked, original fire., Elizabeth
LittlefOrd closed the book in her lap.
and lifted her clear brown eyes to his
eager face. ~. @.S'
NO" She disagreed, "dll ain't-lsn't
fair in love and war. That's one o.
the very silliest sayin's I've ever heard.
As for the other-I like you, Jimmy,
but not in the wa" you want ME TO-.
It's Bill Dale that ike---in that way,
Jimmy" . ... '.
Fayne looked disappointed. He was
silent =. $685.. . ~ st..t..
You're good boy, jimmy she
went ON. land I hate to make you
feel the least bit bad. 1t makes me
oh, Jimmy, it makes me blue. ! wish
you hadn't asked, me. I'm sure you'll
find some better girl than lne-than ]
for Il wife," - -
'"rhere Is no better girl than you,
Elizabeth. I'm going to |wait--and
hope"
He took up one Of her hands and
kissed it, rose and went toward the