The pioneer-review. [volume] (Philip, Haakon County, S.D.) 1920-current, 1922-04-06
BEST PEOPLE
BY MILDRED WHITE

phihp Iaidaw Was bitterly disap-
pointed in woman-he whom women
lad heretofore failed TO interest. Al
most. he had given up the shy nope "1
marriage, and mate who would sat
sfy his heart. when he beheld Fay
Winters.
Fay had come back to the small
town after All absence since young
girIhood, and Philip, the admired new
attorney saw her first m0nientarlly,
then with lingering glance as she
.aIne through the lighted doorway OF
the towns best store.
"Perhaps, after ALL said his mans
hopeful heart, this happy young
woman may not he all that the towns
p4ope say For her return had long
been heralded.
Fay Winters coming back !" Phil
|lpS landlady said. well, what pos
sessed her. | wonder, to come to the
4 town that wasn't good enough for her
years ago?'
Fay Winters coming back t.
I Eldridge.' exclaimed Philips house
keeper "Well, think Of that. after
all her travel and college training.
Won't be nobody good enough for her
to associate with. / remember her;
she was nothing but proud, pretty
slip of Il girl Her rich aunt brought
Fay up when she was left an orphan;
and now she's left her all her money
SO Philip Laidlaw formed his imag
mary picture of the newcomers char
acter. She was Il SnOb. no doubt and
not an acquaintance to be cultivated.
But after his second lingering gaze
into the young woman's sweelly at
iractive co,ntenance, Philip had mar
velouSy changed his opinion.
Either the girl had altered with
years, ar her former neighbors slam
dcred her; and after repeated eve
nings in Fay's pleasant society, the
hope of marriage came joyously, thrill
ingly at last to Philip.
Here was the woman Of whom he
had dreamed, and despaired of find
Ing. And secretly yearning, as months
iUdSStu ny. HlllI' ht-'lue-I. uiuloSt, Nv
make his plea. Then came his great
disappointment. In her charm fog
min, and her graciousness. Philip over
tl0"ked the indisputable fact of Fay's
alaOfneSS from otherS-her superior
/ ~. 50 openly deplored
Ii WAS his housekeepe who forced
the, subject upon him. Her com
pIai thngs, he discovered, were now
echo, Mf on all sides.
"N Ss' Winters hasn't got any use
for F. lIrkige folks" the old woman
told hi ". except you, because you've
don't "a. y on the regular people here.
or ask t III to call on her. Not even
Mrs. Dr. Wells, or the bankers wife.
And folks d" say. they wonder who on
earth woul III I've good enough to be a
friend of h ers.''
BrusquelA because his heart was
full. Philip vii the matter before Fay
that very eve Uing. Though he had not
openly voice, I his love for her he
knew that II " knowledge must he
hers.
"Why," he r, greAfed. "do you make
no friends am wing the women here,
Fay? Is it bee @se--" the bitterness
OF disappointing VT brought contempt
TO his tones-"bp, satse there is no one
good enough-ev, vi among the best
people,"
In surprise, she ] wparded him. When
ln Ara SntLndAH oddly
"You are right" she agreed. zone
should be sure tina y real friend is
good enOugh--one OF tase best people.
Her insinuation Wsgersd him; he
took his hat and left . II was hnmili-
ating that the town stoFk' .sxould he
correct In their judgm pht Of the " nm
an he loved-they, tn r crueNy, criti-
cal and slurring. Sh,s siid not send
for him, and because lies felt that he
owed her an apology ,thAh I've could
not give, Philip LaidloE sAtaye,i-suf-
feringly-away. His hfice assistant
later volunteered inform ati"sh
"rhe' danes are chat aering ;&ain.
that young man said. They are hor-
rified now over Miss Minters'' new
friendship. Day after Hay sha goes
down to May Worth's sth her books
or her sewing. Day afte day ihtA two
young women are en together.
Such q contrast, you KIN ew, MIR. Laid
low. so stunGngly une. IpecteA. But
/ don't blame Miss Win tiers the ac-
cepted set Of Eldridge re narrow.
specializing lot; taken together or
singly. know EN-"
Wondering unavoidably, 4 Philip was
on his feet.
Tell me, "ehe demanded, "svhere dces
his Worth girl live-?'
And the clerk told him SRffilip had
difficulty finding his way there, the
house was SO small and nnd btrusve
for lack Of paine, so hidden l'y twist
ed old trees, from the roadwa v. BUY
Fay Winters was with her chosen
friend.
The friend sat-aoneatly shabby lit
tie creature--in an inexpensive gayly
covered chair. The scheery light, from