Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-10-28
L0REN'S IDEAL.
A Short Story.
by M. McCULLOCH.WILLIAMS.
Copyright, 1922, by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.

Sopyrikht, 1872, Dy Mcclure newspaper
Syndicats.
"Humph! on on man-hunt! I'd
be ashamed-but then some folks are
too shameless for anything" Mrs.
Crane calculated acidly. at sight of
the Eaton car. with Loren at the
wheel. luggage-laden, and headed for
open country. Myrtle Crane, aged
twenty-seven. pursed her lips and lei
her eyes follow her mothers. Both
were filled with speculation plus envy
Yet the Cranes had better car. better
clothes, rather more money than the
Eatons-and only themselves to main-
tain. Equitably they ought to grudge
their nelghbors no whit OF the merry
and modest comfort they enjoyed. But
since the Eatons were ever so much
more populor--Loren especially quite
there was perhaps some color of rea-
son for their bitterness.
What wonder is--who's the game
this timer" Mrs. Crane went on. her
accent musng: II asked Toby when
he fetched the milk last evening where
his Pa and Loren were going next
time, but he grinned foollsh-like. say
ing he didn't know. AS IL boys ever
didn't know anything they wanted to
| find out"
"Ill call up Mrs. Brewer; her shop
knows all that happens anywhere
Myrtle said picking up the receiver
Two minutes later she nodded TO hes
mother. saying: "She isn't sure-Ibut
it's either Fernwood or Cross Gut
THAT means Tommy Page or San
| Wesley" The mother Crane inter.
rupted: They're welcome TO Tommy
but ] do say and always will, itt
n shame about Sam. a real fine fel
low ought to be let do his own court
ing
, But how 81 he wont?" Myrti,
questioned smiling covertly. Cram,
Crane atill held against Myrtle
mother that Joe, her own son, ha,
been married rather against his will
J All the summer world seemed sing
ing 10 Loren--therefore she SAM
with 1t. not loudly. but barely abov
, breath. Now and then she all bu
chuckled. thinking how she had mys
| lllltu birClp as W ilti utHtlndIlpIls l
was mono of the hospital homes wher,
she and her half-invalid father wer
always so eagerly welcomed. but
small, brown house. In the foothills
with tumbling brook hard by and
stretch of low misty distances to
ward the East. Dad was not going {,
fish--he left all the hard work to Lor
en-. by his own aCcount--but 10 loa
under trees, llstening to the elnKini
birds and bathing his tired conscious
ness in the bliss of absolute rest. !
conscientious judge. he got the wea
of two years from each term of ser
vice.
1t was Loren's doing. this runninl
away TO the wilds. She had mad
touch with the little, brown hous
through its ruling spirit. farmer
daughter. who had with gallant blum
dering worked her way through tw
years at high school in the villag
Loren had helped her. given her goo
food and safe shelter in return 70
what she could do in her free tim.
Now that she was married, with
homo of her own, she was only 10
, glad TO welcome and cherish thoe
who had made her less a servant tha
friend.
No other house was in sight say
down the far distance But up arour
the brooks bend there was a sprav
ly building, haunted intermittently /
sportsmen from March to Novembe
They never bothered anybody, sa
kindly Mrs. Anna-came in ones
A-f
, own business. liberal as could be ar
ready to help at need. So the jude
: smiled whimsically at his daughte
, saying: mo chance for any flirting
: these apparently are sports rattle
: than men. If We stay the three week
out. ! fear you1l forget how to sa
: No That would be a calamity-el
! Anna|-to their hostess: You kno'
her tricks and manners of old-he
swarm Of follOwers--and that my min
I is firmly made up, not to spare her
any of them"
q Don't blame ye-nobody can" Ann
laughed: "I'd know which Of Won
y be worst lost without the other. 3,
!. all We, big and little. hang TO her {
@ hard and fast. anybody that wan
s her ought to want the whole family
f He can't have it." said the jud.
l. with a grin.
y Loren shook her finger at him. '"Y,
It wait! TIL 1 land a millionaire" 81
It said: Since suffrage, it's pretty W,
q settled women can get whatever tn,
e go after. Such genius as 1 am f
/ adaptation TO poverty will surely
D. entitled at forty odd to claim rich
e as a right"
II "A million with a man attached
is that your idea of happiness?" Z
judge asked bowling Exactly" ga
his daughter. But. having a liber
+. soul. won't refuse him If he h
Ie two millions or even five"
e And Just then Fate stepped in wi
IS man worth the five millions:
stood at the door. lost and lone
soul, bound for the fisherman's hon.
r but stranded on the way to il.
to course. he was succored. guided. lar
J. On welcomed and cherished in spite
~ bald head with grizzly fringe At +
ears and a face Shrewdly hun,oro,
-