The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-06-07
NEvER-L0NG WORD
BY ROSE MEREDITH

ring for TWO happy years is there
somebody else.-
-No-that Is. not exactly she
blushed furiously. but ones Ideas
change. jim"
~Riglt.- declared Jim crisply. "and
I | am glad you have changed your
mind now, and not waited until after
We were married
Il knew you would feel that way
she aid. relieved. and drawing on the
modest diamond she was wearing. she
preferred Il. Il am sorry. JlIn.- she
said gently.
what forT- He eyed her trucu-
lentiy. nothing loyeriike In his atti-
{ tude.
Sorry II has ended this way
THAT Is up 10 you. Dorothy
Here Is the ring. Jim, ! may never
marry" haughtily.
Jim smiled his incest smile. though
his lips were white. and little crinkles
came around his blue eyes.
Never. DorothyY
Never, Men are-im-lmpossibie-
He bowed and picked Up his hat.
Never Is a long word" he re-
marked as he went away.
As the door closed after his erect
form. Mrs. Lane came into the room.
Dorothy was staring AZ the door into
the hall. as though she could not be-
lieve that happiness had passed out Of
a and 50 out OF her life.
What Is the matter. my dearf
Where IL Jimf@
Gone said Dorothy. with a stiff
little smile. Il never want 10 see him
again. ?"
Dorothy Never Is a long word"
$50 Jim says
you are so foolish 10 quarrel
sighed Mrs. Lane. bending 10 stir the
Gre on the hearth HAS Jim been
neglecting your
Mercy. no. mother. / Just don't
want to marry him cannot make up
my mind 10 settle down as q poor
mans wife and work in poverty. when
all the other girls know are having
fun-and lovely ciothes-and every
thing"
How many Of them would have
married the man. they did II they had
not lovedT'
-Oh. don't know. mother"
They all made love matches. Jim
is not a poor man. ! am afraid the
alterations o. Lydia Rocxwood's cousin.
with his fine car and his lavish ex-
pendIture OF money. have quite turned
my little girls head" said Mrs. Lane.
slipping her arm around Dorothy's
waist.
''Mother,- she protested warmly. but
she did not deny H.
Samuel lockwood IL nice enough.
dear. but he Is an exceedingly selfish
man and am afraid his wife would
be very unhappy. Perhaps n she loved
him very much she might endure him.
Endure two country houses, a
yacht. a place In Florida. any number
Of motorcars. oceans Of clothesi-
CALCULATED Dorothy.
Weighed against the great love OF
a Using young architect counfered
her mother dryiy. Then she added in
a speculative tone: There may be
some truth IA what Mrs. Curtis told
me this morning. I hardly believed II.
and that is why I was anxious about
jim
-Why-what I'D Mrs. Curtis sayY
Nothing much. only that they adj
mired Jim 50 much. and they were
glad that Violet seemed 70 appreciate
him; she insists upon including him In I
all their invitations. don't believe I
they know about your engagement"
1T Is broken But. mother. Violet I
Curtis has said she would never marry 4
4 poor man. and she could marry al 4
most anyone-sho + 80 lovely" she 4
paused lost IN thought.
Perhaps she has changed her mind.
Tear. Anyway. Il Il ell right now Tor
loor jim He is free. you sayi But
be might not change very readily-or
'orget. for be Is 80 devoted 20 you.
lear child
Don't. mcther--I sent hlm sway
Not your heart-fhat did not send
i'm away. but your ambition banished
dmf-
~He r. gone Dorothy's voice was
rizhteued now. and she ciutcbed her
1ofher's arm.
IT Is relief 70 you. Dorothy.
carr
The girl bowed her head and cried
oftiy. Il thought ~. but somehow. II
Gems lonesome without BIN. ! taid
I'm 20 ~ uway-thaf never wnnfsd
D see him ngainf or something like
aid would never
isrry. I said never. sayway.- II,
Forever Il a better word. Dorothy
Nd Jirn's dear voice FROM the door
'ay. 7 made W my mind that you
Duidnt send me sway IKE that. and
b came back. and am goinE 20
ay forever and ever By that tine ,
irk Lane had slipped cut q the room.
"a jim had drawn Dorothy down 20
low sea; before the Gre. dolly. viii
10 be ny suburban wffer- he whis
sred- Poor snd happy as the day
ionrf VIII vouT