The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-06-13
N~EVER-L0NG WORD
BY ROSE

marry him after she had worn his
ring for two happy years. rs there
somebody elsef"
"No-that is, not exactly" she
blushed %furiously, but ones ideas
change, jim
Right" declared Jim crisply, land
/ am glad you have changed your
mind now. and not waited until after
we were married"
81 knew you would feel that way"
she said, relieved, and drawing off the
modest diamond she was wearing. she
preferred it. 81 am sorry, jim" she
said gently.
-What forf" He eyed her trucu-
lently, nothing lOyerlike in his atti-
tude.
Sorry 1t has ended this way"
THAT is up 10 you. Dorothy"
Here is the ring, Jim, l may level
marry haughtily.
Jim smiled his incest smile. though
his lips were white. and little crinkles
came around his blue eyes.
Never. Dorothy?'
"Neyer. Men are-im-impossible."
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 at the door into
the hall, as though she could not be
lieye that happiness had passed out of
1t and so out of her life.
what is the matter, my dear2
Where is Jim?'
Gone" said Dorothy, with a stiff
little smile. II never want TO see him
again.
Dorothy. Never is a long word"
$50 Jim says"
you are so foolish to QUARREL
sighed Mrs. Lane, bending TO stir the
fire on the hearth. HAS jim been
neglecting your
Mercy. no, mother. l just don't
want to marry him-I cannot make up
my mind to settle down as g poor
mans wife and work in poverty, when
all the other girls l know are having
fun-and lovely clothes-and every
thing"
How many of them would have
married the man, they did if they had
not loved?'
"Oh. / don't know, wether."
They all made love nla.1hes. Jim
is not a poor man. l am afraid the
attentions of Lydia Rockwood'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 II,
samuel lockwood is nice enough,
dear, but he is an exceedingly selfish
man and | am afraid his wife would
be very unhappy. Perhaps if 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 clothes ~
calculated Dorothy.
Weighed against the great love Of
a rising young architect" countered
her mother dryly. Then she added in
a speculative tone: There may be
some truth in what Mrs. Curtis fold
me this morning. l hardly believed 1t,
and that is why 1 was anxious about
jim"
"Why-what did Mrs. Curtis say?'
Nothing much, only that they adj
mired Jim so much. and they were
glad that Violet seemed to appreciate
him she insists upon including him in
all their invitations. | don't believe
they know about your engagement"
at is broken. But, mother, Violet
Curtis has said she would never marry
a poor man, and she could marry al
most anyone-she is so lovely she
paused, lost in thought.
perhaps she has changed her mind.
dear. Anyway, 1t is all right now for
poor jim. He is free. you say? But
he might not change very readily-or
forget, for he is so devoted to you,
dear child
Don't, mother-I sent him away"
Not your heart-that did not send
him away, but your ambition banished
him."
He is gone" Dorothy's voice was
frightened now, and she elutched her
mothers arm.
at is a relief to you, Dorothy,
dear?'
The girl bowed her head and cried
softly. Il thought so, but somehow. ii
seems lonesome without him. l told
aim TO go away-that 1 neve wanted
10 see him again Or something like
that-perhaps I said l would never
marry. l said never anyway"
Forever is a better word, Dorothy"
said Jim's lear voice from the door
WY. Il made up my mind that you
couldn't send me away like that, and
so l came back. and I am going to
stay forever and ever" BY that time
Mrs. Lane had slipped out of the room.
and jim had drawn Dorothy down TO
a low seat before the fire. Dolly. will
you be my suburban wife," he whis
pered. Poor and happy as the day
is long? VIII your
Forever n everi" declared
Dorothy enthusiastically.