The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-09-06
NEvER-LoNe WORD
BY ROSE MEREDITH
ssVX7HY not?" demanded Jim Blake
(0 by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate

bOiucDouy ChoCs
"No-that is, not exactly,p sb.
blushed furiously, "but ones ideas
change, jim"
Right" declared Jim crisply. "sna
am glad you have changed vour
mind now, and not waited until aftor
we were married"
II knew you would feel that wavp
she said, relieved. and drawing off the
modest diamond she was wearing sba
preferred it. Il am sorry, Jim," she
said gently.
-what for?" He eyed her trucu
lently, nothing loverlike In his stt,.
tude.
Sorry 1t has ended this way"
"That is up to you, Dorothy"
Here is the ring, Jim, may never
marry" haughtily.
Jim smiled his incest smile, though
his lips were white. and little crinkle,
came around his blue eyes.
Never, Dorothyf"
"Never! Men are-im-impossible
He bowed and picked up his hat
"Never is a long word" he rs.
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-
lieve that happiness had passed out of
1t and so out of her life.
what is the matter, my dear?
Where is Jim?"
"Gone," said Dorothy, with a stiff
little smile. II never. want to see him
again!'
Dorothy! Never is 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 you?"
Mercy, no, mother. just don't
want to marry him-I cannot make up
my mind to settle down as a poor
mans wife and work in poverty, when
all the other girls 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, l don't know, mother"
"They all made love matches. Jim
is not poor man. I 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 Dorothys
| waist.
"Motherl" she protested warmly, but
she did not deny It,.
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,
yacht, place in Florida, any number
of motorcars, oceans of clothes!"
calculated Dorothy.
weighed against the great love Of
rising young architect" countered
her mother dryly. Then she added in
speculative tone: "There may be
some truth in what Mrs. Curtis told
me this morning. I.hardly believed it,
! and that is why was anxious about
Jim."
'Why-what did Mrs. Curtis say?'
Nothing much, only that they ad-
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"
1T 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 banshed
him!"
'He is gone" Dorothy's voice was
frightened now, and she clutched her
mothers arm.
'Tt is relief to you, Dorothy
dear?"
The girl bowed her head and cried
softly. Il thought so, but somehow, 1t
seems lonesome without him. told
him to go away-that l never wanted
to see him again! Or something ike
that-perhaps 1 said / would never
marry. 1 said never anyway"
Forever is better word, Dorothy
said Jim's dear voice from the door
way II made up my mind that you
couldn't send me away like that, ana
so 1 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
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 and ever!" declared