Evening star., 1923-03-18
ErTY FA1RwEArHER made

talk, and when She was
AS barely six two small boys fought
in the yard of Miss Pegram's k!ndergar-
ten for the honor of carrying her
copybook to school.
Not that II was Letty's fault, ard
at that date no one considered it
Letty's misfortune. For Lefty was
faeed to conQuer-nothing palmer.
It was not only the look of her. the
wildwood grace, the inscrutabie-
wistfulness. her coloring, delicate as
peach blossoms against a.. April sky
1t was not the question Of her smile,
nor the answer of her long, smoky
gray eyes--it was something in the
girl herself. Joy Of living, hunger
for love, that drew response as the
small, white clover draws bees.
Presently some one would come-the
prince. Of course--striding out OF an
enchanted dusk, and she-and he
would live happily ever after.
She never thought Of work. She
never dreamed of a profession. All
her dreams were otherwise engaged.
And, besides. she had the edict Of her
father for guidance.
'I hope" he had said from the time
she was a little girl, my daughter
will never have to work. I'm here to
do that for her. II she makes as good
a wife as her mother has done. I'll be
satisfied-and some man will be in
luck"
So he sent Lefty eventually to a
charmingly feminine finishing school,
from which she emerged at the ripe
age Of eighteen.
Take her all in all. Lefty, advanc-
ing upon the world. was thing of
unquestioned loveliness. The town
held its breath before her return.
THE Fairweathers'll give her a
wonderful coming-out." people said.
And the Fairweathers did. There
was a ball that revived the ante
bellum glories of the state. Some
time In the course of that enchanted
evening her father whispered In her
ear: Happy. little daughter"
Lefty whirled about and kissed
him. She hadn't words.
THAT was the night Chan Carroll
i came back into her life. Half
his arm about her and said softly:
so you've forgotten. eh? That's
sratitude!'
Lefty threw back her head and
looked up at him prettily, knitting
her feather-slin brows:
I'm sorry" she murmured. What
have I forgotten"
Me" said Chan, laughing down at
her boldly His eyes were blue with
thick black lashes-ardent eyes,
wheedling eyes.
Did I know you before, some
where?" asked Lefty.
Forgotten. honestly?"
Absolutely. am so sorry"
well. It's long time ago. said
Chan. $50 perhaps I'll forgive you.
With another kid, about carrying your
book"
She met his eyes with a thrilling
surge Of recollection. And you
beat"'
IT always beat" he assured her
pleasantly. "1e blacked my eye. but
made his nose bleed, and he said he
had enough"
IT remember-oh. remember now"
said Lefty happily. She questioned a
second later: why haven't 1 ever
seen your"
MY people moved away year or
50 later"
And I've been away to school"
II know where you've been. found
cut all about you ten minutes after I
got here tonight"
Am so easy to know?" asked
Lefty innocently.
"All girls are easy" said Chan. "as
long as you don't lose your head over
'em."
II can't imagine your losing your
head over anybody" said Lefty
was 1t wistfully?
Chan took her by storm that first
incredible night. And after Chan had
once got into his stride there was
little enough room for any one else.
Mrs. Fairweather adored him, and
Letty's father pronounced him the
finest youngster in town. How much
all Of this had to do with the fact
that Chan's father was now at the
head Of the biggest trust company in
the state, one doesn't question.
Lefty. herself, lived those days in
the heart of a rainbow. Heaven
knows what evanescent dreams she
wove about the day when Chan would
say to her:
Lefty, I love you'll have always
loved you-
He did say 1t but he didn't say It
that way. They were coming home
from a dance at the country club.
Chan was driving with one hand. a
feat he had not learned in two
months. and crushing Letty's small,
slim. chilly fingers with the other.
Well. Lefty, honey" he said,
"when do you think you'd like to be
married? Around Christmas, or New
Year's?"
Then he kissed her. and midwife
torian as II may seem. he was the
first. He knew 1t from the deliciously
awkward way In which she endeavor-
ed to avoid It, so that his kiss landed
on her chin, embarrassing her dread
fully.
You are going to marry me, Lefty,
honey, aren't you?"
And the second time he kissed her
she said she was.
X X r i
THAN was no mean lover. He gave
~ Lefty a ring which blazed upon
her hand like sublime sweet evening
star. He sent her flowers and sweets
till they grew commonplace and lost
their dream significance. He owned
her as completely and as triumphantly