, 1923-06-28


i've got to tell you something"
she said, sinking down on her cousins
chintz-covered little bed. "Of course
I'd tell you first. But l can't marry
Tom-Fm not enough in love with
him. I'd feel worse about breaking
with him If l thought he cared-but
he doesn't. But you see 1t was all on
account of Aunt Ellzabeth's queer
gift. may as well confess"
Betsy had turned out the light on
her desk, leaving only the soft glow
OF her little pink-shaded bedside
lamp, and she sat on n little chair be-
fore her cousin who was rocking her
knees on Betsy's bed. 'Please don't
mind what you say-to me-" vas all
Betsy could say by way of encourage
ment.
We'll, right from the first said
Betty, I've felt that one of us ought
to have a career and the other ought
to get married. Aunt Elizabeth as
much as said she wanted us to spend
the money differently. and in the back
Of my mind I've had a sort of terror
lest you'd get engaged first, because
you're prettier n everything"
"oh, o little fbber," said Betsy,
very much in earnest, pointing the
finger of shame at Betty.
you're So" insisted Rettv "Don,t
Interrupt, Anyway, I was so afraid I'd
have to have a career that l made up
my mind I'd just make Tom propose.
I never could have encouraged him 60
If 1t hadn't been for that. And then
when L saw the way George was rush
ing you. l was afraid he'd persuade
you-and then you'd get engaged and
begin getting the trousseau and IA
have to go ahead with the r
Now you know what n mean, deceit
full, designing creature l am
"And now" went on Betty. 'Tve
been getting more and more Interested
in architecture. Tom has talked to
me so much about 1t, and I feel that
Il we are to be anything to zach other
it must be as workers together for
our art-rather than as Just married
people-because truly l don't love him
and l am not at all sure he loves me.
1 almost did the proposing"
"Why, Betty" gasped Betsy. And
then the two cousins, looking very
young and helpless, sat facing each
other. each trying TO think of some
happy solution of their difficulty.
AT last from Betty, Maybe we could
divide the clothes and things. They'll
go out of style If we don't wear them
now-and divide the other two thou.
sand dollars and each have some
clothes and some money for a career.
There, that's what I've been trying to
ask you n I've been so ashamed l
couldn't
Betsy shook her head. mo" she
said solemnly, I'm just glad to have
this chance to pay back a little that
owe you, because Betsy, dear, you've
shared everything with me since ]
was sent over from India. I'll give
up my career-and you can have the
trousseau. 1t fits me as well as II
does you. 1 hadn't Intended to marry
but one of us ought to-and II !
couldn't do tina much to repay you
Tor all you've done!'
Betty pouted n little. IL didn't ex-
pect you to marry" she said. 81
thought we could both have careers
n start GU with half Of the
clothes
But you don't need clothes II you
are going to have a career" insisted
Betsy. "And you will need the whole
two thousand dollars. One thousand
dollars wouldn't do at ALL"
Then there was another silence.
Have you-any idea" began Bet
ty timidly, who you-wiIl marry?"
81 could marry George" said Betsy.
81 didn't know he had proposed"
said Betty, a little testify. ~ thought
we told each other everything"
1--WE do, most everything" agreed
Retsv ,Rut Won yara Laantno