The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-11-01
Belinda Gray, the
Seamstress
By cLARRIssA MAcKIE


Corinne foated down the broad
stairway. her filmy frock fiuttering like
the wings of gay little butterfly.
Richard Rowland, waiting for her ap-
pearance, felt a sudden heart throb at
her fresh young beauty.
$50 sorry l have kept you waiting
but I really am tiresomely slow. 1t
wasn't my fault, though, this time. 1t
was that stupid little sewing woman,
Belinda"
Richard held her cloak. "BelindaT
She nodded carelessly. "She was
crying about something, think, and
shed tears on my sleeve. Crepe does
show spots dreadfully"
"Moral-Don't weep in your sleeve"
remarked Richard, but he looked grave
at the thought of the nervous little
woman upstairs.
There was always tender pity in his
heart for women who sewed; his own
mother had piled her needle for many
years to raise her three fatherless
children.
That was all in the past, however,
and Mrs. Rowland now lived luxurious
ly and had her own smart little car.
Richard had provided ali that.
"Botherw exclaimed Corinne as
they reached the front door. II have
dropped my handkerchief. There 1t Is
on the stairs, near the top" as Rich
ard mounted two steps at time.
Reclaiming the handkerchief, he
turned to descend. Through the bon
listers he caught glimpse of pleas
ant bedroom. brightly lighted. He saw
Corinnes mother and a slender girl
ish form crowned with ruddy hair. At
that moment she turned a lovely flow
erlike face toward Mrs. Lane and her
low, clear voice was tense with alarm.
But / need the money, Mrs. Lane.
Grandmother is so ILL"
81 have nothing but a. large check
interrupted the other coldly.
Richard heard no more as he hur-
ried down to Corinne. As they went
out into the cold, crisp air and en-
tered his waiting car. he was thinking
Of the other girl. Belinda, who so sore
| ly needed the money.
Poor little lovely Belinda.
The country club was ablaze with
light and tremulous with dance music.
Shadows fitted around and around
| the long rooms, moving In rhythm with
the tuneful airs of the orchestra.
Hurry" bubbled Corinne as she
fed up the steps to the veranda. 1--WE
mustn't miss another one-hm-hm-hm-
m-m." she hummed dancing Into the
dressing room.
In f1ve minutes they were dancing,
and Corinne had forgotten everything
except that she was with Richard
Rowland. She was wishing that mo-
ments like these might be prolonged
| forever.
Richard was not thinking of his
] pretty partner Che had forgotten every
thing, even the present moment), and
he was glimpsing an intimate picture /;
lovely, fearful girl and the low,
| thrilling notes of voice; the impa-
| tient tone of the older woman.
Poor Belinda!
II Corinne had read his thoughts
she would have hurled herself out of
his arms
Richards good-looking face became
a mask Of grim resolve; he spoke in
monosyllables, and Corinne was re-
lieved when the dance was over and
some one else claimed her for the next
one. When he was free, Richard
searched and found a telephone booth
and called Mrs. Lanes number.
In response to his inquiry, a sleepy
servant answered that Miss Bray had
left the house; she lived somewhere in
Asher street, on the other side Of the
town-number 4S-"
| Piqued at Rowland's apparent pre-
occupation. Corinne avoided him, and
at suppertime disappeared in the
throng about the supper tables. Rich
ard, laughing at his own extravagant
sympathy for a girl he had never seen
but once In his life, went out to his
car and, struggling into fur coat and
cap, sped toward the city.
Only half an hour and he would
be back at Corinne's side, ready to
make his peace with her.
The high-powered machine shot
down the long hill and leaped toward
the clustered lights Of the city. In
five minutes 1t was threading the mar
row streets Of the other part Of the
city-the North side.
At last he paused before a small cot
tage where dim light burned in a
hallway. Hesitating there, Richard
was about to ring the bell when light
running feet came along the sidewalk
and tripped up the steps. Then the
girl saw him.
"Oh, what is the matter7 Has any
thing happened to grandmother
II do not know-I hope not" he said
hurriedly, standing bareheaded before
her. IT heard that Mrs. Gray was Ill
and came to see what could do"
"You are kind-please wait here a
moment while / go in and see her. +
I am afraid do not recognize you,"
she said with frank boyish look at