The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-03-13


Put the sideboards on your biggest
wagon, Jimmy" was yiola's order
and meet us at Hinkles."
She proved to be very sweet and
delightful autocrat. For three short
and joyous hours she led him from
store to store, graciously leaving to
MIN the privilege of selection but In
nine cases out of ten demonstrating
that he was entirely wrong in his
choice. always with the naive remark
after the purchase was completed and
tne money paid in hand: "Of course.
Kenny, If you would rather have the
other, don't for the world let me in
fuence you"
you know more about 1t than do"
he would invariably declare.
She was greatly dismayed, even ap.
palled, as they wended their way home
ward, followed by the first wagonload
OF possessions. to find that he had
spent the stupendous, unparalleled sum
Of two. hundred and forty-two dollars
and fifty cents.
"oh, dearl" she sighed. 1--WE must
take lot of it back, Kenny. Why
didn't you keep track of what you Were
spending? Why, that's nearly a fourth
of one thousand dollars"
He grinned cheerfully. "And we
haven't begun to paint the house yet,
or paper the walls, or set out the flow
er beds, or"
Goodness mel" she cried, aghast.
"You are not going to do all that now,
are your"
Every bit of it," he affirmed. 81 am
going to rebuild the barn, put in new
well, dig cistern. build smokehouse.
lay brick walk down to the front gate
and put up brand new picket fence"
You must be made of money" she
cried. cycling him with wonder in her
big, violet eyes.
Il am richer now than when we start
ed out this morning, said he, magnifi-
Gently.
When you say things like that, you
almost make me wish you were not my
brother" said she, after a moment. and
to her annoyance she felt the blood
mount to her face.
And what would you do IL were
not your brother?" he inquired. looking
straight ahead.
Whereupon she laughed unrestrain-
edly. You would be dreadfully shocked
If were to tell you, but can't help
saying that Barry would be so jealous
he wouldn't know what to do"
"You might find yourself playing with
fire."
WELL" she said, fiippant1y, I've got
over wanting to play with dolls. Now,
don't scold me! can see by your face
that you'd like to shake me good and
hard. My. what frowni / am glad
it isn't January. If your face was to
freeze Therel That's better j.
shouldn't mind at all II it froze now.
You look much nicer when you smile,
Kenny. Her voice dropped little and
a serious expression came into her
eyes. Il don't believe I ever saw IA
ther smile But I've seen him when he
looked exactly as you did just then. u
II hope you don't mind my talking
that way about your father. Kenny. IL
wouldn't II he were not mine az well.
"You knew him far better than l."
he reminded her. Then he added
brightly: II shall try to do better from
now on. I'll smile II it kills me-"
As they parted at Kenneth's gate-it
seemed to be mutely understood that
he was to go no farther-they observed
a tall, black fgure cross the little front
porch OF the house beyond and disap
pear through the door. Kenneth's eyes
hardened. The girl, looking up into
those eyes. shook her head and smiled
wistfully. N
"Wil you come over and help me
put all these things where they be-
long7" he asked, after 4 moment.
This afternoon, Kennyr
"If you haven't anything else you
would rather" he began.
II can't walt to see how the house
will look when we get everything In
place. will be over right after din
ner, unless mother needs me for some
thing"
Kenneth's delight, was due to the
never-vanishing picture of Viola. the
sleeves of her wOrk-dress rolled up to
the elbows. her eyes aglow with en-
thusiasm, her bonny brown hair done
up In careless coils, her throat bare.
her spirits as gay as the song of a
roistering gale. She had come over
prepared for toll, an ample apron of
blue gingham shielding her frock. her
skirts caught up at the sides. reveal
Ing the bottom of her white petticoaf
and glimpse Of trim, shapely ankles.
She directed the placing Of all the
furniture; she put the china safe and
pantry in order; she superintended
the erection of the big four-poster bed,
measured the windows for the new cur
tains, issued irrevocable commands
concerning the hanging of several gay
English hunting prints 1.-THE actual