Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-09-26
In Time of No
Choice
By DUFORD JENNIE
(Copyright.)

... (Copyright.)
0VOU poor, miserable little thing!"
Beth said with smiling eyes, 81
have gorgeous plan for you. Now
you shut up your little Puritan self
In handy closet and listen to me"
Alice smiled family at her room
mate, but it surely was faint smile.
A long month at great city hospital
that leaves one weary Of life, without
a position, and with savings gone does
not make happy smiles; and Alice had
reached that point-in spite of her
CHEEKY roommate, who never let life
get the best of her-where she was
letting CO.
"Ted's folks invited me to their
place-after he died. He was black
sheep, you know, and when he mar
red me, an ornery city girl with wild
habits, that finished the both of us
for them. So I never visited them.
They never saw me and they never
will. and Pm going to send you to
them-under my name. In other words.
you are to be for two precious weeks
Mrs. Edward B. Halei" l....
"Ohi never-it would be-" Alice
objected.
Listen They never did a thing
for Ted and me. They seemed to be
sorry afterwards, but l don't forgive
them. Then, you can't get me ouf
among the cows and the crossroads.
It's just right for you. You should
never have come to the city, anyway"
Beth ratified on. ''I7l never go to see
them. And you're just plain going to
die, little one. You've got no choiceI"
Too weak to argue, too weary to
care much about the deception. domi-
mated by the gay girl who took every
challenge that life offered, at the end
of the week Alice found herself speed
ing on the southern train to the home
of the people to whom she was TO he
Mrs. Hale-the girl they had refused
to accept, to whom now they would
make redress.
More than once, Alice was in a
panic of shame and doubt as she
thought of the deception. The
keenest moment of anguish came
when, as she stepped from the train
at the village station, a tall, smiling
man of about her own age stepped
up.
Mrs. Hale? l am Alfred-Ted's
brother. m to drive you homeland
tell you that we are mighty glad to
have you come" he said.
His smiling, friendly face stilled her
fears, and before she knew it she was
in his car, sweeping away into the
country. She was silent, but he chat
ted along in his cheerful way, explain.
ing gently how sorry his father had
been for his sternness toward her and
Ted, and added:
Mother has been strong for you
all the time, but Dad rules the roost
and he's one of the old-fashioned, stiff
backed kind-up on his uppers one
moment, then the next sorry dean
through. He'll try to make 1t up to
you-and so will the rest of usw
They did, without question. and
Alice had reason to grieve over the
deception many nights thereafter as
she lay in the coy upstairs best room
with the wide peace of the country
night about her.
One day Alfred looked at her oddly !:
''Reth, you were a little white ghost
when you came, but you begin to look
well, you look mighty good to me-"
he suggested. his eyes merry.
Then he began to take her to happy
times in the village and at different
farms dances. suppers, plcnics-and
after each came the long drives home
through the fragrant, singing southern
night and little slow ache began to
form in her heart-she did not want to
go back to the great city.
Then one night. as he went to the
house with her after joyous evening,
he paused in the Kitchen and pointed
to calendar.
"Beth. you see those little checks?
have been marking off the days you
have left-and IL wish | could get
you to stay here always. ! shall miss
yOu," he said simply.
She trembled at the deep undertone
of emotion in his voice, and her lips
parted to form the words. "Oh wish
| could"-then she remembered. and
fled to her room.
The next morning, as she went down
stairs Alfred caught her arm, and his
eyes we're so tender and gentle. the
tears almost came, but she said firm
ly: "Alfred. ! want to tell you some
thing-and your mother and father
IL wasn't Ted's wife!"
He slipped an arm around her and.
somehow. the touch of the firm arm
was comforting.
"Tittle one. we have known 1t all
along. for the real Beth wrote Just
after you came, the whole story We
didn't want to tell you we knew, and
Beth didn't want to tell you she had
wrltten-and then mother ana dad fell
in love with you: then. seeing that
did NJ the start. il seemed as if"
words eluded him and he paused for
moment IAN | know or care Isl
love you and II you think you could
be happy with me, ! don't want you TO
80 back ever
A sweet sense of happiness closed
about her, and cut of It she spoke In a
whisper :"And | don't want to go back
ever-for | love you!"
Good Memory
Dorothy who has an older sister