Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18
Strange Things Happen When Dick
and Sylvia Meet i'm the Mountains of
Vuginia, butNaturalVAI Turns Ont
Well in the End-AUBecanSe Aunt lane
Made a Surprise Visit on Her Nay to
Florida.

Land o. Goshen!" said Aunt Jane.
IT out hunting" explained Sylvia, land
my gun went off, and the first thing knew
had shot William. It's not serious but he
might get an infection"
That's right" said Dick. I'D better go at
once"
IN walk out to the gate with you, William"
said Sylvia. She put firm hand on his arm
BE back in a moment, Aunt Jane" She
"wen!" he exclaimed, WIZ they were out
of the house. "WilY you IDLY tell me who
William is. and why am William, and
why"
Il can't tell you ~ It's to complicated.
=. But I'll en- later"
"When?"
Tonight meet you tonight after Aunt
up by the 9pring?"
Its date" said Dick
And I grateful to you for playing M
and pretending to be william"
Il could see you were in some kind OF JAM"
he said.
Jams no word for it," said Sylvia.
At 10 O'Clock that night Dick Ballard hur-
ried up the hill and entered the small lat
ticed Summer house that marked the location
of the Silver Spring. few minutes later Sylvia
joined him. He drew into the shadow Of the
spring house.
They sat down on a bench.
'NowI" said Dick What about this mys-
terious bird, William"
I'll tell you," Sylvia commenced abruptly
TN the first place Aunt Jane wants me to
get married. I'm her favorite niece. My three
sisters found husbands at home-we live IA
Belvidere, Ws-but wasn't looking for hus-
band, so naturally didn't find one.
Il didn't want to find one don't now
want to write. But Aunt Jane has old-fash-
Toned notions She's pioneer stock, you know.
And she felt it was disgrace that couldn't
get my man.
80 she gave me a check for $5,OOO-she
haSl dc of
for myself Her idea was that I'd stand bet
ter chance in the more thickly populated sec
tons Of the country"
"A sound idea,' said Dick $50 you came
East?"
Sylvia nodded. ct went first to Bar Harbor
I started my novel there. Then 1 moved down
to Newport, then to Easthampton, then
here"
But where does William come IMP" asked
Dick, noting that Sylvias hair had a silver
sheen in the moonlight
William" said Sylvia, "is character in my
novel"
"A wha-? A character in your"
Eyes. Unfortunately I got to describing him
in my letters to Aunt Jane"
"Ah-ha!" said Dick
"You see, she kept writing and asking me
If I'd met any attractive young men and I
well-I put into my letters some of the episodes
about William that intended to use IN my
novel"
And they were all pure fcton?"
quite pure" said Sylvia But finally got
to the point-I was forced to it by sheer dra-
matte necessity-of telling Aunt Jane that VIII
liam in love with me. And that's what
got me into trouble Because Aunt Jane sent
me long night letter urging to accept
William. And like idiot I wired back that
I had"
Lucky William" said Dick
Don't be silly" said Sylvia IF you knew
how have suffered! Why, I've been engaged
to William since Newport And I've ex-
hauSted my imagination trying to invent rea-
sons why he hasn't married me-"
He does seem a bit backward" said Dick.
Now if I were william"
Sylvia turned and looked at him.
1T wish you WERE" she said, musingly but
I don't suppose you would be-"
Would be what?"
"Oh! know it's ridiculous. STILL Aunt
James going to be here only day two"
"I don't get you," said Dick
ct thinking" said Sylvia, chat she
could go away still believing that you are VIII
liam, it would give me the time need to fin
ish my novel. If I tell her the truth now, she'll
be furious. She'll stop my allowance, and I'll
have to go home just when I'm in the mood
for working and-Oh, please, Mr.. Ballardl
Youn think I'm crazy, but-while my aunts
here-wont you be William"
Mr.. Ballard seemed to consider this mo-
mentous question.
That's funny" he said. 1--WE Just remem-
bered that my first name Is william"
"It isnt!"
cit Is II I choose it to be-"
Sylvia laughed, excitedly. Then you'll do
IT. Oh, don't know how can ever repay
Voul"