The Washington times., 1938-09-08

to the girls she went with or to
the needless boys who swarmed
around her.
TOO TEMPTING
They had been too desperately
absorbed in the losing business OF
keeping their own heads above
water, and felt that Corlie should
be able to shift for herself.
So it happened that by the time
CorIe's mother decided to put va
riety into life by skipping town
with a night mechanic from Bud
Wimberlys garage, and her father
inadvertently stepped in front OF a
croSS-country bus when his brain
was more than usually befogged by
the demon rum, Corlie had swell
established reputation for being all
that Roaring Brook froWned on
in girl who was not yet out OF
her teens.
She was altogether too tempting
q morSel in a world where boys
were boys and men would be men.
Corlie found life hard shedding
after her mother left town and her
dad died. Eventually, however, she
found a job in the ten and five
Emporium on South Main Street
and rented a back hall bedroom
in Mrs. Bud Wimberly's old brick
rooming house. Mrs. Wimberly
liked the girl and felt she had
never had real chance.
When it came to meals Corlie
let boy friends settle for them, but
she drew the line when it came
to any further donations from
these young men who lived for the
most part on the wrong side of the
tracks.
Corlie bought her own clothes
and set herself to paying off some
old debts which had never caused
her mother or dad any special
concern.
There were things Corlie did and
things she didn't do. She had her
own little secret code and lived up
to it.
SECRET FAITH
She also had a secret faith she
kept deep in her heart. Some
where in the world there must be
real man she could love and
who would love her. She wanted
to be worthy of him when she met
him. 1t was a fantastic little
dream, but Corlie clung to it, and
it helped to keep her head up and
her eyes frank and smiling.
But youth can't live on dreams
alone and when ArliS Drew came
to Roaring Brook one balmy June
day and took Corlie to the Country
Club for luncheon and again to
the club for dinner and dance,
Corlie decided, as her mother had
decided before her, that it was
high time she put some variety
into her life. Besides, Arlis Drew
offered escape from Roaring
Brook.
It didn't take Mrs. Bud VIM
berly long to see what was hap
pening. She felt that this Drew
guy was only a cheap city slicker
with cheap good looks and a cheap
line of talk. She told Corlie as
much but her words fell on deaf
ears.
You're going to end just like
your mother" she cried angrily.
Suppose I do?" the girl re-
torted. "At least I'll get out of
this town. And I'm going to marry
Arlis, too. Don't forget that"
Heaven help you'll" groaned
Mrs. Wimberly.
Corlie gave a stubborn little
laugh.
You don't really know Arlis at
ALL" she countered defiantly.
Back of his checked suits and
plaid ties and strut and swagger,
he's decent fellow"
But you don't love him,
Corlie!"
Corlie's skin was a pale gold and
now it flushed faint rose beneath
the surface.
mo, don't" she admitted hon.
eStly. But I like him lots. And
Tn a lucky girl to have him like
me-"
Mrs. Wimberly gave up, but the
night that Corlie's grip was packed
and the few clothes she couldn't
iIqueeze into it we're neatly wrapped
In a brown paper bundle, she came
into the girls room to say good-by.
your friend Arlis is downstairs
now" she said. "He just pulled up