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Show THE PAGE TWO via Wmaute (Helen R COPYWOHT BYij DODD, MEAD AND ' CO STORY FROM THE START and fastidious Handsome, wealthy young St Croix Crelgh-to- n awaits -his sweetheart at their trystlng- place. She Is fifteen minutes late, this ordinary little Pennsylvania Dutch girl, but he Meely Schwenckton, awaits her eagerly. Bhe Is so demurely beautiful, he thinks, but so out of bis "class." CHAPTER I Continued 2 . "But look here," he said, puzzled, "I'm' sure the Pennsylvania law has, for the past ten years or more, required children to attend school up to the age of fourteen years, and recently longer. Don't tell me you are over twenty-fou- r years old only a year younger than I am!" "But you see," Meely offered In explanation, "I'op he was a school director and could do what he liked. He's awful determined. That's why our Jake he won't live at home no more. Top he's so determined. Leave him think a thing's right and he wouldn't listen to even Roosevelt or or even you yet V "Do you know," he said after an Instant's silence, "I am seriously displeased with you today?" "What for, Mr. Creighton?" she asked plaintively. "What did I done did?" "You were fifteen minuteshalf-pas-' late! t When I say I'll meet you at four I don't mean a quarter to Ave." "But but T was here before you. Mr. Creighton," she answered In surprise. "I didn't keep you waiting I waited." "That's not the point The point Is four. you weren't here at lialf-pas- t Don't let it happen again !" "But how do you know I wasn't here seeln' you wasn't here your own self?" "Never mind how I know. I know a lot more about you than you think I do, my little girl !" "Oh I" She looked at him queerly almost as though she were trying not to laugh. "Now, then, why were you fifteen minutes late?". s "I had to mind my baby whiles the others helped I'op with his cider-maki"And then," she continued, "till I was through all I had to wait till Pop was out of the way; I darsen't leave him see me come away! Well, I guess anyhow notl" "He Is 'determined' with you, too. Is he?" "Well, I guess anyhow then !" "You use five words, Meely, where two or three would suttlce. Instead of Just answer yes." . "I know J talk awful dumb !" Meely humbly admitted, looking abashed. "I don't see why you bother to make dates with a common thing like me! - and follow me up here unknownst ! she's Just that And you see, i'op he'd say you wasn't keepin' comp'ny with me fur really ; not to marry me j a swell like you yet ! Well, I guess anyhow not !" "Is your stepmother's sister a permanent fixture at the farm?" St. Croix uneasily inquired. Till my "No, thanks be! well again, her sister goes and good riddance 1" St Croix had often noticed with n slight surprise that in spite of her awful English, Meely was never at a loss when he used words of several syllables not In her own vocabulary. "Do you like your stepmother any better than you like her sister?" "Well, she ain't so crabbed and bossy like her sister, but she's awfully sulky to my little sister and brother and me. If it wasn't that I step-mom'- s old-mai- d he repeated dubi- ously. "Yes, and listen oncet Mr. Creighlowered ton" Meely her voice, though the nearest human being was two miles away "that there crabbed s sister of my s that's come to help out over my confinement she's susplclonln.' old-mai- d step-mom'- stop-mom'- me!" "Of meeting me?" he asked a blf uneasily. He had such a very strong reason for being afraid of an awkward entanglement, or of Its beln known that he philandered with a farmer's common dnuphtcr. "Ach, she don't go so fur a to sus piclon my Date Is a swell like you. Mr. Creluhton. She says to me. she says, 'I know who your Date Is. he's that there blond young man at farm!' she says. And me, I Just left her think It was him." "Rut" St. "rolx demanded. Instantly jealous, and hlmclf as suspicious as the lister," "what reason does she hnve for thinking your Date' Is the blond young man'? You must have given her reason. " "Ach, well !" Meely cast down her 'To eyes and looked be sure, Mr. Creighton, there's ol tiers that admars me besides yourself that's only to be expected, ain't It?" "And do you have 'dates' with this blond young man?" "Well, to be sure, since I knowed you. Mr. Creighton, other ones does seem awful common to me, thut they Zent-tnyer'- s "old-mai- I believe." said St. Croix, frowning thoughtfully, "that there's surely some psychic reason for my feeling!" "How do you spell that?" asked Meely. "Another thing" he Ignored her question "your Pennsylvania Dutch accent Is a bit different " "I know I don t talk so dumb like some talks for all I Co talk pretty dumb. But some 'round here gives awful funny sounds when they talk I Did you ever take notice to It a'ready?" "Did I? Gosh!" "Say, Mr. Creighton, you've been sayln' what you think Is queer nt me, darst I tell you what wonders me at you?" "Shoot it!" "You are the first swell' I ever knowed have knew though I have saw 'em a'ready but not to keep comp'ny with 'em, yon understand. Well, you're awful dlff'runt to what I'd conceited a swell gentleman was like" St Croll had passing twinge of conscience for his own responsibility In possibly spoiling this girl's chances for a contented married life with a husband of her own class. Hut he reassured himself with the reflection that from the first she had sought him out quite as much as he had pursued her. Seducing an Innocent virgin was certainly not one of the things lie was cnpabla of dolnp' said Meely. "What I have afral-lof.old maid sister "Is that my will take a sneak on me some day step-mom- 's amused. "No doubt I" the party I ever have snw! urid he was awful dift'runt to what you are. lie was so polite to the ladies that way he belittled ptckln' up fur 'em and fetchln' and enrryin' fur 'ein and hoppln' up to give 'em his sent my goodness! It looked awful nice! Ach!" said Meely, with a long sigh of pleasant reminiscence, "wouldn't It be grand to have your Mister act that polite to there wasn't no you even when comp'ny I This here gentleman to which I make reference to, he acted just that polite when no one was 'round to see him do It! Yes, mind you ! Why, he acted Just that polite to me yet and me only one of the hls-se- lf ceited all high gentlemen was like that there." St Croix was surprised to find himself piqued uncomfortably by this Ignorant girl's Intimation (unconscious though it was) that he did not measure up to her funny standard of a "gentleman" just imagine! Yes, grotesque It might be, but It pricked him. sudden suspicion flashed on him was she unconscious of what she was Implying, or was she actually giving him a sly dig? Her amiable patience under his bullying had sometimes seemed "a bit thick" I "Say, Mr. Creighton," she continued, "I'd like awful well to see you la the comp'ny of swell ladies oncet! I bet you'd he just as polite as that there party to which I made reference to. For to be sure, you couldn't boss swell ladies 'round like you do me, could you, now? And you'd have to fetch and carry fur 'em and hop op and give 'em your chair Just that nice ! ach ! Wouldn't I like to see you at it! I bet you'd look nice!" She fetched a long breath. "I wisht I was nice educated that men would treat me like that !" St Croix was smitten with compunction. "You poor kid !" he said, patting her cheek, "you'd like to be treated 'like a swell lady,' would you?" "No, It's the other way 'round I'd like a man to treat me like as if he was a fine gentleman." She said It so Innocently he could not suspect her of guile. "And you think," he smiled, "that I don't treat you as if I were 'a fine A But Meely Was Always as Fresh and Fragrant as the Morning Dew. hate to leave Sammy and Lizzie," said Meely mournfully, "I'd do like our Jakey done I'd take and run off, too !" "But," said St. Croix hastily, "you wouldn't go so far that I that you couldn't see me, would you? Come here !" She sprang up, her face alight, as the permission was given, and went to him. He held her close as they sat together on the broad Hat stone, his arm about her waist, her head on his breast Girls of her "class" had always been to him, hitherto, untouchable, so fastidious was his distaste for any contact with the But Meely was always as fresh and fragrant as the morning dew ! Ills fingers caressed her hair, her white slender neck, her delicate sweet face. But though he could never quite understand Just bow she did it. she had always somehow managed to hold ti in off from kissing her lips. He kissed her hands, her throat, her bare arms her lips ever eluded him ; In spite of the fact thut she seemed as much enamored of him as he of her. "Do you know, Meely, ever since I first met you, that night ut the barn dance, I've had the queerest feeling of something familiar In your face I'm sure I never saw yon before that night" he knew he could not have seen her and forgotten It "yet I cun't get away from the feeling of something familiar aboul you." Meely shook her head over It "1 ain't familiar witli you," she said. ' gentleman'?-"Well, you can Judge of that nie, you know the ways of gentlemen better'n me. Anyhow," she conceded, as though offering hirn consolation, "you look awful swell anyhow, with nil the different tony suits you're got with hose and neckties to match ach !" "Meely f" he exclaimed, trying to kiss her on the mouth, but achieving only a peck at her chin, "sometimes I think you're Just a sly little cat!" As her head was on his shoulder and his cheek against her hair, he did not see the sudden flash of her eyes which momentarily transformed her face from its usual vacancy to a sparkling vivacity. When, however, as she did not reply, he turned up her chin to look at her, the dullness which now veiled her countenance like a mask effectually dispelled his bet-ter'- n momentary doubts. (TO BE CONTINUE D. Believe That Stolen Articles Brin? Luck An extraordinary example of the survival of foolish superstition wus disclosed In the case of a Hampshire (Krigland) fanner who wus convicted of stealing turnips from a neighbor He explained to the miigistrate that he could easily afford to pay for them, and that moreover, he had plenty of turnips of hi own. but he wanted stolen ones to make a concoction for a cow which had fallen sick, for he firmly believed no other could be so eillcaclous. A similar belief Is held In many parts of Germany, where practically everyone buys a ' ticket for one or other of the state lotteries. Many on educated peasants will tell you they are sure of winning If the ticket they have was bought with stolen money. Id Turkey, copper rings are worn on the fingers to prevent erysipelas. If the ring has been stolen from some I News Notes I t It's a Privilege to Livm in Utah LOGAN Oregon fir trees, which were ordered by the merchants' committee of the Logan chamber of commerce, arrived here. The trees, which are to be used for Christmas street decorations and are of uniform size, will be placed in the flag receptacles along Main street. These, together with colored festoons, which will be strung above them, are expected to make the business section of town very attractive ' and also stimulate early Christmas shopping . OGDEN Members of the county commission discussed with Kenneth C. Wright, district state road engineer, the highway program of For this purpose the county $70,000 has been set aside in the budget. Mr, Wright said that the state road commission would be willing to e stretch from the terpave the minus of the present highway in Ogden calley to Huntsville. PANGUITCH Fifty thousand dollars is the estimated value of the certified seed potato crop of Piute and Garfield counties, according to Morgan McKay, county agent for the section. Although many will be kept for seed, approximately sixty carloads, valued at $36,000, will be sold from the section before spring. . JUNCTION Land totaling approximately 120 acres at Koosharem In Sevier county near the Piute county line was set aside for homestead filing by the government for use of thirty-fou- r Indians who have been living on the property for several years, according to Eli F. Taylor, register of the United States land office in Salt Lake for the district of Utah. . OGDEN Actual construction on the hangers at Holther field, Ogden's aviation depot, was begun under the direction of Ora Bundy, contractor. With the prospect of good weather, rapid progress on this work is expected, and within a few days most of the work will have been completed. DUCHESNE Several bridges were washed out, headgates and irrigation' ditches damaged and a number of ranches inundated when the new embankment of the Farnsworth Canal & Reservoir company's reservoir, seven miles below Moon lake, gave way wall of water down sending a ten-foLake Fork river. LOGAN At the commencement of the winter quarter a new four-yea- r course in forestry will be introduced at the Utah Agricultural college. Through cooperation of the United States forestry office at Ogden the course' was made possible. OGDEN Ogden will hold a big celebration on December 17 in observance of the opening of its new white way. The celebration is being sponsored by the chamber of commerce. The new triple lighting system exstreet to tending from Twenty-seconTwenty-sixtstreet on Washington avenue will be turned on with appropriate ceremony at that time. SALT LAKE! Wednesday morning's fall of snow in Salt Lake and vicinity brought the total depth for the two days of storm condition to 8.2 inches. The storm, which broke in the early morning hours, was strictly local in character, according to the United States weather bureau In Salt Lake, with only a trace of snow reported south of Salt Lake and on Provo f inch at Pccatello. bench, and DUCHESNE Federal aid in the construction of highways in the state, amounting to $27,797.49, was received by the state treasurer Tuesday from the bureau of public roads. Of this amount $17,053.41 Is to be applied on the highway from Frultland to Duchesne and the remaindT for bridges in Grand County. John Walker also received from Iron county the sum of $50,000 taxes for the current year, and also $11,532.32 from the county of Millard for taxes for this year. SALT LAKE Plans for the thirty-nintannual Utah poultry show of Utah State Poultry association, to be held In Salt Lake from January 16 to 21, were formulated at the monthly held meeting of the association,. It In the city and county was decided that during the last two days of the show an auction will be held similar to those which conclude the various stock shows. OGDEN With the Issuance of the j most complete premium list in the his tory of the association, the Weber Poultry association announced complete plans for the seventeenth annual exhibit to be held January 7 to 12, Inclusive, in the huge coliseum In connection with the ninth annual Ogden livestock show. LOGAN Approximately 19,004 acres of winter wheat were harvested In ' Panlia itnnnt In 1Q97 a r r nnl t IT t r Ina report of the bureau of agricultural economic of the U. S. department of agriculture. Of that acreage 18,193 acres were not Irrigated and 1611 were Irrigated, The county also had 8474 acres of spring wheat. hard-surface- d . "You see, when Pop first brang home his young wife I was that mad I run In town and hired myself fur a week to a family where the son was d do !" St. looked Croix Friday; December 16, 1S27 NEPIII. UTAH S. help !" "Oh, he did. did he?" St. Croix murmured Jealously. "He was only stringing you, Meely " "Ach, no! Fur to all the other help, too, old and young, he was Just that polite. And so, till I met up with you a'ready, Mr. Creighton, I con- step-mom'- that I don't" "'Make dates?" TIMES-NEW- one else. It Is supposed to answer Its purpose twice as well. might be multiplied from Most every quarter of the eartn. prolmbly ihe superstition arose from the natural desire of the criminal to find some excuse for his delinquencies. Too Many Butt$ in Joke Peter Campbell of Klulne, Australia, entered his bachelor quarters he was knocked flat on the floor. Itegalntng his feet he was knocked down again. Crawling out of the way of danger, he struck a match, and found facing htm a large ram with a district-widreputation for hutting. Campbell sustained severe bruises nnd lots of shocks. Ills door was locked when he left home, and the police are looking for the practical Joker who opened It to pass In the butter that caused Campbell nearly to pa.'ta out. two-mil- hard-surface- d d h one-hal- buil-llng- I Y When e i UTAH Construction will start within the next month on a $30,000 plant for the Pacific Coast Products company In which will be manufactured a medicinal oil, developed by J. B. Jenson, mining engineer of Sail Lake, during his research and experimental work in the production of mokless fuel. Mr. Jenson has sold his patents to the product to the Pacific Coast Products company, which Is financed by Los Angles capital, but will supervise both the construction of the building an 4 the operation of th plnt The A RONDEAU TO SANTA CLAUS A CHWSrMAS blUKi By SOPHIE E. REDFORD ia HUwori Firmer SANTA CLAUS: Theu're tolling mm not the same uou used to be-T-hat times have changed, and things are no w Bat sureUj tjou'pe not altered too? IJou'ro not so changeable as we. DEAR HE green glass thing gleamed like an eye as Olivia took it So, I just thought I'd write and see If nou and I don't quite agree That all this nonsense u not true. Dear Santa Claus. from its holly-pap'wrappings and looked at it ruefully. She had been excited and hopeful about this Christmas gift from Aunt Matilde and it was disappointing a bit of green glass, gnarled and unlovely. Olivia had never seen her aunt, who was childless, wealthy, and altogether a likely star In the horizon of a vigorous young artist of a niece. Certainly It was surprising to have received this gift at ail, for the aunt and the artist niece had, heretofore, known little of each other ; but Olivia gathered up the tinsel cords and papers and pranced to her shining kitchen. Today was the day of her great chance, for Drahelm, decorator of homes beautiful, was coming to take tea, and she was looking for a junior partner. Olivia had Joys prepared, but the green glass thing was a problem. If Matllde's card had not promised a visit on this day of days, the way might have been easy, although there were few hiding places within the little flat. But now the gift must be displayed in all Its discordant greenness. Everything else was perfect The silver twinkled softly In a polished heap be-- s 1 d e carefully folded linen. trays Serving were ready with a smart array of nuts, and candled violets, and fruits and creams almost an entire pay check's worth. The giblet salad, subtly suggestive of opulence, was cooling properly In Its mold of aspic Jelly, and the rolls were heating piping hot oven. The In the little boy left the Ices In the back entry and tipped his hat respectfully, very. Olivia's chin went a trifle higher quite without her knowing and the worried little lacy puckers- across her forehead suddenly turned somersaults. She laughed. She fingered the purse In her pocket, doubtfully; three pennies, exactly, pay day yesterday and the next one when? Everything was delightfully expensive. Bui the green thing still grinned on 'he mantle piece. Olivia had a swift disturbing vision of this aunt whom she had never seen and she made a little grimace at the picture. Oh that Drahelm and Aunt Matilde should not have to meet Olivia's rooms were In exquisite taste soft worm browns with dashes of Chinese reds and blues that shone on old unhogany and teak, an etched brass bowl on the table, a real Maxfleld Punish on the wall between the window, and the green glass thing on the mantel three cents In Olivia's pocket She regarded the glass ornament thoughtfully and wondered If It might have been smashed In the mall, and decided no. Olivia was not a good liar. She considered a headache or a broken leg and thought of the gib-lsalad and the pickled cantaloupe. The borrowed maid had not arrived, but Madame Drahelm had. Olivia knew by the positive, way In which the door-bel- l Jingled. "What can I do? Interior decorotor, I, with a green glass thing like that on my mantel piece? Yes, Drahelm will be Impressed, very, "The door-bel- l rang, again. Insistent. Suddenly, Olivia knew what she would do. And she would get the coveted position. Drahelm, decorntor of homes beautiful, had bright little beady blue eyes that leveled nt once fiercely above her body. Thry ap flitting quail of proved energetically of the Chinese reds and blues snd the polished mahogany end teak, of the etched bross bowl and the Tarrlsh picture, and then they fell on the green glass thing. It had never grinned so boldly from act the Ir cUr room, an ugl mask la mi WW glass-walle- d TDe'ce just the same old Christmas Trees iust as full of glee; And uou "re the same, so here's to uon A Merrq Christmas and, please, do Onr hearts are Bring an old time jubilee. Dear Santa Clans I ns of madonnas. Olivia quaked 's as she studied the expression on shrewd little face. It was half disgusted, half gratified, with an appraising, Impersonal antagonism about a gallery It Dra-heim- Olivia swallowed the lump In her throat and straightened her shoulder for the battle. She forgot the giblet salad and the pickled cantaloupe. She forgot the little niceties of hostess courtesy. She and Drahelm were two individuals, unclothed by a world of manners, measuring each other, the green glass thing between them. They seemed conscious of nothing more, Olivia broke the taut silence. "It's lovely, isn't it?" "What?" Madame Draheim's hearing was excellent "It's odd, a rare piece. Would yoa like to see it closer? I'll get It" "No." "I beg your pardon." There was a hint of Interest In Draheim's inflection, this time, and a relief from monosyllables. "I suppose it's very old," with a shade of sar- casm. Olivia was glad. She had made Drahelm take the offensive. "No," she an swered and was silent "What then?" "Very new." "I thought 60." There was no Insolence in Madame Draheim's tone. She spoke simply. "You're not a good liar, are you?" Olivia was suddenly calm "No she said. Then, "Why?" "I supposed you'd hide It or break It." Olivia was off her guard for a moShe stared openly. "What?" "I said I supposed you'd break the thing. "Why didn't you? It's plain, of course; you know It's hideous." There was a penetrating keenness In her bird-likeyes. Olivia felt This was her test She had no time to wonder; that would come later. ment e it Very carefully she chose her words, but there was no suggestion of uncertainty, of confusion In her manner. "I'm afraid misare you Madame taken, Drahelm, or perhaps I am. I believe that yon were Interested In my green glass decoration which was a gift to me and the value of which can scarce ly be named. Perhaps yoa thought I wished to sell It to you. I am sorry. Tou misunderstood me." "I'll give yoa fifty dollars for It" Olivia could have laughed and cried with the knowledge of her power. done the Impossible, She had succeeded In selling the green glass thing to Madame Drahelm. llettcr, she hod made Drahelm buy It. If she had done that she could sell her services. She knew the position was hers. Suddenly the green glass thing became very precious to her. "No," she sold, "I won't sell It Is there anything else I can do for you?" "Teg," Madame's eyes twinkled with mirth, now, wl:hout appraisement The test was over. "You can be n niece to your Aunt Matilde Drahelm. The nrrus a resourceful young firm woman." Ollvln laughed ut the green glass thing and It grinned back at her. It was a merry, merry Christmas present, truly. HI She--ha- Uk 127, Wastsra Nssstsr I'Bloa ) |