Show BEST PEOPLE by MILDRED WHITE copyright 1922 western newspaper union philip was bitterly disappointed in a woman he whom women had heretofore failed to interest almost lie he had given up the shy hope of marriage and a mate who would satisfy his heart beart he be beheld pay fay winters pay fay had come back to the small town after an absence since young girlhood find and philip the admired new bell attorney saw tier her first momentarily then with a lingering glance as shu came through the lighted doorway of the towns best store perhaps after all said his mans hopeful heart this happy young woman may not be all that the townspeople say for tier her return had lot long heen been heralded pay fay winters coming backi philips landlady said well what possessed tier her I 1 wonder to come to the town that good enough tor for her years ago ray fay winters coming back to eldridges Eld ridgel exclaimed philips housekeeper well think of that after all her travel and college training wont be nobody good enough for tier her to associate with alth I 1 remember her she was nothing but a proud pretty slip of a girl her rich aunt brought pay fay up when she was left an orphan arid now hes left her all her money so philip laidlaw formed ills his imaginary nary picture of the newcomers character slie she was a snob no doubt and not an acquaintance to be cultivated lut but after ills his second lingering gaze into the young womans comans sweetly attractive countenance phillp philip had marvelously ly changed his opinion kufler the girl had altered with years vears or her former neighbors slandered tier her and after repeated evenings lit in fays plea pleasant tant society the hope of marriage came joyously thrillingly at last to philip here was the woman of whom he had dreamed and despaired of finding and secretly yearning as months passed by philip decided almost to make his plea then came his 1119 great in her charm for or him and her graciousness philip ver evver looked the indisputable fact of fays aloofness from others her ber superiority so openly dep deplore lord it was ills his housekeeper who forced the subject upon him her com coin plain ings he be discovered were now echoed on all sides miss winters got any use for eldridge folks the old woman told him except you because youve been to college and have money she dont call on the regular people here or ask em to call on her not even mrs dr wells or the bankers afe and folks do say thea wood who on earth would be good enough to be a friend of hers brusquely because his heart was fu full 11 philip put the matter before fay that very evening though he had bad not openly voiced his love for her lie be knew that the knowledge must be hers why he regretted do you make no friends among the women here fay bayl Is it because the bitterness of disappointment brought contempt to his tones because there Is no one good enough even among the best people pa ople in surprise she regarded him when she replied her voice sounded coldly you are right she agreed one should be sure that a real friend I 1 Is s good enough one of the best people her insinuation angered him he took his hat and left it was humiliating that the town folk should be correct in their judgment of the woman he loved they the cruelly critical and slurring she did not send for him and because he felt that he owed her an apology which he aoud cou d not give philip laidlow stayed suf ferlo gly m may away ay his office assistant later volunteered information the dames darne gare are chattering again that young man said they are horrified now over miss winters new friendship day after day she goes down to may with her books or her sewing day after day the two young women are seen together such a contrast you know mr laid low so stunningly unexpected but I 1 dont blame miss winters the accepted set of eldridge are a narrow speculating lot taken together or singly I 1 know lein em 11 wondering unavoidably philip was on his feet tell rue me lie he demanded where does this worth girl live and the clerk told him philip had bad difficulty finding ills his way there the house was so small and unobtrusive for lack of paint so sc bidden by twisted old trees from the roadway but fay winters was with ith her chosen friend the friend sat a neady shabby little littie creature in an inexpensive gayly covered chair the cheery light from an open stove shone on the two girls faces what had been the topic top of their conversation philip laidlow could not know but it was evident that neither ungenerous critic criticism iAm nor unkindly surmise had bad left that soft glow of sympathy in the young eyes or touched their lips with gentleness 1 I want you to meet my friend may worth play fay sal proudly to him alone she added and slie she Is a good friend one ode of this best people As phillp philip laidlaw clasped tho the hand of the won woman I 1 an lie he loved as ills his eyes mut met hers herk true under manding came to him arid and disappointment valli vanished shed forever |