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ShERtSE >
BENSON /
THE STORY
CHAPTER 1. —Following the splen
did wedding of her niece, Cintra, to
Lord Leister, which she has financed.
Matilda Smith Lovely C'Smif," by her
own insistence), youngest and phya
ically the weightiest of the four Love
ly sisters, finds herself in decidedly
straitened circumstances. She has her
own plans for the future, however
which she refuses to divulge to her
sisters, prominent figures in New York
society
CHAPTER II. —The historic Lovely
estate, Lovelylea, in Virginia, is owned
by Smif's brother, Bill-Lee, but, finan
cially unable to maintain his position
there “as a Lovely should," he is liv
ing in Chile, while the estate is rent
ed to a Mr. Johnstone Nesbit. Smif’s
dearest wish is to own Lovelylea, to
which she feels sure her brother will
not return.
CHAPTER 111.- -Under the name
“Madame Saltou" Smlf establishes her
•elf as a “Little Sister of the Rich,”
a consultant. The business promises to
be remunerative, but there Is con
sternation among the other Lovely
sisters, in the idea that one of the
family should, as one tartly expresses
it, become an "adventuress."
CHAPTER IV.—Smif has a client, a
man (she does not require her callers
to give their names) who desires to
evade the loverlike pursuit of an ex
traordinarily stout lady, his neighbor,
whom he refers to as Mercy. Later, the
lady In question, Miss Martha Wash
ington Mercedes (Mercy, for short),
comes. Her story Is that because of
her excess weight she has lost her
lover, “Johnny.” Smlf, recognizing the
identity of her caller, advises her to
diet until she has reduced. Mercy pro
poses that Smlf, who is herself af
flicted with an overabundance of flesh,
should try the “cure," and if the re
sults are satisfactory Mercy will fol
low her example. For a generous fee.
Smlf consents.
CHAPTER V.—On his next visit
“Johnny” by mere chance discovers
Smif’s identity and is himself recog
nized by Smlf as the tenant of Love
lylea, Johnstone Nesbit. She also
places Mercy as the owner of an es
tate adjoining Lovelylea. Smif feels
she must know more of Nesbit and
asks him to call on her that evening
at her apartrftent. He tells her a pa
thetic story of his unhappy childhood,
which makes a strong appeal to Smif's
generous heart.
CHAPTER VI. —Born abroad, but the
eon of American parents, circumstances
made Nesbit the lessee of Lovelylea.
Unused to Virginia's ways, his edu
cation having been English, he
thoughtlessly violates the conventions,
and. as he bitterly says, feels him
self a “pariah," having been cast into
outer darkness by his neighbors as
"not a gentleman.” He has a miniature
of his great-grandmother which bears
a remarkable resemblance to Smlf. and
he tells her the portrait is that of Lor
raine Lovely, also an ancestress of
Smif. According to Virginia tradl
tions, he and Smif are "cousins,” and
she does not feel In any way inclined
to disclaim the relationship.
CHAPTER VII
For some time Smif iieard no more
of her new and disturbing consultant,
and her business settled back into a
routine that, If It did not Interest her
deeply, taxed her still less; which was
as well in view of the fact that she
was losing weight steadily and had not
reached the point where she had
ceased to find dieting irksome.
Moreover her vanity was not yet ap
pealed to, since there was no appre
ciable change in her appearance. Her
scales told a different story and Doc
tor Blanton was entirely satisfied.
Smif’s first news from Virginia
reached her in letters from Mercy,
two in one mall, liberally underlined,
salted with dashes and exclamation
marks and written in the vein of mys
tery that Is generous in “you know
who,” while sedulously omitting names.
Smif smiled and felt about fourteen
again as she replied with a short note
in the same schoolgirl style. From
Stone she received no word, a fact
that perhaps kept him more in the
forefront of her mind than if he had
bombarded her with letters.
One afternoon, her day's engage
ments over, she had seated herself for
a moment to review the work of the
day preparatory to changing her dress
and starting for the Badminton, when
she heard the quick scamper of little
feet and two dogs burst into the room
and circled it with alert curiosity,
sniffing here and sniffing there and
making themselves entirely at home.
There was no doubt in her mind
whose dogs these were, and she
watched them with interest while
awaiting the advent of their master;
which she felt certain would be uncon
ventional. Yet he did not come and at
last one of the solid, substantial little
creatures, never unconscious of her
presence, advanced to her side and put
one paw on her knee as If to beg per
mission for some further favor. She
leaned over to make out his name on
his silver collar; "Beaucaire.” She
twisted it around. “Johnstone Nesbit.
—Park avenue. Manhattan,” she read,
and now she confessed her surprise to
herself. When had he taken up his
habitat in Park avenue?
“All right. Beau,” she said softly,
patting her knee and at once the dog
sprang into her lap and proceeded to
make himself comfortable; as if he
had known her all his short life. The
other dog still held aloof, and this, for
some reason, displeased her. The dis
dainful one was undoubtedly Voltaire
and it was his favor she wished to
win. She was not a Martha Washing
ton Mercedes, to be scorned by Stone's
pet.
Os a sudden she became aware that
Voltaire was growling. She turned
and looked at him In amazement and
the low rumbling in his throat fell
lower and died out.
She devoted her attention to Beau
caire, and nt once the growling began
again.
Smif was accustomed to dogs and
thought she knew all their ways, but
bulldogs were a new breed in her expe
rience and all she had heard of them
was the legend of their fierceness. The
noise this beast was making was
menacing. Telling herself that Stone
would not have ’eft her alone with a
dangerous animal, she forced herself
to sit as atill as If she were deaf
to its threats, while the sound rose
to a snarling strength. Then, before
she could attempt to defend herself,
Voltaire launched himself upon her,
licking her hands and trying to nose
Beaucaire from his place of vantage
in her lap.
“I was betting on that,” Stone made
a nonchalant entry, his hands deep in
his pockets. “It was your voice that
got him. I’ve never known him to
make so much fuss over anyone but
me before. You ought to feel deeply
flattered, Smif.”
“Flattery may be what you call It,”
Smif said, adding with pardonable curi
osity: “Suppose he had torn me in
shreds? I know barking dogs are sup
posed not to bite but I never heard
as much said for growling ones.”
“If you were frightened why didn’t
you call me?”
"Probably I was too paralyzed with
fear to think of it. What did he make
those frightful noises for If he didn’t
mean to eat me alive? No wonder
Mercedes doesn’t like him.”
Stone’s lips did not move, yet some
how Smif received the impression of a
sardonic grin.
“Your mistake, my child. She adores
him. She has told me so many a time.
He’s perfectly sweet with her. Watch.”
He bent over the dog and patted him.
"Shall I call Mercy, Vol?”
Voltaire lifted his lip at one side In
a snarl that gave him an absolutely
venomous expression. There remained
no uncertainty concerning his attitude
toward Mercy.
“That’s what he thinks,” Stone ex
plained with entire gravity, “however,
he’s a French gentleman. In her pres
ence, he will conceal any uncompli
mentary opinion he may have formed
of a lady."
“Why did he act the way he did to
me, then?”
“He was paying you a sincere com
pliment. Being emotionally stirred by
jealousy, he knew you could not fail
to be flattered by a display of it. He
I wished you to make a fuss over him,
’ not over Beaucaire.”
"And so he proceeded to make him
j self disagreeable about it? How like
; a man —of any nation.”
Stone attempted no defense. “Poor
! fish, men,” he said briefly. “Well,
how are things coming on?”
“I’ve lost thirteen pounds—"
“They say thirteen's an unlucky num
ber." Always grave. Stone now ap
peared to be plunged in gloom. “Have
a heart, Smif. Mercy’s getting abso
lutely enthusiastic on the subject of
reducing. You’ll have me married to
her before I know it, if yor; aren’t
careful."
“Have you seen much of her since
von went back to Virginia?”
“As much, exactly, as I couldn’t
: avoid. Fortunately, as Voltaire can’t
abide her, he always warns me of her
coming. Her intentions are still both
earnest and honorable. If that’s what
j you want to know. Let’s forget it.
What have you been doing since I saw
you last?”
“Banting and working, working and
banting. That’s about all. What’s the
meaning of the address on your dogs’
collars?”
“Oh." said Stone. “Ah,” said Stone,
j fingering the dog's collar and hesitat
ing perceptibly. “It happened to occur
to me that in some way I was some
thing of a d —n fool. At a hotel 1 was
absolutely vulnerable. It was as free
to Mercy as to me; while a man’s
home is his castle—”
“News 1 seem to have heard before.
—Go on," Smif interjected.
“ —So I decided to have a castle In
town. I’ve taken a penthouse with a
garden and I can bring the dogs with
me instead of having Voltaire nearly
die of melancholy whenever I am away
t from Lovelylea.”
“Then you plan to stay In New
York?"
“Off and on,” Stone answered non
chalantly, “dodging Mercy to the best
! of my ability until you’ve both come
to your senses.”
“Both? What do you mean —both?”
Smlf sputtered.
"I mean exactly that Both.” Stone
looked at her with a gleam in his eye.
; “Sooner or later you’re bound to real
ize I won’t marry her. Then you’ll
i marry her to some one else; she will
EARLY COUNTY NEWS. BLAKELY. GEORGIA
oe happy and so, I trust, shall I.”
"Something seems suddenly to have
stiffened your backbone.”
“Something has,” Stone averred.
"I suppose you appreciate that this
makes you much more Interesting as
an object of the chase? Instead of a
cringing victim you now become game
worthy of our bow and spear.”
“Well, catch me if you can. I’ll give
you a run for your money. Time for
I you to go home, isn’t It? The dogs
I and I will walk up with you.”
CHAPTER VIII
Without further urging from Pamela,
Smif had talked her oldest child over
with Susan, who finally had become
convinced of the unwisdom of forcing
Pam to do anything repugnant to her.
“But what of me? My plans are all
made to sail on the fourteenth.”
“You are to go,” Smif decided. “Be
off with Charlie to Nauheim. He
doesn’t need a cure but It flatters him
when he fancies yon are anxious about
him; and, since Pam came out, you
haven’t had much time to devote to
him."
“He certainly is much more amiable
after a stay at Nauheim. Moreover,
it will save my face. It has somehow
leaked out that Pam was to be pre
sented, and every one will understand
that a sick husband must take pre
cedence over a well daughter. But
what about Pam? What is she to do
while we are away?"
“When school Is out, Charles Junior
and Jane will go to the Manor, I sup
pose?”
“Yes. Carola Phelps, who Is Charlie’s
second cousin, she married Guy Mason
from Philadelphia, is to stay with the
youngsters at the Manor. Having ne
children of her own, she tells me she
has had time to study the genus and
knows all about them.”
“Would you consider a trip to
Wyoming for Jane and Pam?” Smif
inquired, tactfully trying to hide Pam
behind her younger sister.
“I would not.” Susan put up her
glasses and peered at Smif suspicious
ly. “I do not propose to encourage my
children’s taste for wild life.”
Expecting nothing else, Smif was
not disappointed by this decision. She
had advanced the suggestion solely
with a view to assuring Pam that her
mother would not consent.
“Then why not let Mrs. Mason
chaperon Pam at the Manor with the
others? It will be very quiet for her
there, yet she doubtless will have In
vitations to visit —”
“She doesn’t like Carola Mason.
However, if she gets out of going to
Europe, she can't expect to have every
thing her own way."
“Why not ask Mrs. Mason to stay
with Pam in Sutton place until the
children’s schools close?”
“I thought you would be with
Pam—”
“No,” Smif spoke conclusively.
"When Cintra married, I promised my
self never again to shoulder the re
sponsibility of a voung girl. As you
say, Pam must be prepared to make
some concession. Send her to me If
she objects too seriously and I’ll talk
her into agreeing.”
This, after several conferences, was
the final arrangement Susan and
Charles sailed. Pam and Mrs. Mason
settled into a state of armed neutral
ity. Stone came and went. Smif saw
little of her sisters, excusing herself
from family dinners on the score of
her banting, an excuse they accepted
readily although hopeless of a change
for the better in her appearance. As a
matter of fact she was losing weight
more rapidly now, and Docton Blanton
seemed to think it advisable to keep a
close watch over her.
Madame Georgette had been obliged
to alter her clothes several times, and
the improvement in her looks was at
last perceptible even to herself; while
the Irish woman was loud in her ex
pressions of admiration as she set pins
to Indicate the line she wished.
Stone had gone back to Virginia ten
days before and Smif was surprised to
find how much she missed both him
and the dogs. As companions, the
dogs bad taken precedence over all
other breeds and were first among the
things she promised herself for Love
lylea.
Coming back at dusk along the Fifth
avenue boundary of Central park, a
man far down the street slipped a leash
and two dogs came racing toward her
to leap upon her with enthusiasm.
“They knew you before I did.” Stone
explained when he came up to her.
“They nearly pulled me off my feet."
Then, as if the comment was forced
from him: “Jove, you are like my
great-grandmother 1”
11 IIOA fl
ill I
“Something Seems Suddenly to Have Stiffened Your Backbone.” “Something
Has.” Stone Averred.
“I certainly am,” Smif agreed, “I
should think you would find yourself
calling me ‘grandmother.’ How’s Love
lylea?”
“Perfect,” Stone replied. “Its neigh
bors are its only drawback. One of
them caught my train today.”
“Honestly?" Smif asked. Then tn
recognition of an affirmative nod,
“Such singleness of purpose deserves
some reward. . . . What brings you
here?”
“Same thing that brought her-r-to
see you,” Stone assured her. "I’ve had
a real inspiration. Why don’t you
come and pay me a visit? You’d like
to see Lovelylea again, wouldn’t you?
It certainly deserves Its name In early
summer.”
Like to see Lovelylea again? It
seemed to Smif as if the muscles of
her chest tightened around her heart
at the mere thought; but she shook
her head in the negative. Not yet was
she ready to go back to Virginia.
They walked on for some moments
i* silence.
“Mercy’ll be down on you bright and
early tomorrow,” Stone warned her at
length. “She’d have been after you
tonight if she’d known where you live,
I’ve never told her your name Isn't
Madame Saltou."
“Don’t,” said Smif. “It’s none of her
business as long as I don’t know her
socially.”
“Smif, dear, I’m afraid you don’t
really like my future wife.”
Smif halted as abruptly as if the
traffic signals were against her.
“Have you tied yourself up with
that woman?’ she asked, tight-lipped.
“Didn’t you advise me to? Stone
adopted an Injured air.
“I never advise anybody," Smlf
avered.”
“Well, well,” Stone looked at her
sidewise. “I evidently misunderstood
you—”
“It’s because of the dogs,” Smif went
on, a trifle incoherently. “I’m afraid
she wouldn’t make them happy—l’m
afraid she doesn’t really understand
bulldogs. When you’re married, you’d
better give them to me. Stone.”
“And how about making me happy?”
Stone demanded. “I keep asking you
that. Isn’t that worthy of considera
tion?”
Os a sudden Smif doubted the au
thenticity of his news.
“I don’t believe you’re engaged to
Mercy at all,” she said, trying to con
ceal the relief the thought gave her.
“I don’t believe you have the nerve to
propose to her. When the time comes
I’ll probably have to do it for you.
You’d be afraid."
“Os course I’d be afraid —afraid
she’d accept me. Looking on it as her
last chance, perhaps, while you’ve
been banting she’s been stuffing her
self. Indulging in a perfect orgy of
rich food. Wait till you see her 1”
“Wait till she sees me! I prophesy
that she’ll rush to the telephone and
make an immediate appointment with
Doctor Blanton. And when he has
brought her back to her former love
liness you’ll sing a different tune.”
“Indeed?” Stone stared at her curi
ously. “I’m interested to know what
makes you so certain of that? At her
best, I wasn’t stuck on Mercy. Why
should you both be so sure I will be
now?”
Smif stared back at him, her mouth
slightly open, her whole expression
that of one transfixed by amazement.
Why indeed?
“But you said —” she began weakly.
“I said 1 hated fat people. Well,
so I do. But I'm not of so loving a
disposition that I love everybody who
happens to be thin. And for all of me,
Mercy will die an old maid, fat or
thin."
“That certainly complicates mat
ters,” Smif admitted.
She had surprised herself by her
sudden revulsion of feeling at the sug
gestion of his engagement to Mercy,
since it would be so convenient an ar
rangement. It occurred to her that
it was not so much that she objected
to the marriage as that she objected
to his succumbing voluntarily.
Arrived at the Badminton, she said
good-by to the dogs while Stone asked
If he could take her out to dinner
somewhere.
“You forget that I no longer eat,"
she said with a smile.
“May I come to see you after dinner
then? Have a heart, Smif. I’ve got to
go somewhere to escape Mercy. She’ll
be dropping in to see my ‘sweet little
bachelor apartment,’ as sure as fate.”
For a moment Smif hesitated.
"Come, of course,” she said. “Only
Doctor Blanton will be here and I
don’t know whether you will like him
or not.”
“Doctor Blanton will be here? You
mean upstairs, in your own living
Everyday Specials!
Syrup, Pure Georgia Gane, gal. . . 40c
Oats, Mother’s—with cup and saucer . 30c
Peanut Butter, 2 lb. jar 25c
Pickles, Sweet mixed, 16 oz. . . . 15c
Salad Dressing, full quart .... 25c
Apricots, No. 2 1-2 can 20c
Dryed Appples, 2 pounds .... 25c
Dryed Peaches, 2 pounds .... 25c
Prunes, pound 10c
Coffee, we grind it—loo percent, Santos,
pound 20c
FRYER’S MARKET
BLAKELY, GEORGIA
room?”
“Certainly,” Smif returned, sur
prised. “Why not? I prefer to see my
friends in my own quarters.”
“Unless he comes as your doctor, I
don’t think you should receive him in
your private rooms.”
Smif stamped her foot.
“Stone, how can you be so ridicu
lous? Don’t I receive you there?”
“Yes,” Stone admitted with porten
tous gravity. “Yes, you do. And that
is entirely different. Plainly, this
man’s in love with you. while I’m only
your cousin.”
Unable to find words to fit the case,
Smif whirled and left him standing on
the pavement.
»»»*•*•
(To be continued next week)
WANTED — Local man with car to
cover county; outdoor advertising;
no selling. Advertising Mgr., 515
Goodale, Columbus, Ohio. 18-3 t
CITATION.
GEORGIA —Early County:
To whom it may concern:
Notice is hereby given that I. F.
Coleman, administrator de-bonis-non
with the will annexed of Mrs. T. B.
Coleman, deceased, having applied
to me by petition for leave to sell
real estate of said Mrs. T. B. Cole
man, deceased; and that an order
was made thereon at the February
term, 1934, for citation, and that
citation issue; all the heirs at law
and creditors of the said Mrs. T. B.
Coleman, deceased, will take notice
that I will pass upon said applica
tion at the March term, 1934, of the
Court of Ordinary of Early County;
and unless cause is shown to the
contrary, at said time, said leave
will be granted. This sth day of
February, 1934.
D. C. MORGAN, Ordinary.
NOTICE TO DEBTORS AND
CREDITORS
GEORGIA—EarIy County:
This is to notify those who are
indebted to the late Dr. F. P. Davis
to come and settle their debts; and
those who have claims against the
said Dr. Davis are asked to present
them, properly made out and at
tested. This January 10, 1934.
MRS. MATTIE C. DAVIS,
Executrix of Last Will and Tes
tament of Dr. F. P. Davis, dec’d.
Dr. G. O. Gunter
BLAKELY, GA.
Office in Howell Drug Co. Building.
Phones: Office 66, Residense 59.
LOWREY~STONE
Attorney at Law
Alexander Bldg.
BLAKELY. : GEORGIA
C. T. ALEXANDER
. Dentist
BLAKELY. : : GEORGIA
Office upstairs in Southern Stat
Life Building, rooms 5 and 6.
Office hours: 8:30 to 12:00 a m
2:00 to 6:00 p. m
BLAKELY CHAPTER 44 R. A. M
_________ Blakely Chapter 44
Royal Arch Mason
f*. ..A- meets on the second
\ r f and fourth Monda*
nights of each m .nt!
ly at ® o’clock. Visitinw
companions invited.
w - H - ivey.
V High Priest
J. G. STANDIFER.
Secretary.
LAND SALE
Under and by virtue of the au
thority contained in a security deed
executed by C. C. White to Charles
Forman, dated September 10th, 1920
and recorded in the office of the
Clerk of Superior Court in Early
County, Georgia on September 23rd,
1920 in Book 34, page 157, which
deed was duly assigned by Charles
Forman to Continental Casualty
Company by assignment dated No
vember 3rd, 1920, recorded Decem
ber 30th, 1920 in Book 34, page 215,
there will be sold before the Court
House door of Early County, Geor
gia on Tuesday, February 20tb, 1934,
between the hours of ten o’clock
A. M. and four o’clock P. M. to the
highest and best bidder for cash
the property conveyed by said deed
and described as follows:
Part of Lots of Land Numbers
One Hundred Forty-three (143)
and One Hundred Forty-two (142)
described as follows: Beginning
on the South line of Lot One Hun
dred Forty-three (143) a dis
tance of Seven Hundred Four
(704) yards East o f Southwest
corner and running East to South
east corner of said lot, thence
North a distance of Thirteen Hun
dred Seventy-five (1375) yards
to the middle East and West line
of the South half of Lot Number
One Hundred Forty-two (142),
thence West to a point Seven
Hundred Four (704) yards East
of the West line of said lot, thence
South a distance of Thirteen Hun
dred Seventy-five (1375) yards to
point of beginning containing One
Hundred Twelve and one-half
(112%) acres, more or less; also
Ten (10) acres, more or less, of
lot Number One Hundred Forty
(140) described as follows: Be
ginning on the West line of said
lot where Blakely and Lucile
road leaves said line, and running;
South to land of George Houston,
thence East along Houston’s line
to center of pond drain separating
this land from land of W. C.
Houston, thence North along cen
ter of said drain to aforesaid
road, thence in a Northwesterly di
rection along said road to starting
point; also, Twenty-seven and one
half (27%) acres, more or less
of said lot described as follows:
Beginning on North line of said
lot a distance of Sixty-one (61)
yards east of Northwest corner
and running South to the Blakely
& Lucile Road, thence in a South
easterly direction along said road
to center of the pond drain sep
arating this land from land of W-
C. Houston, thence North along
said pond drain to North line of
said lot, thence West to starting
point, all in the Twenty-sixth
(26th) District of Early County,
Georgia, and containing in the
aggregate One Hundred Fifty
(150) acres, more or less.
Default has been made in the
payment of the debt to secure which
said security deed was executed and
the said Continental Casualty Com
pany, assignee of Charles Forman,
and present legal holder of said se
curity deed and notes, acting under
the power in said deed, has elected
to declare the entire indebtedness;
due and payable, in accordance with,
the terms of said security deed, and!
said property will be sold as the
property of C. C. White for the
purpose of paying said indebted
ness, which will amount to $1629.19
on the date of %ale, plus any unpaid
taxes and plus the cost of this fore
closure proceeding.
T. B. McKenzie, of Ashburn, Tur
ner County, Ga., under an appoint
ment of agent duly executed and
recorded will attend and conduct said
sale.
Continental Casualty Company
will execute to the purchaser at
said sale fee simple title to the
above described property.
This 15th day of January, 1934.
CONTINENTAL CASUALTY
COMPANY,
By: George S. Beaumont,
Asst. Treas.