The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-06-08

az iCooIs ICll utT HdIle, /
said finally in desperation.
Miss Norwood Ethel Norwood.
Why do you want to know her name?"
oh, nothing" | said indifferently.
u suppose she goes downtown to
meet somebody, doesn't she?"
yes"
Her brother, suppose?"
Hasn't any brother"
/ had gone too far to back out.
Whom does she go to meet. them"
she goes to walk home with her
sister, who studies at the Art insti-
tute And now | should like very
much to know if Miss Norwood has
aroused your interest merely through
her being an acquaintance of mine.
That conclusion is lattering, but
doubtful"
To walk home with her sister! In
sudden burst of joyful confidence
told jim what had been going on in
side of me for the last month. | used
extravaganza language to describe my
state of mind; colored every trivial
incident to produce the rose-colored
effect Of romance
We had reached Goth street. and
stopped on the corner where our WAYS
divided, looked at Baxter, and saw
that he was as amazed as had been
a few moments before.
That's why I wanted to hear your
story, and also why | didn't hear it
because I've lost the little head ever
had over your Miss Norwood"
| "And so it's you!" exclaimed Jim.
''Well, l never!"
you seem to enjoy being mystic
rious." | replied. annoyed at another
! such remark from him. rs that con-
nected with story which l am not to
( be allowed to hear? Is what ~"
I'll walk along with you l sup
pose you ought to know" We turn
ed into Goth street what told YOU
before was simply this: Ethel Nor.
wood is the most ungrateful girl in
the world. We've always known each
other, went to school together in the
beginning, and all that | never cared
for any other girl. Well, last summer
she told me that she was engaged to
Tom Camp Know him? He lives in
Boston, and visited some people here
last spring. If there ever was a viii
lain in these commonplace times. he
is one. told Ethel so, and she dared
me to prove it. | was in college with
him. and I proved something about
him even to her satisfaction. She
broke her engagement, and told me
she never could be grateful enough to
me. She continued to treat me as
/ though I were the one thing necessary
to her happiness, until became con-
/ WINGED that I had only to declare my
/ self to receive my reward for saving
her from that fellow | spoke last
: night, and she turned me down with
/ out asking for time to consider even.
I She said she liked me, though. and
thought we were Just good friends"
I tried to feel sorry for Jim and say
something appropriate, but l couldn't
think of anything.
"But the worst Of it was, that when
I asked her if there was any one else,
she said, Well, no; not exactly and
then she went on and told me that
she was very much ashamed of her
self, but she believed she was half in
love with some one, she didn't even
know. Saw him every day aud look
ed forward to meeting him in the
avenue. and thought about him. and
lot Of That sort of stuff. I was dis
gusted and told her so, and that the
fellow was probably some one not
worthy of tying her shoes. She said
she wasn't afraid as long as she had
me to rescue her Then | left, feeling
pretty sore. And now it turns out to
be you, and you tell me the same
thing"
My feelings were indescribable.
There's only one thing for you to
do-be a good fellow, jim" | said.
well, | won't do it," said Jim en-
phatically.
Every we'll; just as you feel about
it. We probably have other mutual
acquaintances," | replied, nonchalant-
ly. "You, being an old family friend,
could so easily take me to call. but of
course if you don't want to"
ooh, l suppose I'll have to-" groaned
Baxter. Shed make me anyway. on
some preteXt or another after seeing
us together"
With this ungraciOus consent I was
satisfied. Inside Of week l had met
her. If | had thought her charming
on the street | found her. in her own
home, utterly bewitohing. | am wait
Ing for a decent and reasonable
length of time to eIapse before tell
ing her what she can see if she isn't
blind. I am not blind, either, and vet
| try to remember how mistaken Jim
was about her feeling for him, and
not let myself be too sure.
am sure, though, that she never
looked at Baxter the way she oars
! at me, sometimes when I meet her
on the avenue and turn to walk back
with her.-Chicago News.