The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-05-23


about dwelling on, you know. And,
CONE to think of it, it IS better that no
one should know about the business,
anyway"
In vain, 1 assured him Of my inter
est in his affairs, of my desire and
ability TO help him if be needed help;
he would tell me nothing. What an
unmitigated fool l had beenl / had
missed chance to learn all about her,
and might never get another.
"At least tell me her name,D said
finally, in desperation.
Miss Norwood-Ethel Norwood.
Why do you want to know her name?"
"Oh, nothing" said indifferently.
81 suppose she goes downtown to meet
some one, doesn't she?"
"Yes."
'Her brother, Suppose"
Hasn't any brother"
1 had gone too far to back out. "Who
does she go TO meet, then ?"
''She goes to walk home with her
sister, who studies at the Art Institute.
And now 1 should like very much to
know if Miss Norwood mas aroused
your interest merely through her being
an acquaintance OF mine? That con-
clusion is flattering, but doubtful"
To walk home with her sister? In
sudden burst Of joyous confidence l
told him what had been going on in
side Of Inc for the last month. I used
extravagant language to describe my
state of mind; L colored every trivial
incident to produce the rose -colored
effect Of romance.
We had reached Twentieth street,
and stopped on the corner where our
ways divided. 1 looked at Baxter and
saw that he was as amazed as had
been few moments before.
That's why 1 wanted to hear your
story, and also why / didn't hear it,
because I've lost the little head l ever
had over your Miss Norwood
"And so it's youT exclaimed Jim.
"Well, neverr'
"You seem to enjoy being rnyste-
rious," I replied, annoyed at such
another remark from him. as that
connected with story which L am not
to be allowed to hear?'
"Pll walk along with you. suppose
you ought to know" We turned into
Twentieth street. "What l 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 villain in these
commonplace times, he is one. / told
Ethel so and she dared me 10 prove it.
l was in college with him, and Iprov-
ed something about him even to her
satisfaction. She n-c'ts her engage
ment and told me she never could be |
grateful enough TO me. She continued |
to treat me as though l were the only |
one thing necessary TO her happiness,
until became convinced that ] had |
only to declare myself to receive my |
reward Tor saving her from that fellow.
| spoke last night aud she turned |
me down without asking for time to
consider, even. She said she liked |
me, though, and thought we were just
good friends"
1 tried to feel sorry for Jim and say
something appropriate, but I CT lldn't
think ofanythiDg.
''But the worst of it was that when /
asked her ifthere was anyone else. she |
said: well, no; not exactly and then
she went on and told me that she was
very much ashamed of herself, bat she
believed she was half in love with some |
one, she didn't even know. Saw him
every day and looked forward to meet
ing him, and lot of that sort of stuff.
/ was disgusted, 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 feel
ing 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 good fellow, Jim," said.
"Well, ! won't do il, - said Jim, en-
phatically.
VERY WELL just as you feel about it.
We probably have other mutual ac-
quaintanees, replied, nonchalantly.
''You, being an old family friend, could
SO easily take me to call, but of course
if you don't want to"
Lob, suppose!rIl have to-" groan-
ed Baxter. She'll make me anyway,
on some pretext or other, after seeing |
us together"
With this ungracious consent was /
satisfied. Inside of a week | had met |
her. If | had thought her charming
on the street, found her, in her own
home, utterly betwitching. l am wait
ing for decent and reasonable length /
of time to elapse before telling her
what she can see if she isn't blind. / |
am not blind, either, and yet try to
remember how mistaken Jim was about |
her feeling for him, and not left myself
be too sure.
l am sure, though, that she never
looked at Baxter the way she looks at
me sometimes, when | meet her on the |
avenue and turn to walk back with her
Chicago News.