The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-10-18
1.-THE House That Jack Balt.'

| Jack Naring was bashful but 1t was
question if he was any more bashful
than Ethel Talcott. They could not
speak to each other on even the most
trivial subjects without stammerlng
and blushing, but Jack PERSISTED In
calling. despite the apparent dlscom-
fort his visits caused both. Everybody
could see that he was desperately IN
love, and 1T was a saying among their
friends that If Jack could ever summon
up the courage to propose, Ethel would
be too bashful to reuse him, whethel
she loved hun or not. She nad just
come out at the beginning OF the sea-
son. about the same time that Jack,
who had lust graduated from college
and entered his fathers business, OF
which he was pros pective heir, first be-
gan to attract the attention OF de-
signing mothers and attractive daugh-
ters: Perhaps 1t was while avoiding
Them that he met Ethel, who had found
that there are ways Of keeping out OF
sigu. when a ballroom was crowded
with other girls who were enjoying
themselves Anyway, some common
chord of sympathy made them embar-
lrassed friends from their first meet
ling.
Although Jack was bashful, he called
lon Ethel as often as he dared, but IN
lspite of all resolution to overcome his
Idifdence he made little progress with
his SUIT. They could get along fairly
we'll when there were others IN the
room with them, but when left to
themselves they suffered. Ur'''-e most
Young people in a similar case, they
lcourted rather than avoided the COM
pany of Ethers litlle brother, Gus, ana
lack soon became such friends with
him that he felt called upon to re-
member his birthday. This he did
nv sending MIN an elaborate box OF
building blocks, which Gus dragged
into the parlor on the occasion OF his
next visit. and insisted that the donor
teach him how to build with them.
"What shall build?" Jack asked.
Build me a big hotel like the one
Ethel and were at last summer
Jack obediently drew his chair to the
middle of the room and began on
suitable design. But he soon found
|, that building while sitting on chair
was difficult, and as Gus was sprawled
comfortably on the floor watching the
work, he presently slipped down beside
him. Now; 1t is a peculiar thing about
building blocks that although they are
always bought for children, very lew
children can work out the designs that
90 with them, and consequently they
are forced to call on their elders to
help them. Moreover, their elders U.s.
TALLY take kindly to the task, and are
ant to get cross If the child interferes
in any way and delays the work IN
hand. In a very few minutes Jack was
; , as deeply interested as if he were
. building a sure-enough hotel and Gus
watched with admiration. Presently he
tried to put in place an arch that was
in two pieces and needed no other
blocks to be placed beside 1t in order
|, to keep it in place. Gus tried to hold
the pieces in place, but in doing so he
, knocked a corner out OF the building
with his elbow.
, "You clumsy boy!" exclaimed Ethel,
who had been watching with the most
Intense interest. "Here-let me hold
them" and a moment later she was
sitting on the floor with them.
Jack patiently rebuilt the damaged
corner anu then Ethel held the arch
until he had built around 1t.
Nov make some bathing houses on
tine beach," commanded Gus.
Jack obeyed, and then Gus brought
| GU, some men and women cut out OF
! cardboard and set them around to re-
present the guests.
: Here's you and Ethel. I'll introduce
. you, for you weren't acquainted then,
said the young rascal, as he placed the
figure of a man raising his hat before
that of young woman with parasol.
Gall right" said Jack. But am not
, raising my hat at her as should. am
raising it at the far corner of the
, building. Here, let me set them right"
, Saying this, he reached out and
/ turned the figure representing himself
so that it faced the figure representing
: Ethel. Immediately white hand shot
out and turned the back Of the paste
board belle toward the bowling figure.
"Snubbed!' exclaimed Jack, having
q boldness for his pasteboard repre-
| sentative that he never would have
presumed to have for himself.
} "But you don't know him yet. He's
the checklist nan on the beach. at
: heart" and he moved his representa-
! tive with his bow in front Of the maid
, with the parasol.
} "And she's the haughtiest girl at the
beach," said Ethel, as she again snub-
bed her cavalier.
"Try them behind the hotel where
the hammock Is and folks amt look.
In" volunteered Gus.
Great head" exclaimed Jack, pick.
; ing up the two figures to make the
change.
"Take care whom you're handling
like that" exclaimed Ethel, graspine
him by the wrist and striving to pry
III, 6,oorc looce from her figure