Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-03-27
SEE onAscrp UP rsp1esAsrLY.

d fresh, cool lake breeze since the sun
shot its last crimson shaft above the
pines Of the mainland shore. He was
cold with his coat and sweater on. 'Tf
only she would give some sign OF
weakeningr' he thought and then
caught a glimpse of her profile-the up
lifted rebellious chin and the short up
per lip, the straight little nose, with It's
delicious tendency to tilt heavenward,
and the fiuttering wisps Of straying
curls that the wind tossed where 1t
pleased-and his foot ground an unof-
tending cIump Of aspiring clover In the
sand.
III she had never kissed him, 1t would
have been another matter. but she
had-not once; he could distinctly re-
member several times. And they were
not cousinly kisses either. Eleanor
kissed him In a cousinly fashion
friendly, mild little shies at his chin
or eyebrow-when he had birthday
or left for college, but Jean had been
different-different ever since he could
remember, when, thin, big eyed, red
haired young creature Of six, she had
proclaimed her love for him from the
housetops and graclously showered
him with favors varying from sticky
caramel kisses to the eyes Of her loved
doll when the latter went the way Of
her kind. He looked at his watch. The
boat could not possibly reach them
from Macatawa before another half
hour. 1t would make landing on Its
way around the lake to gather up the
cottagers for the hop.
Are you hungry"
It was q last appeal. Jeanette
plucked a spray Of sand cherries and
began to eat them stoically. He re-
membered other girls with red hair
who had the same pleasant, madden
ing little ways at critical moments. II
must be In the color, or was 1t just
pure
She glanced up Indignantly when he
knelt beside her and wrapped his coat
around her and then laughed when she
saw the leok on his face.
II like you when you're like that,
Tom," she said.
Like whatT
"Oh. just brace up and boss me and
forget you're only boy! Can you see
the boat YETI"
mo; I'm not a boy. Does Kerwin
boss your
mot very much; sometimes. He's
never rude" @@
isn't that pleasant After q pause,
do you like him so awfully wellT'
He was stretched out on the sand at
| her feet, all his heart in his eyes as
he looked at her. They were good
eyes that had not yet lost the frank.
questioning directness of boyhood.
| Jennnette gazed steadily at the red
light that had suddenly fickered to
| life In the lighthouse ut Osbourne
point.
"Pretty WELL" she said thoughtfully.
Better than you do meT
"You are so disagreeable at times,
Tom, that 1t isn't fair to Judge" she
| returned generously. you keep one
10 In doubt. you know, and Mr.. Kerwln
|! o. always the same. He is one Of the
most amiable men have ever met"
II hate amIable men,"
How you must love yourself, dearp
"Don't call me dear. When we fight,
| you always ring In the cousin racket
| and dear boy me. I'm not q boy"
| 'Don't growl SO. You are boy, six
feet one and a hundred and sixty
pounds OF good, solid, sweet tempered
lovable boy. I wonder II Mr.. Kerwin
| will be worried about me and come on
the boat. He has the first waltz"
| "You always give him waltzes. All
| get are two steps. What fellow has
| any chance in two stepT
Two steps were made for You, Tom.
Your graceful prance is heavenly. 1
feel as II had been at football game
when you slow up and deposit my re-
| mains ON a friendly chair. But one
| doesn't waltz s.if one were wound up
like a toy engine to scoot from wall to
wall in a frenzy. Mr.. Kerwin learned
In Europe, he says"
'If could think that you only did II
to torment me, the way 1t was with
Bob and Cllf Maxon and the rest,
wouldn't care q hang. But some way
he seems different. He's forty-hve'-
'Thirty-six"
TITS all the same, and ] know Uncle
Nick smells cold cash or he'd never
throw you at bis head the way he
does"
"He doesn't throw me at his head,
came the hot denial. Eleanor Is al
ways with u.s."
"Oh, well, Eleanor, she's most thir.
ty''--
twenty-five last April"
II don't care. She wouldn't look q,
Kerwln. II he comes on the boat, III
throw him In the lake"
you sweet childl Tom, dear, do YOU
know
mo; don't know" he retorted bit
teriy. II don't know anything. Jeanie
except that love you, and you dom
care rap"
There was silence. After few min
utes she stole glance at him. Hi.
head was lying on his arms, his face
hidden. She smiled q little, tremulous
fearful smile. What boy he was! A
man would have known. taken It fol
granted anyway But all he did wai
avow his cause and lay down hear
and sword before the battle had ever
begun.
l Far of on the distant marsh GONE