The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-15

made playfe1low of him. If the world OF
women refused to take him seriously, why
should he show them the serious side of his
nature? Yet beneath his gayety was hid
den strong, manly nature that seldom mani-
tested itself. Perhaps all unconsciously he
had shown this better side to Janet, for he
felt instinctively that fippancy in her pres-
ence was desecration Of the love he nur-
tured far below the surface.
The weeks sped by. Pretty girls came and
pretty girls went. Moonlight sails and rides
gave way to hops and amateur theatricals
on dark nights. There were Grabbing on the
lake, clam bakes beyond the point, and pic
mics in the woods across the inlet, and of all
these Tommy was the life, the bright and
guiding star. Janet Marsden was there also.
sometimes in the foreground, often-
er in the background, the lat
ter especially on the parties by
water, when she seemed content in a quiet
corner, studying the beauties of distant land
and sky. But tomorrow it would all end.
Janet was going home. Tommy gazed mood
lily toward the point of rock around which
she had disappeared. Seven wasted weeksl
He was an idiot, a.
Tommy kicked over camp chair that stood
in his way and strode down the steps toward
the beach. He found Janet with her new
magazines perched in shady. sandy corner.
Her head was bent, and her golden hair
| CLEANED above her sailor suit OF dark blue
| linen. Tommy picked up her parasol, which
had rolled down the slope, and threw himself
| at her side. ~
"Your mother tells me you leave for the
mountains tomorrow. 1t seems as if you'd
| been here such a very short time. :"
"Thanks!'' replied Janet, holding her place
| in the magazine with a slender forefnger. A
| faint smile hovered tantalizingly about her
! lips. --e 5
Tommy was digging holes with the point
| of her 9arasol ~ --2s
| "I'm tremendously sorry you are going''
| His voice was genuinely tender and earnest.
The smile died on her lips, and her eyes soft
ened; but, after all, his record was against
| him.
| "Are you clever at fgures?" she inquired.
She>had the parasol now, and Tommy fol-
| lowed(what she wrote in the sand:
1 "27-26=?n Il: -=.. - ...--.- & ;
! Like a fash he reached for what had now
| become Cupid's weapon. Under the question
he wrote clearly y"27-2e=everything:"
"The others don't count, you know" he
added, looking out at the dancing waves.
'.Very clever Of you! What time you must
! have thinking up all these, pretty speeches!
When do you have time to sleep?" Her rail-
4 lery brought a flush to his cheeks. and he
clasped his hands resolutely about his knees.
| "'To be honest, / haven't slept much lately.
I've had something on my MIND. I've feen
trying to find way to tell a girl that love
mer girl. you see, but the sort of girl one
/ would want winter and sunmer-for all time.
His fippancy had quite disappeared now, ano
Janet suddenly shielded her face with her
hand though the sun had not yet crept round
the rocky barrier behind them. 7 ou see, nc
one believes i've heart, for I've let the girls
play football with it till everybody thinks it
,, worn out, but that was just-a counterfeit
Il don't YOU see, and j want this girl to un'
f. derstand that the real thing is all hers, and
e think it has been waiting for just her al
these years. Now, if you could tell me Wna
= to say-how to convince her -. -s...
His hazel eyes, from which all playful teas
i ing light had fled, were fixed on ols1an
d dipping sail, and he did not see the expression
:, on Janet's face There was a moment B 81
: lence: then she drew quick, sharp breath :
Y You might''-her voice was very low so'
, might tell her that you love her; simply that
d nothing moreno pretty speeches, but as j
: Won really meant st. and perhaps-perhap
t she would believe you. '. a
: Tona,ny turned sharply and read that in he
: face which transformed the barren sands int
d / a garden of Eden.
t / Half an hour later Janet gathered up he
}; Ibeoks and handed them TO the radlant ION
" N.Y. - S'.s.'5 -. =,
r *..You'rc a very docile pupil, dear, but tn
y | first lesson is over.
i, | Tommy smilingly accepted the burden sn
" offered him, but still held fast her out
It stretched hands:
# with such teacher, sweetheart, mop
It the book of love will never be closed w
e must try to keep it open always, for this i
d to be no summer school.