The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-07-03

more Athluooh
with all his learning.
Laura | said that evening after
dinner. when the men had gone into the
billiard room. do drive that man
away. He'll spoil everything
"what can I do:' she said with
pout. Your brother sticks close TO his
beloved sister. It's all going wrong.
Madge. Such things never turn out as
one would wish them. II you and Mr..
Atkinson had fancied one another II
might have been easier for your broth
er and me-"
The two men were lodged in adjoin-
ing rooms facing the ocean, and at 5
o'clock in the morning OF the Fourth
Laura and were up In the story above
them letting down bombs before their
open windows. When they came down
10 breakfast they were awfully cross
and wondered how the boys in the
ncightsring cottages could explode
their big crackers so near them, where.
upon Laura and / snickered and the
secret was out.
Trust a girl to get ahead Of Eel,
low said Dick. laughing.
They're much brighter than we. l
admit" said Atkinson, with one Of his
profound looks which made me feel
that he really considered himself vastly
our superior.
We lounged all the morning on the
piazza and all the afternoon on the
beach. / seized upon Atkinson for 2
walk up TO the inlet 10 get him away
from Laura: but he was So stupid-he
didn't seem TO have any small talk
that I took him back before we had
gone half mile. I could not help con-
trasting him with Dick, wha was so
jolly aud at the same time 30 kind.
considerate. deferential.
You're missing a great deal, Laura"
/ said. "My brother is more than I
, could have possibly expected"
Hes very nice. ! admir-. Madge, but
you can easily see that
"Well, what?" / asked, irritated.
Speak out"
Il prefer Mr., Atkinson" she said
tartly.
From this moment resolved to keep
Dick from paying her any attention
whatever,
Dick" ! said, Laura Is infatuated
with your friend keep away from
| her-though what she sees in him to
fancy l don't know"
Dick laughed and said that I was
Jealous, that Laura was very attrae-
tive girl, and. although I was lovely,
| too-he was too brotherly to hurt my
feelings Il must not feel that I had
been eut out by an inferisr person
That made me hopping mad, and de
termined TO shoY him that pique OF
Jealousy had nothing to do with the
matter. From that time / bore myself
with perfect and unassumed indiffer
ence to Atkinson just to show bott
him and Laura that 1 was perfectly
satisfied with the attentions Of my deal
brother. Often when Laura and At
kinson were spooning ! would go pp e
Dick, put my arms AROUND his necl
and give him several kisses. ! confes:
Atkinson didn't seem to mind my be
Ing so demonstratiye, Why should h
when he was falling desperately in low
with Laura? And any one could see tha
II
After the fireworks we had ice cream
and cake oa the piazza. and just befor,
we were going TO bed Dick whispered
something to his friend, when Atkinson
arose and said;
"TheTe has been prank played upoi
you young ladies which should not b.
carried further. We two men occupie,
the seat behind you on the car yester
day ana overheard your conversation
Madge. I am your brother Dick, AM
your supposed brother is Tom Atkiu
soh."
Just walked upstairs and slamme'
my bedroom door. After awhile Laur
came up and. throwing herself on
lounge, laughed till I thought she wa
going TO have commissions.
what are you laughing ut, 20
heartiess things" / said angrily.
She only went of into another fit o
Mysteries. and by this time the lud
crous side of it all appealed TO me an
began to laugh too. However, didn
20 down the next morning to breal
fast or to lunch, but during the da
my real brother came up and pacific
me. His profundity had all bee
assumed. and he was now very mic
| to me. admitting that he had not su
ficiently considered the cost of b
joke.
/ don't see that there Is any more
tell. l wanted my brother" and l q
him. Laura wanted 'tthe other man
and she got him. And yet II came OF
just as had planned for Dick an
/ Laura