Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-09-22
DAILY SHORT STORY
Entr' Acte.
Copyright. 1908. by IT. c. McClure.l

at her.
81 did not, youNsilly hoy. How could
/? You never said a word"
But l looked" M
"I.ots look"
"Harvey?'
"de looks lovely"
GLOW do lOok?''
''Bertie! YoHbig, silly. killy kidichild!"
"Don'tN Iaugh\at me, then. It'isn't a
joke
She leaned over Nthe plush rail of the
box and let n roselleaf fiuttter. jlighUas
a baby butterfly, 4 down to the tierfbe-
low
'.You girls musAhave loads,of prOpo-
sails"
"Why?"
"Oh, you all takeAit so easy. You just
laugh at a fellow and look pleasant
and all that"
"HHve you askedtso many, BertieT"
Ten. Scored, didn't you? Honest,
though, l haven't, Gwen; Just you,
dear
''There(was that Ferris girl"
"Who? Madge-little Madge Ferris?
I wasn't in love with her. We just
chummed. You know, Gwen. Shetwas
a great chum."
did you ever kiss her, BertieT"
''Not since she was old enough to
fight. That isn't anything. I've kissed
you. Gwen"
Dead silence: orchestra plays ola Pa
Iona"
Gwen, the tip of!your ears awfully
pink. Turn around. cwon't you? L don't
care. 1 did. 1t was(down at PARKWAY
Beach. that summer. Member, Gwen?
You were an awfuIly funny little gaw-
ky kid those days. Fuzzy hair and big
eyes
You used to call me a walleyed friz-
zletOp," she said over her shoulder, and
her eyes were full of dream light and
her voice was low. "It was ages ago"
"And 1 chased you that day. You
could run as fast as us boys. Way up
the beach, past the cottages and the
hill road. up to where the rocks be-
gan"
There was a cave with shells in the
sand, and seaweed tangled in the
rocks She bent nearer with parted
lips of expectancy.
1.-The Green Dragons cave. you called
it. member. And 1 caught you there
and kissed you hard, didn't 1, Gwen?
And you said it wasn't fair, cause you
turned into a mermaid as soon as you
reached the cave"
"And you said you were a wave,
then. and could follow. Wasn't it funP
Great fun. Gwen, Gwen, darling,
wish L had you there this minute"
81 slapped you"
"And then I held your hands and
kissed you again. 1 was good those
days Returned kiss for q blow. And
on didn't slap that time. You laughed
and kissed back"
''It was ages ago"
She bent over the rail again away
from him. His eyes were so full of
something - something it unnerved
her, and the others were watching. She
could almost feel Harvey's gaze.
But. dear, I've been loving you all
the time. I'm not kid. Gwen. Listen
to me- Turn your head again. You're
afraid"
"Of whatY'
your eyes. They tell"
After pause:
Dare you to, Gwen"
She turned her head slowly and
looked at him.
you silly boyT'
Sweetheart"
I'm not. BERTHE. don'tl Mammals
watching!'
"And Harvey? Is he so very rich,
Gwen? Say, Gwen, don't he look like
n frog in his evening suit? Gwen, look
at that old fossil and then at me. Love
me. Gwen?'
"The curtain will go up in minute.
Hushp
"Gwenw
"Hush-dearw
'You darlingi Say it again.
"Dear, dear, dear! Now will you be-
haveT'
''If could tell him for sure, Gwen
dad. mean-that 1 had you for sure
you know, dear, he'd stand by US;
know he would. He isn't like the wom-
en-. All they think of is landing fell
low like Harvey and his cash. Dad
knows love you. He'd give me a start,
dear heart. 1t would be fun starting
together, wouldn't it, Gwen? You're
young, and I'm young. would do any
thing in life with you to say Go ahead
Gwen
1.-THE curtain is rising"
''Never mind. The rest will look at
the stage Just give me your hand If
you're afraid, sweetheart - just your
hand for answer. When l bend for
ward put your hand down, and they
won't see. Please, Gwen. Then I'll he
good, dear. Just to be sure. Your eyes
told anyway. Oh, you darling?'
Curtain rises. Her fan falls.
IYOLA L. MERRIFIELD.
Culture and POIiteness In Caracas.