Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1903-02-26
The SentimentaliSt'S
Surprise.
BY Clare NJ. Howard.

"A IL
greot sensibility and magma :,
= five power. Her enemies SAID =
she was sentimental, but that =
was only half true. Jane, having reau c
countless romances in when love ap-
peared to be the highest state OF pilss'
| decided that IL life were TO contain
ANYTHING important for her she must
fal In love as soon as possible. Ihls
I NAV seem an easy matter TO the simply
amorous. but to a strict romanticist II
nresents many difficulties. James lie
led down a city street to school, anu
home again. 1t is true that many
Young ladies in Madame Estelles
seminary firted from the WINDOWS
with young gentlemen on the corner
hut this innocent vulgarity was Oh
fensiye to James sense of romance
She continued reading and bided an
onsnIcious occasion for the bestowai
of her heart.
In her fifteenth year James parents
went to spend the summer IN tne
Adirondacks. Jane decided that inns
summer should certainly marx the
great year of her life. Some one must
Mt once be found upon whom 10 hans
her affections. Had not Juliet HVeu,
loved and died before she was sixteen
lame made n calculating survey or her-
Golf before she launched upon her
ouest. Her blue eyes. black hair ana
pensive. dropping mouth were encour-
aoinp hut there was something OF
fensively prosaic about her short plue
linen dress and large laced boots.
linn white muslin and pair or samoan
sinners are what Jane would nave
liked.
For MANY DAYS Jane viewed the male
nonulation OF the lakes with search
inc eve She looked at the venerable
beaux with patent leather SHOES anu
cvnic smiles, the college men WIN
blatant tongues and sweaters the
stodcv heads of families, the choicely
dressed and demonstrating youths
from CITY offices, the agile, derisive
LITTLE bows who moved in gangs. Hei
beart miscave her. Was it possible
that ladies still found heroes in TINS
thronoP Still she did not despair
!. There might yet beat some soul o.
! sentiment under flannel blazer.
!. One night as she was standing Oh
Q the wharf the little boat that brouSh
). new visitors to the hotel presented
: her eyes likely subject lie wa
o leaning against the door OF the steame
!. In rather graceful way, with sol
a hat almost imperceptibly tilted on III
a beod There was. to James eye, some
a thipg both subtle and dashing abot
t. his appearance. Her hopes beat hlgl
r. ITO was shaking hands with an old'
10 girl whom she knew. There was 10
70 n hop at the hotel that night. lie
"a hans the Older girl would ask him
10 dance with Jane.
d, The would-be heroine was pink WI
&c excitement that evening. She watch'
ed tho new guest as he crossed the dan
ut inc space. He had dark eyes WI
70 shadows under them and SHADOW
ba round his mouth. Jane thought
"A must work very hard. She lean
nd over and touched her older friend.
as "Will-will you introduce me to u
man?" she shyiy whispered.
ny "Of course" said her companion e
laC w beckoning TO the loiterer. NJ
-. Graves. let me present Mr. Carson.
n "Dellghted," said Mr.. Carson III
as weary voice. "May have the pie
her Aftervart. they repaired TO two '
ma nnda seats in the moonlight. ii
Ism waited anxiously for her hero to spe
and the hero spoke. He tod Jane I
she danced beautifully: that Ii \
the best dance he had had that CIV
per ing. He ieered languidly Mt the
cnra Iege students and said IL must be
sIa. dull here for a pretty girl. lie br
de-. off IN admire a blond lady going |
rios. them. Jane once more felt the pa
NJ d,sappointment. Alas! his roma
exterior belied him. He was only J
~ and silly. She looked sadly at
He was leaning back with drool
eyes.
BEG pardon, but have such h
ache" he murmured.
81 am very sorry" said Jane.
"Joye what a smile"' said the "
man: "its enough to make re
well again.
lane rose. "There Is my next
ner." she said stIflly and led the
across the room. Never. never O
would Jane make mistake
n dashlng young men with shadows
~ der their eyes.
N So Jane had to begin her 81
again. There came upon her no
an eighteen-year-old schoolboy b!
name of Robert Smith-a tremer
young giant. with blue eyes.
hair and face devoid of expires
AU Jane conversationally sounded
I'll lie was sweet-tempered and
I Int seemed quite colorless in min
- heart. Could not Jane tincture
- a. suit herself-convert this raw
- torlal into a hero? She woulC
y Robert soon got into the habit OF
ing Jane to dance because she
the talking. Then he began to