Okolona messenger., 1904-01-06


Eiri laughed aa be picked up . FOok for
his third attempt
''Hit leads body "a. don't itl- she
asked. n jes play cor love O. the
game Most folks play soon or latss
an somes that awkward at hit," with
q mutinous crinkling Of her face. ~but
oome's les born ter win--l win."
''But what II I winf" eagerly
you won't" she said. With = little
backward movement she stepped into
the laurel and. Instantly. II seemed. the
forest enguifed her.
Philip hshed in the same pool next
morning. The morning after he sat on
the big rock and stared into the laurel.
On the third morning the stiffness Of
the forest closed down on him oppres-
Sively. He remembered the closet that
disciplined his little boy days; the
CLEAN Of the instrument that took out
his first tooth, the ache Of his heart
when his dog Fido died. She meant
TO stay away, Il was premeditated
cruelty. Having reached this conclu-
sion he flung himself out of the woods.
crossed the creek. went through a corn
field that ended abruptly in 9 straw
berry bed. sensible cOrnheld, and there
lit was q miracle-he found her.
Her face dimpled at sight Of him.
She held up q bunch Of berries Amt
they prettyI" she said.
''Pretty!" SCORED Philip, looking into
her eyes, "they are the most beautiful
things in the world"
IAN do you love 'smI" her face was
taking on ITS witch look.
Yes" said Philip, he meant TO make
q fne speech. Il love little wild thing
like" there was q cascade Of Laughter,
like straWberriea he ended, lamely.
do ye noWf she tauntsd.
Philip looked at her helplessly. With
the panoramic vision Of q .drowning
man he saw the woman Of those other
times-women Of shOwy pattern and
somewhat coarse fibre II seemed %
him as be looked down at the tower
like face OF the wilding who was hls
torment, his delight
In spite Of ner gayety. her eoouetrie,
Philip found that Bettie-she had told
him she was "Jes sBsttie"-had little re-
serves Of her own. Always she seemed.
70 him 10 be behind q veil He thought
that her life bloomed wide like = rose
at his coming, and ne asked: was Il
dull before came, Bethel" "Jes 3.
gray sky" she sighed. And now3"
"Hits got a RAINBOW in hit" she
laughed.
So cleverly did she mix bitter and
sweet for him; so cunningly did she
repel to encourage, hout to fiatter, that
Philip flung an ancestry that stretched
over seas at her shabby little feet.
eyer mar wouldn't like hit" Bette
reflected one day. A mental picture Of
his mothers aristocratic hands uplifted
In horror at the mesalliance came to
Philip; another of Bettie's mother
leaning over q rude counter and dolink,
out grits aud gossip to her rude cus-
toners. His jaw set Bette" he.
said, bis youth, his hope, his love In
his voice, you'll learn our ways, won't
your? VI
Bettie's face crinkled with its old
wickedness Il amt much ter learn
ways" she said, and Philip smiled at
her with wistful fondness.
Some two weeks after Philips initia-
ton into duck on the rock" enlight-
enment came to him in the shape of q
Sunday edition. great educators. Sun
day editions. He knew the tantalizing
small face that looked at him from the
printed sheet-how we'll ne knew lC.
and the soft little gypsy hands touch.
With one leaping bound, he had gone
on being foolish so long, wisdom came
to him.
With an angry throbbing ache in his
throat, he packed his grips. The little
brown thing had won, Is she said she
would.
4 have come to say good-by," he
said stifiy, he had sworn he would not
see her, "and thank you for instructing
80 awkward a novitiate as in the lit
tie game you play so we'll"
Bette dimpled
1T runs like a story" he continued.
"In Already. the daughter Of a multi
millionaire meets 3 poor. but honest
] young man who has the misfortuns IA
be stupid to the point Of not discrimi-
mating between an orchid and q noun
tain daisy. She teaches him an an
cient game-the most amusing game
now In existence"
ITO your" Bette paled under her
tan.
"To you" Philip bowed eeremonlous-
" Victor, whether you spin ducks
or scalp wooden Indians"
Thank you" Bette spoke politely.
Il won't detain you. No doubt you
want to pack"
MY luggage has gone on, said Phil
ip with dignity. He held out his hand.
Bette tried to smile, but the corner
Of her mouth were stiff.
Won't you say you are sorry. Bet.
tis3"
Bette wouldn't
Won't you say something?"
Philip turned away. He didn't looly
back at the turn in the road. A evarv