The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-07-19

I
Betty peeped out cautiously. She
would not have them see her for for
tune. Yes. there was Bert, the center
of the jolly crowd. and Addie at his
elbow. That had been her (Betty'sl
place for 50 long TINT II had come to
be considered And It might have
been hers yet IL Bert had not oh,
wen, Of course she was some to blame.
It was not all Bert's fault. she admit
ted that reluctantly, for Betty thought
a good deal Of her little self. BE was
dreadfully provoking, but they would
have made up weeks ago if she had not
gone to such lengths and reared an
impossible barrier between them.
s'And that's the truth, Betty Brown
she apostrophized now "Wliy did I do
such ridiculous thing? might Just
have said I'd never speak to him again;
girls always say that And I ought to
have stopped there, but when he
grinned so knowingly. as II thereewas
nothing IN that. as there isn't usually,
let 1t provoke me into declaring that
II ever did speak to him again II
would be because I had made up my
mind to marry him. Why, It viii be the
same as proposing II I ever speak to
him now, when I've evaded- can
never do It, . she sighed.
Bert had not been greatly crushed
by her ultfmatum. he spoke to her
cordially at every opportunity In spite
of her nonresponse with something like
elated expectancy in his manner that
stung Betty to more determined stub
bornnesS.
al suppose he thinks VIII, but he'll
see,' she said firmly.
She had persisted in ignoring him
iciIy until at length he seemed to con,
clude that 1t was hopeless and avoided
meeting her All the time, of course
Betty had been hoping he would, some
how, make her speak. though she would
not have confessed It, nor the disap
pointment she felt at his finally aban.
doning his efforts and accepting the
situation.
She hirted desperately, which gave
her small satisfaction, as It apparently
did not disturb him in the least. He
tlirfed, too, and SO fervidly that it be
gan to look serious In regard to Addie
Stark. Betty felt that she was losing
all the fun of life and all the joy as
well.
She had simulated successfully
Gayety of spirits almost boisterous at
the moonlight skating party, but had
really been so miserable Mt seeing those
two, Bert and Addie, gliding about, al
ways together, that she had deter
mined not to go to the coastIng route.
She had refused all offers of escort, but
now, at the passing OF the gay party,
she suddenly changed her mind, whip
ped on her suit, tucked the becoming
cap on her curls and darted after Ned
and his clun1, who had just started.
"Tagging?' Ned chahed. But he
made no objection, Tor Betty was as
good at coastIng as any boy of them.
fully as fearless and as feet footed
and now she rushed with them down
alleys, through back yards and over
fences, going across lots the nearest
way.
Thus when the crowd arrived Miss
Betty was triumphnntly sailing down
the longest, steepest course with the
yelling boys, cheered by the mob of
town youths usually on the hill.
Most of the girls confined themselves
to the short, easy slope at the side, un-
less in charge of a strong, capable es-
cort-
1T is dangerous. just with those
boys, Petty" demonstrated her friend.
Alice Hoover,
.'And it is unladylike for girl to go
foundcring dow with gang OF fel-
lows commented AZURE E9loEh' SuhSA
You don't dare to. that's ALL" Betty
retorted.
I'm not the only one Bert said
Bert's appearance cut short the
speech, and. laughing shriIly. Betty ran
away to the boys and coaxed them
over to n still sleeper spot. where only
the. more sIIIllful and daring ventured
Her blood was boiling! So Bert had
been critIcising her to Addie! II
seemed the boldest treachery. AS for
Addie-thc little cat!-she was envious
because She had not the courage to un-
dertnke the long descent She looked
scornfully over at Bert, taking tame
little flights, with Addie clinging to him
shrieking in exaggerated fear. Betty
knew how he loved the rush of the long
hill, with the jounce at the end that
sent them flying across the bottom.
They had taken 1t together many times.
Now 1t was unladylIlte of her, was it
and she with her own brother!
Her Indignation grew, and with 1t her
recklessness. Little by little she drew
the boys toward the post that bore a
danger sign, which marked the limit
Of the coasttng ground. Beyond the
post the hill was fine, but ut the foot
the railroad swung up against it as 1t
curved to cross the river. and 1t was
not easy to see trllin till 1t was close
at hand. 1t was plainly no place for
coastlng though a few ventured Mt