Cañon City record., 1905-08-24
Wien Betty
Spoke


would not have them see her for for
tune. Yes. there was Bert, the center
Of the Jolly crowd, and Addie at bis
elbow. That had been her Betty 81
place for so long that it had come to
be considered And II might have
been hers yet II Bert had not oh.
well. of course she was some to blame.
1t was not all Bert's fault. She admit
ted that reluctantly. for Betty thought
a good deal Of her little self. He was
dreadfully provoking. but they would
have made up weeks ago IL she had not
gone to such lengths and reared an
impassable barrier between them.
And that's the truth, Betty Brown
she apostrophized now. .'Why did l do
such a ridiculous thing7 1 might just
have said III never speak to him again:
girls always say that And 1 ought to
have stopped there. but when he
grinned so knowingly. as II there was
nothing In that. as there isn't usually.
! let 1t provoke me into declaring that
II ever did speak to him again it
would be because ! had made up my
mind to marry him. Why, 1t viii be the
same as proposing II l ever speak to
him now. when I've evaded- I can
never do it." she sighed.
Bert had not been greatly crushed
by her ultimatum. He spoke to her
cordially at every opportunity in spite
of her nonresponse with something like
eiated expectancy in his manner that
stung Betty to a more determined stub
bornness.
Il suppose he thinks / will. but he'll
See" she said firmly.
She had persisted in ignoring him
lcily until at length he seemed to con-
clude that II 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 IL. nor the dIsap-
polntment she felt at his finally aban-
doning his efforts and accepting the
situation
She fiirted desperately. which gave
her small satisfaction. as IT apparently
did not disturb him in the least. He
fiirted. too. and so fervidly that 1t 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 a
gayety OF spirits almost boisterous at
the moonlight skating party. but had
really been 50 miserable at 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. NJ the passing OF the gay party.
she Suddenly changed her mind. whip
ped on her suit. tucked the becoming
cap on her curls and daried after Ned
and his chum. who had just started.
'-TagrinGy" Ned ehaned- But he
made no objection. for Betty was Is
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 wss triumphnntly sailing down
the longest steepeSt course with the
yelling boys. cheered 10y the mob Of
town youths usually on the hill
Most OF the girls confined themselves
TO the short. easy slope nj the side. I'M
less ia charge OF strong. capable es
cort.
'Tt is dangerous, just with those
boys. Betty" demonstrated her friend.
Alice Hoover.
And it Is uniadylike for a girl TO so
iioundcring down with gang OF fel
lows" commented Addie Stark. super
ciliously.
"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 shrllly, Betty ran
away to the boys and coaxed them
over to still sleeper spot, where only
the more skiliful and daring ventured.
Her blood vas boiling, SO Bert had
been crIticisine her to Addie. Il
seemed tho boldcst treachery, As for
Adtit-the little cat!-she was envinus
because she had not the courage TO un-
dertake the long descent She looked
scornfully over al 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 louncc nit the end that
sent them dying across the bottom
They had taken 1t together many times
Now It was unladyllke OF her. Sas it
and she with her own brother.
Her indignation grew. and with IL her
rcclSlessness, Little 10y little she drew
the boys toward the post that bore a
danger sign, which marked the limit
OF the cousting ground. Beyond the
most tho hill WINS lne hut Mt the foot
the railroad swung up against 1t as it
curved TO cross the river, aud 1t was
not easy to see train till IT was close