Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-06
DAILY STOR Y
THE PERVERSITY LOVE
[OriginaI.J

[OriginaLI
Horace Bradbury and Julia Inslee
were of very simple type of young low
ers. One would naturally suppose that
they would Irvine together like two
vine shoots. Their hearts did, but they
did not. This was not because there
were distractions in the way of their
union, for there were not. 1t was a
simple natural perversity.
In the first place, Horace took long
time to discover that he wanted Julia
so long indeed that every one else, in
Guiding the object of his affection.
knew it long before he did himself.
Horace at last found out the secret
of his heart, and when he did he burn
ed to tell it at once to the girl he loved.
He chose the first opportunity that pre-
scented itself, and that was not pro-
pitious one. They were together on a
nutting party with Il large number of
young people of their own age. Horace
asked Julia to saunter away from the
others with him. Julia knew at
glance his object in going and with p
natural feminine perversity, together
so much time before making his dec
laration, threw straws in his way.
what do you want to go away from
all the fun for?'' she asked.
az want to show you something"
''What?'
"a bridge below over the creek. It's
a nice place to sit and talk
What do you want to talk about?'
''Ive something important to tell
you"
Suppose | don't want to hear it"
Horace was thrown fiat aback. 1t
hadn't occurred to him that she would
not wish to hear what he had to say.
''Well, then" he said, II suppose
there's no use in telling yOu," and,
walking away, he joined some one
else
The two did not come together again
till shortly before the time of de-
parture. Then Julia was very gracious.
Horace's brow was cloudy. Julia re-
marked that there would be time for
walk before going home. Horace said
there would be only time for very
short walk, and he didn't care for
short walk.
Il thought you had something to tell
me?" said Julia.
II had" said Horace.
What has become of it?'' asked
Julia.
You didn't want TO hear it, and I'm
keeping It for some one else"
Julia looked sober. She said moth
ing for awhile, but when she did it
formed a very important link In these
very ordinary proceedings.
Jim Hawkins wanted me to walk
to the bridge with him awhile ago"
she said.
Jim Hawkins was Horace's only
rival-that is, he would have been had
Horace had rival. AT any rate, his
name at this critical juncture struck as
much terror into Horace as the name
of the Black Douglas in days of old
into little children. But perversity is
not solely feminine trait.
why didn't you go?" he remarked.
1T wouldn't have been very nice of
me TO go with him when l had refused
to go with you"
Maybe he had something to tell
you
'If he had / didn't want TO hear it,"
Circumstance as well as perversity
has something to do with such cases,
and in this case circumstance inter
fered just as the matter was in a
fair way to be Strengthened out. Mary
Dale, the only girl Julia was afraid of
so far as Horace was concerned. came
up and reminded Horace that he had
promised to show her the waterfall up
the creek a bit. Horace said that he
would not only keep his promise, but
be very glad to do so.
When Horace and Mary returned the
picnic was breaking up and the young
people were putting the empty lunch
baskets into the wagons. Horace looked
about for Julia and failed to see her.
He hunted for her and found her sit
ting behind a big tree crying. Wom-
ans tears are to Il man what oil is to
hardened putty. Horace softened.
whats the matter?'' he asked, in a
loverlike tone.
I'm disappointed" she sobbed, dab
bling her handkerchief into her eyes.
What about?'
i've always wanted to see that
bridge and now we're going home and
L haven't"
This was a surprise to Horace. He
stood thinking.
Would you like to go to the bridge
nowT' he asked presently.
How'll we get home?"
'We'll have to walk, expect"
81 don't know that / can walk so
far"
II think you can. It's only seven
miles,