The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1906-02-22

Kathleen was as difficult in love as she
had been In friendship, and her sharp
tongue wounded indlscriminately.
Dan Kiernanv' she would say.
"That great hulking fellow for me?
Why, his feet are so big he has to go
out-of-doors every time he wants to
turn round. No, thank you, Theo. I'm
going to wait until the right man
comes. And he won't come from this
place, either. He won't be Dan
Kiernan or Harry Moulton or Jack
Sherer. He'll be some one worth hav-
ing. You'll see!'
The0 did not care when Kathleen
spoke thus Of Dan Herman or Harry
Moulton, but she WINGED over Jack
Sherer's name. OF course he couldn't
help loving Kathleen. Who could? But
he was not positively abject before
her, as were the others, and SO far he
had never tried to secure Theo rs his
intercessor. She was glad of It. She
could console and sympathize with
and receive the condolences Of tho 9TH
ers, but with him somehow-and then
1t came to her that, however you look
ed at 1t, 1t was hard that from all her
lovers Kathleen could not spare one,
and that one for whom she herself
cared nothing, and Theo cared so
much!
She sighed again and stirred in the
hamock restlessly. Something warm
and wet rolled out from under her eye
lids upon the thin sleeve that clad the
arm doubled under her head.
"Im so tired of It." she whispered
to herself,-''so tired of smiling und
smoothing ana sympathizing with other
peoples love affairs. If only some one
some time would come to me that 1
could cry before and complain to ever
SO littlev'
A sound of whistllng smote her like
pain. 1t seemed too glad and care
less for her ears just then. On II came
out of the distance, down the street, In
Mt tho gate, and straight up to the ve-
randa. There it stopped. Theo rose
ur In the hammock and looked. A man
bare-headed, stood full in the noon
light peering into the shadow after her.
When she stirred, he saw the white
little lump in the hammock and spoke.
Good evening, Theo." He came up
the steps, two at time. ANY room
in the hammock for me, too, without
disturbing yourself? If there isn't,
| just say so. can be comfortable any
where"
'Oh, there's room." Theo moved
along to the extreme end and began
nervously to tumble with the pillows.
She had never been so surprised in her
| life. To think that Jack actually-but
| Of course 1t could mean but one thing.
He had come at last, like the rest, to
ask about Kathleen.
He sat down beside her and mr.
ranged the pillows himself He was
Il little fellow, with red cheeks and a
boyish laugh, but his eyes were Won
derfully far-seeing and keen. He had
never been so near before. Theo won
drcd If he could hear her heart beat.
Il met Kathleen up the street." Jack
said. "She was going into Maud Bal
LOUIS. l think. She told me where I'd
find you"
Theo understood. Well
How are you, Theo? Have you said
good evening yet? wasn't sure that
l had heard you.'
mo, l haven't. Haven't had
time" And then Thea laughed with
embarrassment. Her little speech had
| sounded so unlike herself. Jack
laughed, too, very unsteadly, she
thought. and stared out across the rail-
] ing. Suddenly he turned and looked at
her determinedly.
I'm going away, Theo, did you
know IT." he said.
Theo gasped and fell back. Going
away! She had never dreamed of such
thing.
"Are you?" she tried to say.
eyes, am. I'll tell you why.
can't afford to stay on here and work
for nothing, even though-even though
by doing so l can be near the dearest
girl in the world" His voice broke.
III I'm ever going to have her, I've
got to be looking round for job that
will keep two instead of one. guess
I've found one now. OF course it's
going to be hard to leave, but can't
help it. I've got to earn more money
if-if-" He braced up. That's
what I've come to talk to you about,
Theo. l was glad Kathleen wasn't at
home. wanted to see you just
alone"
"Yes," Theo sighed. They all said
that or something like it. She had
prayed that Jack might not come to
her; but now that he had come she
would do the best she could by him
and Kathleen. He went on stumbling
ly.
"You see, Theo, you sec Well,
l declare had just what l wanted to
say all thought out, but it's left me
completely. What do fellows say in
times like this, Theo?
He looked at her appealingly. Theo
took firm hold on her feelings and be-
gan: