The Irish standard., 1906-09-22
A Rude Awakening,
BY FRANK DAVIS.

Copyright. 1906. by Daily Story Pub Coz
Il heard something in town yester-
day that made me a bit uneasy" he
said; Il was told that that dude from
St. Louis has been shining around
here. Begins to look as though there
was a rival in the field" and Jack
GLADDEN. assumed melodramatic air.
mo, sir" she said, sharply, there's
no rival in the field-only your lack
of manners; gentleman wouldn't
talk the way you do"
He had always liked to see her flare
up like this-it was a refreshing
break in the monotony of smooth love
making; but. somehow, she seemed
more In earnest now than usual, and
It irritated him.
mo, Grace" he said, II presume a
gentleman wouldn't talk that way,
but 8 man would, when he wants the
girl he loves to turn from the error
OF her ways"
They were sitting in the shade Of
a big elm, back of the house. The
day was warm, and the girl famed
herself vigorously with the magazine
she had been pretending to read. Her
face was flushed with something be-.
sides the heat. az she replied to his
sarcasm.
Jack, you are always talking about
the girl yor 4ove, when. II you only
knew 1t, you don't love anyone but
yourself. You really make me weary
with your everlasting nonsense" and
the fan moved with accelerated vigor
1--WE have known each other all our
lives. dear" said Jack, in sudden
humility, land | have loved you ever
since l can remember; do you really
think am that sort Of fellow"
what sort Of a fellow?" asked the
girl. not looking at him, and she very
carefully examined the advertising
pages of her magazine.
Didn't you just say that am self
ish-don't love anyone but MYSELF"
"Well, you DON'T" she retorted; "if
you did, you would talk less and do
something. You are % years old and
you don't seem to have any ambition
to do anything except work your
mothers 40-acre farm. You have a
good education, why don't you use
.At2"
I He generally enjoyed these scolding
'motherly lectures; now, they stirred
him to bitterness, and he said, with
boyish petulance: II suppose you are
mentally comparing me with Mr..
Henry Souders, the gentleman from
St. Louis"
"You talk like boy, Jack; and
am afraid you will always be one. "
She was 10.
Jack subsidized into sulky. troubled
silence. Above them, in the topmost
branches, a thrush began to sing. in
pure, sweet notes, love-song to its
mate
A step was heard on the walk, fol-
lowed a moment later by Mr.. Henry
souders, "the gentleman from st.
Louis" Good afternoon" said he,
hat in hand. Il hope don't intrude.
They told me at the house that I
should find you here, but they did not
Inform me that you had company, I"
and he glanced in deprecatory way
at Jack; but that young man did not
appear to notice him.
Miss Grace Hadley rose to her feet.
"Why, how do you do, Mr. Souders?
Certainly you don't intrude. My
friend, Mr.. GLADDEN.. Mr.. Souders"
Jack acknowledged the Introduction
roth awkwardly and rudely. "Glad to
make your acquaintance" he said,
without rising. Grace shot him q
ook of mingled anger and disgust
What a boor Jack is. She wondered
now she had ever fancied heraelf in
love with him.
Mr.. Souders, with perfect self-pos-
session, sat down on corner of the
rustic seat and began making him
self agreeable. "For shade" he said,
"thae's nothing comparable with tho
American white elm," and he glanced
up at the heavy masses OF dark green
foliage overhead.
mo. I'm sure there isn't" &C.
quiesced Grace. "Papa says that he
wouldn't take $500 for this tree"
Jack mentally concluded that the
old gentleman wouldn't, either, and
he felt like saying so, but he didn't.
This question of shade seemed an
important one. and Mr.. Souders
turned to Jack: "What is your opin-
ion about 1t. Mr.. Gladden.? he asked.
lowing to the kind of weather"
was the reply, and Jack continued to
watch a measuring" worm. as it
measured it's way up a blade of grass
Mr.. Souders smiled approximately.
Mr.. Souders was determined to be
pleasant. you're a farmer. aren't
you?" he asked.
Jack looked up from his worm.
eyes, sir, am. Why?"
Grace stirred uneasiiy in her seat.
Mr.. Soudery, however, had met
country pumpkins before, and smil-
ingly replied: 20. nothing, only
thought saw you blowing in the
ileid near the schoolhouse as I passed
vaatordav voopr(nuD