Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07

cynical laugh of disillusioned twenty
three
In his ears rang the warning of
man quite two years older than Linn
self.
Don't you get let in for making a
fool OF yourself over that girl. Very
pretty, very charming, but she's an alb
solutely hardened fiirt! I'll tell you
the kind of thing she'll do-encourage
a fellow up to the top of his bent, say
he may call, fix a day even and then,
when he turns up she's out, If you
please, and he's left to have tea with
that leggy tomboy of sister"
Young Harrington had not been I'M
pleased with this report.
Morton, the fellow" in question, was
scarcely a man one would wish "encour-
aged" by Hazel; he had probably
brought the significant slight upon him
self. But Ted Harrington, without I'M
due conceit, had hoped for a very
different sort Of reception.
But now!
lie glanced at the clock.
1T Is an hour and a half" he OBJ
served Jelly, after the time your sister
0aid she would be at home. However,
Il doesn't matter in the least VIII Won
-cay good-by to her for me? l shall be
solng back North tomorrow"
He rose and held out his hand.
"Where-whereabou In the North?"
inquired the Flapper, as it were with a
feverish interest,
Was the girl making fun of him?
Newcastle" he answered CURLY.
"Oh. yes, they take Goals there, or
something. don't they?' responded the
Flapper, with an odd. hysterical sound
ing tremble in her voice.
Yes. She was laughing at him. She
was in this arranged scheme to make a
fool of him.
.'Good-by," he said, without looking
at her. 81 have to get back now-to-
10 pack"
I'll come with you to the gate"
casped the Flapper hurriedly. 81 mean
I'll show you the short cut through the
orchard. Wait one second while tie
up my boot lace
She stopped with one OF her coltish.
angular movements.
let me do It, suggested young Har-
rington, icily polite.
"Oh. no." protested the Flapper. Her
name Of hair fell forward over her
hands. Il can do It 1 want to tie the
knot my sailor-cousin showed me-" She
fumbled busily. There"
As she rose young Harrington took a
stem forward to the door, stumbled and
almost fell.
"What-'
oh" exclaimed the Flapper, in ac-
cents Of despair. II am so frightfully
sorry. D'you see what I've done? I've
been and tied your bootlace to mine, by
mistake"
Young Harrington realized, as never
before N his life. the absolute futility
of human speech.
The Flapper bent again and fumbled.
Cant you do it?' demanded young
Harrington. almost savagely.
Its very hard" painted the girl,
raising a flushed face. Its what my
sailor-cousin called "a true-lover's knot,
and l seem to have lost the trick of it."
'4This'll do It." he said, and, with 8
glance of purpose, brought out a bust
ness-like looking pocket knife
The Flapper gave little scream and
clutched it.
''Oh, mol" she demonstrated excited
Iy. Not that. I'm very supersti-
tious," she explained. "And to cut q
bootlace means-means a murder in
the housed"
'Oh, does lit" he growled. 81 al.
most wish"
sWhat?"
ST almost wish you weren't supersti
tious, of course" he said desperately.
Would the girl keep him in this ride
ulous position until dinner time? He
chafed. Worst Of ell, was Hazel tc
come In and ind him still hers1 I,
uns unbserablsi Tor what seemed