Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1907-12-27
.BY JEAN KATE LUDLUM
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.)

Copyright. by J
It seemed pitifuly unkind when !
was old enough to feel the slurs Of
fortune. for my comrades and friends
my brothers more than anyone-to
nickname me t"Sorrel' because Of the
color Of my hair! y ;B:.4 ,t.
For years this was q sore subject to
me; many q crying spell" have l had
owing to that and the laughter Of my
thoughtless companions. Everyone
called me Sorrel. My own name.
| Ethel, was SO seldom spoken failed
to answer 1t when heard!
We went up to the country early
that summer. for 1t was unusually
warm and l was restless for the free
life and exercise to which owed my
perfect health.
II shall have Sidney Burnett UP this
summer" Tom declared as decidedly
! as I, In the laying of plans. HE was
| awfully good to me, you know, when I
was down In the dumps that time at
college, and during our summering to-
gether last summer"
The weather was divine; for the
first two weeks we simply reveled in
the freedom and open life. Then Toms
friend came, and I liked him from the
first because he had been SO good to
Tom. He was big and broad-shoul.
,dered and stern at times, with his
clear gray eyes searching ones soul,
and no smiling Of the mouth under the
brown mustache.
Inez was my special chum at school,
and when we parted the day after
graduation she promised me q month
| at the end Of summer, and she did not
forget. We corresponded, of course,
and told her of Toms friend along
| with the rest of my brothers, and Of
our pleasant life in the old country
house, so that when she came she
knew our routine pretty thoroughly.
But in her letters not hint did she
give that she and Tom and Tom 8
, friend were not strangers!
She was beautiful girl, tall and
willowy. with large, soft black eyes
and an abundance of black hair al.
ways becomingly arranged. and did
not wonder that Tom and Toms friend
! started when they saw her, for ! had
| simply told them Of her as Ines, my
chum at school, and met her at the
station and, brought her home in my
dogcart while they were on on the
| hills, and coming In late to dinner
their eyes fell upon her, cool, quiet
beautiful sitting opposite me, and
they started visib1, pahng q trife.
Then Tom bit his lip and Mr.. Burnett
frowned and the stern expression
came around his mouth, each bowling
with cold politeness in recognition OF
the introduction, as she lifted her
magnificent eyes straight to theirs for
one brief minute, smiling softly, mur-
muring in her exquisite voice how odd
it was that they should meet again
this summer in their summering!
Neither smiled in answer, though !
wondered how they could remain SO
stolidly cold to her.
why didn't you tell me you knew
them?" l demanded half angrily, as
we stood in the shadows of the piazza
vines. 49,. ......
She laughed lightly, her laughter
like music. in the soft silence as she
said, tapping my cheek with the deep
red rose in her hand; D.
"It isn't tragedy, Sorrel; don't t
look so cross at me! They d. helped
make last summer pass pleasantly,
that Is all. Only, my dearest" and
there was an inscrutable tone in her
voice, her black eyes burning into
mine through the dusk, don't lose
your heart to. your brothers. friend.
Great Mogul as he Is, he isn't worthy
that" and she laughed again.
Toms friend was unusually gay,
treating my beautiful 1nez as doubt.
less he would have treated any casual
acquaintance in the house of a friend,
while Dick and Ned tried their wits
upon her, appearing to adore her
mutually from the. first; and was
too hopelessly healthy to degenerate
at once into "lovelorn maiden," and
with spirits happy and heart strong
set my wits against hers, astonish.
ing even myself with my brilliance
For with the heart of a healthy girl
believed loved Inez truly, and II
Toms friend--but there always end
ed. ! never allowed more minute
reasoning. |"| RI.
The month was nearly over when
suddenly the web of mystery tangled
for me and then as suddenly broke
We were out on canter through the
hills, the boys, Toms friend, my
friend and l. and my fiery chestnut
Katahdin's blood being up. we dashed
on and away from the others reckless
ly, thoughtlessly, delightfully."-, my hail
becoming undone, tumbling down owe,
my shoulders In all Its heavy weigh
Of color. Then, with merry though
of my inhospitality of winning thu
race so far ahead, l wheeled Katahdir
and rode back more sedately.
The turf was soft and thick and my
| horse made no noise save the dea!
crush Of the grass as we passed *
slowly back, when presently beside {
wood aanking deep embankment
the sound of voices came to my ears
and drew rein to cal! IL it were an,
Of our party. But at that instant thu
voice of Toms friend stirred the Quie
air and my voice was hushed. not II
idle curiosity, but stunned by sudder
knowledge.
you say 1t is nothing to me II 70,
choose to come here to visit you
friend! Your friend!" Was 1t scorl
Of her or of me In his voice? ! fel
4 unvSolf <nrninr, q, RI stone vet cnnld only