Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-01-30


Eyes. and it's too bad," continued
Mrs. Baker, with rising indignation.
Really, Priscilla, it's a shame. 1t
will break his heart, and his mother
will blame me, and it's dreadful"
81 don't see what 1 have DONE" re-
turned Priscilla GROSSLY. 1t was pity
that a girl couldn't be decently polite
to a man without his going and falling
in love with her, spelling everything!
OF course everybody would blame her,
she reflected in annoyance as she con-
tinued her interrupted way to the lake
Jimmy Marshall saw her coming and
went up the path to meet her. With
troubled mind he had thought the mat
ter over and decided it must be broken
off at once; not so suddenly as to
gently. He would make casual re-
mark or so about business, then in a
couple Of days pretend sudden bust
ness call and leave. OF course she
would feel terrible, but 1t would be
easier for her in the end. Dear little
girl! He was surprised at the wave
of tenderness that swept over him.
"Shall we try tennis or the canoe
this morningT' In spite of himself his
voice sounded forced and unnatural.
whichever you prefer. Suppose we
say tennis" returned Priscilla. trying
to meet his eyes carelessly. Then to
her dismay she blushed scarlet while
he grew unaccountably red.
How plainly he showed it. How
blind she had been, thought Priscilla
contritely
How heartless in him to want to
leave her, thought Jimmy, not daring
to look at the lovely flushed face.
Jimmy looked very grave during the
next few days. 1t was no little thing
to have blighted young girls affec-
lions, even unconsciously, and when
she was such a dainty little thing as
Priscilla-so sweet, so sensible, so far
above the average in every way-it be-
came pretty grave proposition. In
deed, he sometimes wondered IL he
were not in honor bound to marry her
anyway.
In the meantime Priscilla. under Mrs.
Bakers accusing eye. wilted percepti-
bly,. Probably everybody thought she
was glad she had wrought so much
mischief. Well, she wasn't. She never
dreamed he would take it so to heart
And he was such a big, lovable fel-
low. Mrs Baker was right. He was
too good to be treated so shabbily.
Jimmy had marshaled his casual re-
marks about business through two days
of painstaking effort and arranged his
departure for the third. In order to
avoid hurting Priscilla's feelings he
asked her to go for farewell ride on
the lake. He would be very friendly
he resolved, and gentle, but he must
contrve to let her see that this was the
end.
1t was while he was wondering just
how he should manage it that the &C
cident happened
They had almost reached the wooded
shore opposite when there was a culver
Of the boat-a startled cry from Pris-
cilIa-an overturned canoe drifting idly
on the face of the lake
Don't be frightened We're near
shorew cried Jimmy, shaking the wa
ter from his eyes and striking out in
her direction. Somehow they reached
the opposite bank, he holding her close
while she chung TO him half wildly
for protection.
IL was so frightened" she said in
a wabbly, half hysterlcal voice. SILVER
ing in his arms.
Suddenly at touch of her strange
sweet madness seized him, and he Gov
cred her face with kisses. holding her
tight, while she, bewildered by new
shy happiness, lay passive in his arms
1t was some months later that ma
iron said in Mrs Bakers hearing
Jimmy Marshall and his wife seem
desperately in love with each other
Yes" responded that lady placidly
lit was case of love ut first sight
know of what | speak, because | was
with them when they met. Indeed,
may say that | saw it from the first
cha a1Ha1 with bland annvictinn