The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-09-12
EHEERE2 FIRST LOVES

|
nored.
II am very well and I want so much
to see you. Can't see you, Louise
Can't | see you alone?"
Mrs. Harlow was doing some rapid
thinking. She had no great desire to
see her girlhood's love. but the idea
of having him come to dinner with
Dicks first love appealed to her sense
of humor. Now that company had
been forced upon her, one more would
make little difference.
Come out and have dinner with US
this evening"" she invited cordially. al
should love to have you come" she as
sured him.
And may I see you alone, Just for a
few moments. so we may talk of old
times. Louise the soft, languid voice
pleaded.
"Oh, l don't know about that. Come
out and see," she answered, briskly.
Thank you, ever so much, Louise.
shall be glad to come" she heard
through the phone.
Louise did not inform Dick of the
addition to their party until he reach
ed home short time before the hour
for dinner. lie was standing in the
Middle of their room, vigorously
brushing his hair. The brushes were
suspended in midalr, while he gave a
long whistle of surprise wnca his wife
told him who was coming. He looked
a little grave and thoughtful, and
glanced at Louise anxiously. She was
standing before her mirror, apparent
ly busily engaged with the finishing
touches of her toilet. In reality. SIZE
was watching the reflection of her
husbands face in the glass, and what
she saw filed her eyes with the
twinkle of mischief.
"Yes," she said, demurely. az
haven't seen Charlie for years. I
should like you two to meet each
other. You know you're sort of con-
nected."
"Oi- you go on he exclaimed.
throwing his arms around her, to the
| Dtiil Va nCA EOMH.
"Go on yourself. you're another
Louise returned saucily. IL guess
you're not the only one In the family
who had first love-
They INDUCED in hilarious mood
while they awaited their guests. but
they received them with proper de-
corum, and talked polite nothIngs I'M
til dinner was served. Louise, CON
sclous OF looking pale and jaded after
her days exertion, felt disturbed by
the freshness and finish of tie hand
some Miss Carew. She was SD correct
in her appointments, and so sure of
herself and Of her attractions. The
slender, Uniformed girl Dick remem-
, bered had developed into q Junoesoue
woman. Everything about her was In
good practice. and she spoke as one
who was accustomed tc receiving at
| tention.
! Dick was fascinated by the change.
and paid her the homage of open adj
miration. Miss Carew was gracious
to the others, but it was Dick in whom
she was most interested, and upon
whom she was exerting her charm.
| The two seemed so absorbed in each
other that Louise and Charlie-whose
formal name was Mr.. Leland-were
practically alone. While she talked
with him, she studied him curiously.
and marveled why he had once seemed
/ =
him now was rs commonplace as get
ting up In the morning To all out
ward appearances time had not
changed him; it had SIMPLY passed him
by. She noticed his hair had grown
thin on the top Of his head, but Ii was
carefully arranged so as 20 conceal his
approaching badness. His eyes were
as bright and expressfonless as ever,
and the same girlsh pink tinted the
smooth skin of his cheeks. She listen
ed to his talk, and discovered his men,
tally was as little changed as his
physical appearance.
! Finding himself unnoticed by Dick
and Miss Carew, he lowered his voice
and threw the loverlike quality into
his manner. Louise was not happy.
| The magnificence of Miss Carew over
whelmed her, making her feel insig-
nificant and inferior. Miss Caraw
gave out the impression of one who
had no weaknesses. People who have
no weaknesses are so terrible. Louise
thought, there is no way of taking adj
vantage of them or of finding fault.
She was not in the least Influenced
by Charlie. She glanced across the
table at Dick and rejoiced that, while
he was not so polished or elegant as
her first love, he was every inch a
man. and genuine. She heard his
hearty laugh in response to something
came so lost to her surroundings in
her pride of him that she forgot to
listen to the tender "reminiscences
Charlie was murmuring.
The same situation continued
throughout the evening, with Dick
and Miss Carew entertaining each
other. while Leland and Louise kept
near together. At length Charlie.
awakening to the fact that the spell
he had cast over Louise years before
no longer held sway. assumed q hurt
expression and was the first to 60
You're not the same Louise to me
any more" he said, reproachfulIy,
when she went with him to the door.
"Why should I be when you have a
wife aud | have Dick?' she answered.
"Ah. yes" he sighed in departing
Louise returned to the room where
Miss Carew and Dlcis were sitting. She
| took chair near them, somewhat I'M
certainly, not feeling sure she would
be iacluded In their conversation.