The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-08-22
THE FIFTH
By GRAVES

]
There is no denying that | was
cross. Indigo but half describes
the complexion Of my mood. 1t
wasn't because it was our last day
at the beach. 1t wasn't because my
kid brother had left a day ahead of
the rest Of us. 1t wasn't because |
had to go to Polly's party with the
stupidest man in the crowd. 1t was
because / was sick with longing for
Paul.
Every familiar landmark brought
back some good time we had had
together, and MS dear voice kepy
ringing in my ears. Like a silly
girl | had put on his favorite dress,
which | had not worn for a year;
since that August night, under the
same moon, when he had said good
bye and left me with never a word
OF love, though he must have seen
NV feelings in my eyes. AS / looked
back on the long, deary winter,
frightened by an occasional friend
" letter from him telling Of his
studies in Berlin, and then the
lonely summer at the beach, | felt |
couldn't face the possibility of a life
time without him.
"You are very silent tonight"
interrupted Arthur in his stilted
way, you are usually talkatiye and
merry. You doubtless miss your
brother, his departure was the first
break in III pleasant party Of ten"
That's the way he always talks. |
never could stand the man, but just
then I'd have given anyone a Car
negie medal to drop him in the
ocean. | stalked on, not deigning
! 10 answer his scintillating remark.
Nothing daunted, he went on, Il
I am anxious to know whom Polly has
| found to take your brothers place.
] saw Steve drive a strange man
} home in the dogcart from the sta
ton
s What were strange men to me,
: when | was longing for the sight
I Of one dear familiar faceP But |
1 did try to brace up and be polite to
1 the strange man | had with me. |
suppose it really isn't his fault that
he was born stupid. A man with no
j more personality than a jelly fish is
an affection to society.
d Polly greeted me with an af-
Il ~fectionate hug. 'fYou are late, you
bad people, SO you must hurry out
p to your nook. You are to have your
{ favorite corner around the bend,
Helen, and I'll send Tom to tell you
the game for tonight" She start
I ed NIX off in the direction Of the
= rockery, and | was only too glad tC
settle myself in the cushions by thu
water, away from the others. | tool
II a deep breath as ] watched tn,
/ water ripple in the moon glade, try
ii ing to shake off my depression. Per
iii haps life might prove worth livinl
al without Paul, though | couldn'
u imagine it.
a Toms voice came calling to m
s. from the house, "Where the dicken
are you, Helen?' and | answered
II "This way, around the bend"
Nv He was with me at once, the dea
1cl boy, laughing and chattering. H
at is a sophomore at Yale, and has a
{ a the characteristics Of his species.
"Gee, but there's a lark on tc
night! Every man has exactly thre
/ minutes to propose, then has to pa;
on and do the same stunt to the ne1
drs girl. Imagine poor Arthur entangle
nee in the meshes Of a proposal, ! jus
T wish some designing young woma
would accept him, though | trul
le don't see how anyone could be s
desperate. As for me, it's good pra,
- tice, and Pm going to try sewers
different methods. | guess I'll civ
you the dime novel method, "
been through a course of them tn
summe and can recite it by Il
, Il yard He sank down on KIN,
f. before me, and threw out both arm
pa in what was intended for a pa
'cle sionate appeal that would ha'
ls wrung the hardest heart.
nsh my fairest Hildegarde--tha W.
the. name Of the last one, Helen
Cittoo commonplace-will you n
avs trust Yourself 10 my fragile bar
N. MA wo,l AIN the lev,v n,oadowe