The Cairo bulletin., 1909-08-30
THE ONLY GIRL.

Gordon lined their photographs ~
on the mantel and thought and fought
out the whole delicious. painful prob
lem. There was Betty on the ex-
;reme right by the gas jet piquant,
saucy, brown-eyed Betty. Need ul-
tra-critical man 60 farther? No. he
would ask Betty the divine that very
Afternoon, and Gordon raised The
| picture to his lips.
| In the act his eyes encountered the
ocean-blue ones of Nan, sweet, pen
sive Nan Bancroft All, Nan-gentle.
loving Nan! A lifetime with her-he
had been all wrong about Betty. Cor
don prepared to press kiss upon the
lips of Nancy Bancroft-and beheld
Miss Alike Macy. He wavered.
then Dresden China Alike had her
own exclusive three minutes. After
that, 1t was Albertina. and to Aiber-
tina. the erudite, the scholarly, Cor
don proved true. Albertina occupied
the extreme left OF the mantel
An hour later, adorned as becomes
the hour of the pleading OF love, Cor
don sauntered into the street, his
mind fully and finally made up. A
chic, trim vision in blue tipped
across the avenue block in front
of him. Alike, Winsome. fragile, rose
petal Alixe'
Gordon bounded after the rapidly
walking girl His blood surged at
every bobbing of the red cherries
upon her fluffy hat. And Albertina-
we'll Albertina had had her inning.
"Oh. Alixe!" he called wildly.
"Wait-l've something vital to say
But she did not hear and Gordon
brought up sharply at the call OF
soft. sweet voice from behind.
Oh, Bobby" said pensive Nan,
coming in across the park Il have
finished with the books you let me
haye--if you'll drop by"
Drop by! OF course he would drop
by. There was a magnetic catch in
her tone; her blue eyes were grave
and solemn; an air of pensive love
liness sat upon her and satisfied his
soul. Drop by, He would never leave
her side, If she would have ii so.
And far up the avenue Alike Macy
vanished In the crowd
Man. said Gordon. I've some.
thing to say to you-something vital"
Miss Bancroft blushed Something
nice BObbyp" sha aslyaA
You bet assented Gordon in.
elegantly, Il know now you're the
only
Wait until We get home, Bobby"
interrupted Nan Bancroft; and Cor.
don formulated an eternal-star phrase
while they made the next block.
AT the Bancroft home a pretty
brown-eyed girl tripped up to them.
oh, Nan Bancroft" she dubbed.
I've waited for you for an eternity"
Miss Bancroft frowned almost i'm
and went in to secure the
books. Gordon and Betty Langham
settled down upon a rustic bench be-
meath the dangling honeysuckles.
Miss Langham sighed-so did Bob
Gordon.
Betty" began Gordon, his voice
trembling Il have been on the, verge
of making fatal mistake-one that
would have affected my whole life
and yours"
Miss Langham sighed again, very
But, thank goodness, there is vet
time" resumed Gordon 81 want TO
say Betty, that you are the only
Gordon broke suddenly off.
go on Bobby" pleaded Miss Lang.
ham, all lovely, cuddling eagerness.
What exquisitely beautiful crea.
ture is that with Clara Ridgely?"
asked Gordon breathlessIy, staring
into the next yard.
Miss Langham frowned. ooh, |
that's her cousin. Miss Harper. from
Vincennes," she explained. But 90 |
On, Bobby-you were saying
Excuse me for one moment. |
please" asked Gordon.
Later in the evening, the lovely
Miss Harper from Vincennes listen,
I'd to the declaration of an acquain.
ance of an hour. who compared his
affection to the eternal stars and
spoke of undying fealty and the mat.
ng of souls.-Stuart B. Stone.