Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-12-23
While She
Was AWAY

ror. 1t was as she thought-she need
ed a little more powder on her nose.
1t was so aggravating to have sun
burn so obstreperously in evidence
She sighed as she noted the brown
of her complexion above her pale
mauve gown. Then she ran down
stairs because the bell rang-three
short rings. That was Ted's ring.
She always could tell when he was at
the door. She was little excited
to think she had not seen him for
two months!
After the greetings were over they
regarded each other little blankly.
My, it seems good to see you
again!" repeated the young man, smil-
ing at her as he readjusted his tie.
"Does it, really, Ted?" asked the
young woman.
Indeed, it Does" returned the
young man.
81 missed you. too," she confded.
ut was stupid at the lake."
"Honest?"
Honest"
Didn't you flirt with ony one, not
a bit?" demanded the young man.
"The ideal" said the young woman
in mauve. Didn't write you every
single thing 1 did and whom 1 talked
to, and-and everything?'
well, wrote you everything, too,"
said the young man.
ooh, that's different;" she said,
darkly. II knew even if was having
a perfectly stupid time that you
weren't dying of lonesomeness!
know how men are! I warrant you
took Sadie out to amusement parks
and to the theater lots of times while
1 was away-now, didn't your"
"Only twice." declared the young
man, defensively.
The girl in mauve turned upon him
a reproachful glance. You did take
her, then!" she cried. "Why Ted Pen
lap! And pretending to me you just
went incoming around so lonesome you
couldn't bear to live-and not telling
me-or anything
II suppose" said the young man,
with some bitterness, you didn't go
canoeing with fellow from New
York or walking with a man from"
I'm amazed at you'll" cried the girl
in mauve, with round eyes of sorrow.
THAT was different I was at sum-
mer resort! You-why, you have to
do those things at summer resort
or have everybody think you're wall
flower! You wouldn't have wanted to
hear that was wall flower and that
nobody paid any attention to meg"
That's precisely it," exclaimed the
young man. Il didn't want you to feel
hurt because no other girl would look
at me. thought you'd be glad to know
some one else would go around
with"
You might have taken some one
besides Sadie" she flashed. She's
always trying to get you! And you
like her pretty well, too! Are you
sure it was only twice? Did she wear
her hat with roses, and what did she
talk about?"
The young man looked a trifle de-
spairing. Then he frightened. what
did the man from New York talk
about?' he countered.
II didn't think" she said, loftily.
that you'd be jealous, Edward 1
thought that was beneath you! Whom
else did you take?"
Jean Went once" the young man
confessed. Il don't just remem-
ber."
That homely little thing! The way
she uses her eyes is ridiculous! Think
hard-who else?"
Il asked Charlotte" the young man
said with dignity, because she was
visiting my sister, and 1 had to be
polite to her."
why there is a perfect string of
them!" cried the girl in mauve in
tones of horror. you must have used
up all time just running from one girl
to another! And having a gay time!
And l, miles away, feeling so sorry
because you were shut up in stuffy
office and wandering around evenings
so awfully lonesome! You said in
your filters you were lonesome! Yes,
you did! And longing for me to come
home! My, wouldn't l have inter-
fered with your pleasures if I had!
Nov. Lucy!" said the young man,
twisting his tie nervously, you are
unjust! You were going around with
other men yourself! And you know
thought of you all the time and when
ever l took another girl anywhere 1
always wished it was you!"
That's very well to say!" cried the
girl in mauve. But how do know"
Am not telling you?" insisted the
young man, firmly. Don't you know
| had perfectly miserable summer
and wasn't happy minute because
you were gone, and wished for you
all the time and counted the days till
you would get back, and watched for
the postman and read your letters
over about fifteen times, and was
bored to death by every other girl 1
talked to, and"
"Oh. Ted!" murmured the girl in
mauve. "Truly?"
Truly" repeated the young man,