The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-06-17
Romance and
John Smith


head, two tiny tendrls of golden hair.
Now the Romanticist was very young
and extremely pretty-and bore the
name of Patricia Millicent Lowering
that in itself was enough to make her
romantic.
''It's no use, Polly" she said discon-
solately. 81 shall never meet a man
who is my ideal--and l shall never
marry one who is not / should have
lived centuries ago when knights in
silken hose and doublets wooed their
ladies by the light of the moon and
sang serenades beneath their win.
3ows."
Polly Nelson laughed melodious
infectious laugh. For my part" she
said, "I prefer something more sub
stantial than moonlight serenades and
if Harry ever attempted to break my
beauty slumbers by any vocal selec-
ions, I'd be sorely tempted to empty
the contents of the water pitcher on
his head.
Patrica shifted. you haven't one
particle of romance in you," she said,
the man l marry must be tall and
handsome, and he must write poetry
TO me. l don't want one of those pro-
sale. cut and dried business men;
ny ideal must be above the sordidness
of money making"
"And father will foot the bills" Pol
y interrupted maliciously.
Patricia arose with dignity. POL
p" she said, sternly, 'it isn't your
iault that you can't understand me.
lou can't appreciate anything beauti-
III. Perhaps it's best you don't mind
,eing engaged to a man by the name
# Harry Malster!" and with that
sarting thrust she left the room.
"Jealous!" Polly cried after her.
but you wait-I'll get even with YOU"
Polly looked up from her perusual
u the mornings mail with a smile
Harry says that he and friend OF
ais will be here on the evening train
20 spend the week end" she an.
aounced.
And who is the friend? ?' inquired
Patricia. not without interest.
Polly's eyes twinkled mischievously.
The friends name is Smith," she an
Svered.
Patricia made a charming moue.
That Is enough" she said, my In.
srest has completely vanished" si''
Polly ignored her remark and pick
d up the letter. Smith used to go
1-college with me-" she read aloud,
and he's fine fellow. Whom his
sather died, they found that all their
property had been lost on specula.
Ions. and the poor chap J 4 to get
Ut and hustle. He's OIL Of the
nartest lawyers in the oi,y now, and
as fine practice-hut he's worked
hard that he needs change. So
IN taking the liberty, Pol, of bring.
ag him down to your home for over
,unday-because l want you to meet
m. Please tell Pat not to try any
her frigid stunts about him-be.
use he's too nice a fellow to be
-ught with those eyes of hers and
Aen be thrown down fiat"
Indeed" interrupted Patricia, with
me sarcasm, my dear cousin Harry
'es fine language. You may tell my
'fsar cousin for me that Pat will
AVE his unusual friend quite alone"
Polly returned the letter in the en-
slope before replying. Then, Come
"a, Patsy" she said. lets go for a
1e. Well both feel better"
Patricia did not drive to the station
lat night with Polly, but it might be
.'2aarked that she spent an unusually
Hag time that evening upon her toilet
len the carriage drove up she went
= on the portico to meet them. No
g could call Jack Smith a handsome
IN, but there was something fine
out this tall, clean, well.built fell
'c1'.
There's 70 danger OF you forget.
my name, Miss Lowering" he
sd after the introduction. Just
In. ordinary John Smith" And he
ocA her hand and then turned to
ely. He did not stare at her and
o5s her hand as most of her infatu.
I'd admirers did, but rather he treat.
her as he would a child He took
into dinner that night but he
rcly noticed her, but rather spent
ost of the time talking with Harry
4 Polly's father, of wheat corners
d building up stock; things that
-tricia knew nothing about.
As Polly and she went to their
oms to get their wraps (they were
ride over to the Country Club
ace), Patricia remarked With ella
ate carclessness: "Your friend
.-er- Smith, as we'll as being hor
y commonplace is sadly Gelciea
manners. He cid not eyca troa
civilly,"
Didn't he7" said Polly airily; "well
I'D him that you didn't wish to hav,
4; thing to do with him."
Polly!" gasped Patricia, "you nev
told him that!" r
Why certainly I did" said Poll,
ocently, 'you did say that, didn'
- y" And she rushed from tn
IN. rA
Ill