The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-01
While She
Was AWAY

and started for the stairs she went
back and snapped on the current
again. peering anxiously in the mir
ror. 1t was as she thought-she need
ed little more powder on her nose.
It 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 Teds ring
She always could tell when he was at
the door. She was a little excited
to think she had not seen him for
two months!
After the greetings were over they
regarded each other a 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.
Il missed you. too" she confded.
1T 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 l write you every
single thing did and whom l talked
to, and-and everything"
well, wrote you everything, too"
said the young man.
"Oh, that's different" she said,
darkly. II knew even If was having
a perfectly stupid time that you
weren't dying of lonesomeness! l
know how men are! warrant you
took Sadie out to amusement parks
and to the theater lots of times while
I was away-now, didn't your"
"Only twice." declared the young
man, defensively.
The girl in mauve turned upon him
q feproachful glance. you did take
her. them" 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 60
canoeing with a 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. was at a sum.
mer resort! You-why, you have to
do those things at summer resort
or have everybody think you're a wall
flower! You wouldn't have wanted to
hear that l was wall flower and that
nobody paid any attention to me?"
That's precisely it," exclaimed the
young man. Il didn't want you to fee
hurt because no other girl would lool
at me. 1 thought you'd be glad to know
some one else would go nfount
with"
! "You might have taken some on'
besides Sadiei" she flashed. She
always trying to get you! And yol
like her pretty well, too! Are yo'
sure it was only twice? Did she wea
her hat with roses, and what did sh
talk about?"
The young man looked trifle dc
spairing. Then he frightened. VIVA
did the man from New York tail
about?" he countered.
II didn't think" she said. loftily
that you'd be Jealous. Edward!
thought that was beneath you! Whor
else did you take?"
Jean went once" the young ma
confessed. II don't Just remen
ber."
THAT homely little thing! The wa
she uses her eyes is ridiculous! Thin
hard-who else?"
II asked Charlotte" the young ma
said with dignity, because she we
visiting my sister, and l had to /
, polite to her."
why there is a perfect string
them!" cried the girl in mauve
} tones of horror. You must have use
t up all time Just running from one gi
/ to another! And having a gay tint
And l, miles away, feeling SO sorI
because you were shut up in stuff
office and wandering around evenin
8 so awfully lonesome! You said
i your filters you were lonesome! W
j you did! And longing for me to cor
home! My, wouldn't l have int
e fered with your pleasures If I had!
Now, Lucy!" said the young ma
twisting his tie nervously, 'you a
8 unjust! You were going around wi
other men yourself! And you know
D thought of you all the time and wht
s. ever / took another girl anywhere
s. always, wished it was you'll"
! That's very well to say!" cried t
70 girl in mauve. But how do l know
Am not telling your" insisted
- young man, firmly. Don't you KIN
~ l had a perfectly miserable sunni
~ and wasn't happy a minute becal
- you were gone, and wished for y
all the time and counted the days
a. you would get back, and watched
a the postman and read your lett
~ over about fifteen times, and v
20 bored to death by every other cir
10 talked to, and"