Middletown transcript., 1909-10-23

over the outlook from his once
window. It wasn't what he saw,
however, that broughtthe frown,
it was what he heard.
He held the telephone receiver
a little closer to his ear.
Yes, he said, / understand.
You say your Western friend has
come /? The girl you've been ex-
pecting. / remember. What's
that ? Awfully wiser Oh. nice,
OF course she must be. don't
get that? You want me to take
her to the ball game this after
noonP Isn't that rather sudden?
Yes, I know the club is going
West tonight. Eh! You can't
go yourself? I'm to go with her
alone. Isn't she a stickler for
chaperonsG No? ALI rig b t,
Mary. I'll sacrifice myself on
friendships altar. Be there a.
2.SO. Yes. Goodbye.
He hung up the receiver with
a fretful jerk.
Confound it, he growled as he
tilted back in bis desk chair.
That S carrying friendship a little
too far. If it was anybody but
Mary I'd say no, no, no! He
picked up a copy pad and flung it
down again. particularly wanted
to enjoy the game to-day. It's
sure to be a hummer. And here
I'm chained to a strange girl
who probably never saw a game
before-and every time she opens
her mouth the crowd will snicker.
And there will be somebody close
by who knows me. Why doesn't
the gentleman with the stick bit
the ball instead Of missing it !?
He suddenly laughed. Oh, well,
heicried, I'm doing it for Mary.
And Mary is Jim's sister; she's
been very good to me. I'm not
going to forget how Jim sent fer
her and she came to Cambridge
when / was bowled over by the
fever. 1t will be a long time be-
fore I get even with her for That.
He picked up his pencil. From
1.-THE West, eh, and never been
East before It makes me shiver.
Nevertheless, he buckled down
to his work and resolutely crowd
ed things ahead SO he could be
spared from the Office at an early
hour.
AT exactly the appointed time
he was at Mary Sterling's home
quite prepared to wait certain in
definite minutes while the girl
from the West completed her
toilet.
But no she was on the porch
with Mary, hated and gloved
and ready for the start.
Anna, said Mary, this is our
very good friend. John Reming
ton, Miss Hardy, John.
John cast a quick glance at the
girl from the West as they shook
hands. She was above medium
height, well built, and carried
herself well. She wore tan
linen and her hat was black with
q asingle rose.
She was slightly dark, with big
black eyes and when she smiled
there were certain elusive dim
plies about her mouth that seem
ed to scorn any settled location.
She was smiling when she
greeted John Remington.
You certainly deserve the title
of good friend, Mr.. Remington,
she said, ] have a very strong
impression that men do not ike
to take women to ball games
they are quite sure to say such
silly things. I'll try hard to re-
member this, and you must be
very patient with me.
John laughed. There was some
thing really delightful about the
childIike simplicity Of the big
girl.
I'll promise to behave the very
best know how-at a ball game,
ne SAID. That's The place, you
know, where a mans real nature
comes out-where the barbarian
In him fiseses to the top. But
III do my best to remember.
The girl from the West looked
III Mary Sterling.
Yon never sid q word about
this barbaflan uprising. Nary
dear, she cried reproachfnlly.
Ruu along, laughed Mary. All
the good seats win be goneif you
don't hurry.
It wasnit long walk TO the
game; il il hadn't been for the
game John would hare wished ii
longer. The girl from the West
talked il q lively and pleasing
fashion Of her impressions Of The
Fast and John FIR the maet MARI.