Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1910-03-24
SHE WAS
WARNE

young man, sitting on the end OF the
small seat behind the palms and ferns.
'What?" asked in alarm the pretty
girl who sat next him. is there too
much powder on my nose, or do you
think this is last years party drese
made over? Because it isn't!"
Nothing so banal," said the young
man. Il don't quite know what banal
means, but like the sound of the
word No, what I've discovered is your
New Years resolution! You resolved
to make me as miserable as possible!"
How funny!" cried the pretty girl.
"You aren't rehearsing for parlor
play or anything like that, are you?"
why should you jest with me?" the
young man asked, reproachfully. Il
don't have to rehearse set speeches
with you-my remarks are spontane.
GUS. They bubble forth of their own
accord without any effort or control on
my part"
II should think it would make you
terribly nervous" sympathized the
young woman. Never knowing what
you we're going to say, mean. Why,
you are likely to make all sorts of
rash assertions or promises-and it's
so hard to explain to people after
ward!"
I'm never that way with anyone
but you," explained the young man.
ooh. we'll, it's all right, then" said
the girl. "Of course 1 never pay any
serious attention to what you say!"
I'm quite aware of that fact" said
the young man. Its the thing which
really worries me. l think you do it
on purpose. as said before, just to
keep me unhappy"
Why" said the young woman in
grieved tone, Il wouldn't make fly
unhappy if I could avoid it,"
"Of course you wouldn't" said the
young man. There aren't any flies
at this time of year, and you know it.
Besides, I'm not at all interested in
the emotion of flies. What is engag-
ing my attention wholly at present is
the state of my own feelings, and they
are what you might call harassed. Or
narrowed"
you speak as if you were a corn
field" remarked the pretty girl. What
have l ever done to you?"
He shook his head gravely. 81
couldn't begin to tell you in the limit
ed time at our disposal" he said BE
sides, If you had particle of SYM
pathetic tenderness in your nature you
would know without any definite ar
raignment. Your conscience would
be curling up in agony and making
you so uncomfortable that you couldn't
avoid saying, This is the result of my
inhuman treatment of that deserving
young man! 1t serves me perfectly
right"
You have plenty of self-conceit,
haven't you?" remarked the young
woman. with interest.
Well" admitted the young man, 81
couldn't stand being with myself so
much if didn't admire me- And really
I'm an exceptional young man. don't
see why you shouldn't be kind to me.
1t isn't as though l went home Satur.
day nights and beat my mother and
broke the furniture. l tell you I'm
a worthy"
We'll" cried the pretty girl, what
can do more? Am l not sitting here
in secluded corner devoting my time
and thought to you when the next
waltz has started and there's a dis
tracted man out there searching for
Me?"
Exercise is good for him." declared
the young man. He'll feel better for
half-dozen sprints around the room.
It's Spangden, suppose. 1t must be
Spangden, because every time I've
seen you this. evening you've been
dancing with him
Il have mott" denied the pretty girl.
Well deny it if you choose" said
the young man, with stern sadness.
"One can't always believe what one
sees. That's why I said you had re-
solved to see how miserable you could
llake me. Every time l saw you with
Spansden rushed off and pounded my
head against the wall in baffled fury.
Ii you keep it up there's no telling
what will happen to me-"
AS though it made any difference"
scoffed the pretty girl, getting to her
feet and shaking out her skirts.
You don't know anything about it,"
said the young man with tremendous
gloom. Isn't that Spangden coming
Tor You now? Oh, this is adding insult
to injury!"
I'VE part friends, hope?" said the
young woman, with prettily worried
arch to her eyebrows.
ION the surface, yes" said the
young man. For your sake promise
not to dash out from behind these
palms and things and strangle Spang-
den before he reaches you. But, girl,
beware!"
Il think you're perfectly lovely!"
laughed the pretty girl. This talk
has been real fun!"
For you, perhaps!" amended the
young man. darkly. Hello, Spang.
den!"
A Trained Booster.
Walter Adams. of SkoWhegan has n