Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1910-12-30

Her Silent Crush
BY JOANNA SINGLE
Copyright. 1910. By Associated Literary Pres.

| ing a little late for class. and A I
was out for mischief, listened IA
the girls raving about him on tn
campus. Does he know how lovelv
he is? Every girl in town is craxv
about him, and foolish enough to say
SO to some other girl who invariably.
tells! Even Helen, Ware---.s- -
Steve sat UP. apgrily. He. y6S;xSf;
ing out to defend her: THen, kt-sSSs
membered that he could better No.
her by keeping still. But sister rose
to the occasion. go
"Helen is not that SORT" sbs
was beginning a little coldly when.
Edythe broke in.
Let me finish, do! l was goine
to say. that even she. though she san
and does nothing. Is deeper in thai
any of them! One of those intense /.
silent brushes. | don't know how i.
know-but l do know!t Oh. isn't thae
the prettiest Irish crochet! don't
see how you get time to do it. Ma
a baby and a husband and a brother
to look after! I'm sure with only
myself, l never make anything
and SO on until almost dinner. Then
she departed just in time to meet
Milly bringing back the baby. Steve
heard sister invite the girl to star.
He snatched his hat. =,
AS a member OF the faculty, hs
dared not get free lunch.y He went
to the first chop house. and ate
beefsteak. Then he took to- the open
country back of the campus and went
with long strides to a little strip q
wood. June was very sweet and
green, and his pipe was solacing. h
knew place where heec99ld rest b
peace, but as he turned aScorner BE
ran squarely into Maltbie. whom b.
hated.
Hello" he said. Where you q {
ing?"
Seen Miss Weaver anywhere, pas,.
tor? Her brother said she went fcr
a walk-I wanted to ask her to tie
dance before some idiot"
Before some other idiot doesr
finished Steve. You're too late. Just
asked her myself-over the, phona
Now you clear out while brood ovr
my luck" He said this with a grin
but Maltbie knew enough to depart =
He was not out of sight beforo
Steve heard a suspicious noise an4
turned to look about him. A grVs
skirt showed behind a nearby tre4'
He investigated. and the girl laughs1
outright.
Il hated to eavesdrop," said Helsn
but l saw him first. which sweop('
that 1 hid promptly. l Just manasse
to keep out of his sight all the way'
here. I'll deal with Jimmy for telling
where l went" rs.<-
She stood looking at Steve coolly'
enough, and still she was friendly~>.
very friendly. He somehow forgot ~
take his eyes from her face. but sho'
did not blush. ~. -
I'm glad / had promised to 80 -
the dance with you. If l had 'acfuak
" been brought to bay could hayo'
told Sam Maltbie that-bW 4 hae)'
even to give him q chance to ssk--'
he's"
such a hopeless donkey" finnhe9'
Steve, still walking beside her.
At the dance the next evening -;
was baffied by her manner. He ~
sure she did not care--and Jet -.
could not forget the foolish gossip; =
his sisters caller. When Helen wouIe
not dance with him he found . wan
flower and conscientiously did -
duty. Did she care? He spent o.
dance in the smoking room. when q
new question came to him. Why 90
he want to know whether or not ~
cared? What was it to him?,. WHY
he loved her. that was 1t! The uh'
wonder of it all came over him.
It was like him to go straight %
the dressing room and ask the maid
for Miss Weaver's wrap. And 1t VA
like him TO march up to the girl q
the end of the waltz she was dancne
and insist on taking her out into M
fresh night air.
81 wanted to ask you-to tell you-
something" he said. ~
She smiled in the old friendly way'
But she did not help him. He had e.
do it all himself.
lin crazy about you. Helen
love you with all my Heart Coule
vou-do you care-too? Do your
win you marry me? He held %
hands out. Then she laid both hen
in them and looked up at him, nsS.
eyes wet with unshed tears. ~
nodded again and again.
"Oh. say you love me. Helen! CO..
YOU say it?" She let him draw -
| closer.
Its too big--and deep-and beau
tiful to talk about" she said. "Dut
don't mind telling Just You thatif yoe'
hadn't loved me and told-ms 60
believe l should have died."
He laughed in utter contentmeyt
It was another case of girl Butt
did not know it-because 1t had nak
pened to him. ~. ~