Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-03-16
THREE OF
THEM

Jack Robinson wondered for the
tenth time that day why he had come
to Midland Beach alone. If there was
one place where companionship, either
masculine or feminine, made life en-
joyable, it was at the beach. Besides,
Robinson disliked his own company.
1T therefore must have had piloted
him to the sands of Midland.
Robinson turned over on his side
and made ready for a doze when he
became aware that someone had
planked herself, with much fuss over
hlmy laces and the disposal thereof,
close beside him. Her red parasol
started to escape with gust of wind,
but unfortunately for Robinson she
caught it. He knew instinctively that
'he could not go in for common fir.
ltation with this girl, yet, had he res.
'cued pretty parasol from the clutch.
,es OF wind and perhaps briny sea it
might have been different.
Out of half-closed eyes Robinson
watched her open small volume. She
did not read. however, she seemed
strangely alive to her surroundings
Robinson was unaware that she had
appraised his own perfect yhysique
and thick gold hair before deciding
upon the particular spot of sand upon
which to ensconce herself.
Robinson's boredom had vanished:
he watched with the utmost fascinal
ton every movement of the girl be.
side him. Her hair was spun cop.
per and blew maddeningly near her
thick, dark lashes and her lips riYaled
the scarlet Of her sun-shade. Annoy.
ed by the confinement of he. gloves
she pulled them off and settled her
self to more thorough enjoyment of
the sand.
Then it was that the day grew
darker for Robinson She was mar.
ried! A sparkling diamond as well as
the band Of proprietorship shone on
her hand
He turned abruptly away. A mar.
ried flirt! If there was one person
Robinson disliked 1t was a young mar.
ried firt. He stalked to his bath.
house and flung on his white flannels
with haste that quite undid the
cooling effect of his dip. Robinson
was incensed; much more so than the
slight occurrence warranted. When
he arrived on the board walk he
seemed to see a hundred red para.
soils, all bobbing in different direc-
fiOnS In I'll
any Of them Snd when the boat pulled
out in the evening with him on board
he had feeling of relief as we'll as
one Of disappointment that he had not
again seen the little lady.
Presently he heard the chatter Of
voices, close to him. There seemed
to be three of them, two girls and a
man. They began to sing-all the old
songs that Robinson was fond of and
knew so well.
Robinson could have sung tenor
backwards and he unconsciously hum,
med aloud He saw mans head
peer out from the darkness and felt
rather than saw that he was being
inspected.
Come and join us--we need a ten.
or" Tom Everly, being married and
good fellow, had no scruples against
strangers: he felt perfectly capable OF
taking care of his women folks.
Robinson moved over and raised his
hat. My name is Robinson he said,
Thanks for dragging me from the pit
of melancholia."
sIy name is Everly," said the bass.
Let NE introduce my wife and my
sister"
The boat had been coming about
and now the moon shone full upon the
faces of the quartet Robinson turned
quickly and met the same eyes that
had looked into his on the beach
those of the married fiirt. He knew,
now that he was near her again, that
her charm had fingered, sub-conscious.
ly, in his brain and he had met her
yet the feeling was the same.
He was cad. He liked Tom Everly
and had hoped to continue
the friendship-now it would be i'm.
possible.
Robinson raoked his brain for a pre-
text under which he might, without
rudeness. leave the three but nothing
presented itself.
Il think saw you on the beach this
Mr.. Robinson" Babette
Dverly spoke for the first time. 81
think you are woman hater."
Tho indeed"
only married, then?" The jocular
tone covered up the depths Of the
girls inquiry.
mot guilty in either case" laughed
Robinson.
II have been guilty of the latter for
. whole afternoon" pouted Babette.
"and l am tired Of 1t. Here, Carol.
take your old wedding ring. suppose
you have forgotten that you gave me
your rings. when you and Tom went
swimming"
Robinson looked up-it seemed as IL
the dawn were already rising. Ger.
tainly everything was clearer and
more beautiful and Babette Everly's
voice was going on.
Besides. really think that Mr..
has cOnSidered mo q WOW