The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1911-03-17

! Was this the end Of all her pleas
uring?
Having elbowed fighting from tn
tfrong, she wandered aimlessly to
difnly lit parkway and sat down t.
paasle out her way. The others, quite
frantic at her loss. were no doubt
searching now. And in the end they
could not fail to find her.
She lifted her hands to the hot
throbbing of her head and laughed
instead of crying, little bitter laugh
To find her? Who was she anyway !
And in that strange mood. she ques
toned yet again. who am any
way%
An American girl. Jean Newton Of
Newtonsville, a girl OF splendid ante
cedents, a glowing future. Surely
she was not that radiantly ambitious
creature who this very morning had
mapped out the cartoon for the
stained glass window. She was moi
that eager, vivid pleasure seeker who,
but moment since, had laughed loud
in the freedom of high holiday. She
was not any Of the Jeans her friends
and family knew. She was lonely
heart-sick child, the girl that Cecil
Spoffard had kissed for the last time,
beneath the tall arching eims Of the
Vermont home, saying 'Good-by-go
learn Of life And call me when you
want me, dear; I'll come"
Cecil! In all the overwhelming sx.
citement of new scenes she had fot
gotten the tall, brave friend Of early
years. Yet never had the thought Of
him been wholly absent. There be
yond everything, he seemed to wait
enriching the high lights OF her
dreams
This very morning she had heard
Of him. Cecil spofYard," read the
clipping sent from home. "has sailed
for France. Young engineer plans
business trip to Paris" and 30 on
down the page. She had thought at
first that he would seek her out, then
she knew in moment that he would
never force his way. He would never
come unless he felt her wish. Call II
you wish me! She could find 1t In
her heart to wish him now, but Paris
Is not Nice and many dreary miles
lie In between.
A crowd Of shouting. laughing mum.
mers was coming from down the
street. and the girl. in terror, shrunk
back beneath the shadows. They
were turning In thepway and bearing
down upon her. ia Patrie," they
sang again, and now she was dis.
covered! A tiny. red-frilled creature,
with cap and jingling bells, shouted
across the pathway. Receiving no re.
sponse she called to her crowd to fol.
low her. In moment they had Joined
hands and were closing IN.
The girl crouched back against the
trunk OF great tree, and wildly
looked for help. Was there no one in
all this throng Of spangled. glitter
ing foolery to give her aid?
Beyond, the honk-honk of slow.
moving car seemed to echo relief. II
might be the city guard; 1t might be
Alice and Val. 1t was manifestly
worth the chance. "Alice." she cried
In a frenzy of despair. Alice, Du Val.
Luceau1-Cecili"
For long time the girl ga2ed into
the calm eyes above her. The clear
sky, the moving branches of the trees.
the softened shouts beyond, the mu-
sic and the lights-they were as 80
much stage scenery, artificial, inse
cure. The one thing tangible In all |
the world was the mans strong arms
about her. Cecil and Nice! She could
not reconcile the two and whispered
somehow, "Paris-you-NIcel"
He held her closer. Dear, don't
bother-the food, you know. 1t
tangled all my plans. ran down to
Nice to see the carnival. knew that
you were here. l heard you call. The
cars beyond. Don't bother to ex.
plain"
Then she trembled and grew faint
again, and he lifted her within his
arms as child. And as her head fell
upon his shoulder he bowed to catch
her words, Dear. dear; then, "You
Came. dear" and King Carnival"