The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-03-10

LOCKWOOD"
us hands, patting 1t softly. MAT. !:
think you're the very best man in the
whole worldr'
"DontT he groaned. Don't, for
heavens sakep
."Oh. I know. Natl know you don't
like me to say this, but l must, just
the same, tell you the truth about my
self. It's SO splendid to live the life
you do. You're all unconscious Of it,
but want you to realize 1t and know
that do too. You've made everybody
love you. and
But confusion silenced her. and she
gently replaced his hand. For several
moments neither spoke. Then Nat
broke the tension with a short. hard
laugh.
THAT'S right" he said inscrutably;
"that was the idea"
NAT, what do you meanY
He turned to her. Betty, does 1t
make you-feel that way toward me?'
She colored divinely. "Why. Nat,
of course. Why. every one
THAT'S why ! came here. Betty"
he pursued. blind to her embarrass-
ment. II came here with the idea Of
getting married"
He was staring gloomily at the floor
and could not see the light that dawn
ed upon the girls face.
"YOu never guessed that. did you?"
''No," she breathed brokenly. mo,
Nat, ~
well. It's the truth, and He rose
and moved away. "But l can't tell
you just now-not now"
mo, not now. Nat" Betty. too. got
up. 81 think I'd better go home and
see father. l mustn't forget She
faltered. half blinded by the mist of
the happiness before her eyes.
''No-wait." She stopped to find his
gaze full upon her. For the first time
he comprehended that she had not
nderstood-that, worst of all. she had
misunderstood. II must tell you" he
blurted desperately; II must"
lnstinctively she moved a step to-
ward him. He hung his head
Tonight. Betty-this evening. just
little while ago. i became engaged
to Josie Lockwood"
She stood as If petrified throughout
wait that seemed to both interim
nable.
"Oh. Nat. dear" she said, I'm so
glad for you. | wish you all the hap
piness in the world. l. Good night"
The hand slipped out Of Mats. He
did not move, but waited there with
his empty palm outstretched. despair
in his eyes and hell in his heart, while
she walked quietly from the store.
After some time he awoke to the
knowledge that she was gone.
"Blithering fool" he growled. "Why
didn't / know i loved her like this p
He took turn to and fro. distracted.
"And now I've made a mess of every
thing Good Lord. what can l do?
must do something or go mad" He
swung round behind the soda fountain
counter and seized bottle. II know
what! The rules are off! l can have
a drink can have two drinks!
can have a million drinks If ! want
'emv'
Pouring a generous dose of raw
whisky into the glass, he lifted 1t to
his lips and threw back his head. But
the heavy bouquet Of the liquor was
sitting In his nostrils, and the first
mouthful Of it almost choked him. In
fury he flung the glass from him so
that it crashed and splintered upon the
floor. Great heavens" he cried. 81
don't like the stuff any more! But
his gaze fell upon the cigar case-"1
can have smoke. That'll help somep
With feverish haste he snatched a
cigar from the nearest box, gnawed
Off one end and, thrusting the other
into the alcohol lighter. puffed vigor-
ously. But to his renovated palate the
potent fumes of the tobacco were no
been. Half strangled. he plucked the
cigar from his mouth and stamped on
1t.
"Oh." he cried wildly, "rll be-I'll be
damnedw
He paused, staring vacantly at moth.
ing. "And even that doesn't do any
good! God help me, I've forgotten
how to swearv'
To him in this overweight state
came Tracey, numbering cheerfully In
his mouth shaped for whistle. Al
sight Of Nat he pulled up as II hit by
q club.
"Evenin', Mr.. Duncan. What's the
matterY'
BY an effort Nat brought his gaze
to bear upon the boy and comprehend.
ed his existence.
"Ain't you feelin' well. Mr.. Duncan r
~No-rottenw
'whats the matterr'
~Nothingr Nat shouted ferociously.
Anything I kin
Nor