The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-01-06
FRIDAY, January 8, 1911

scene-why. he almost threatened me.
Men are such brutes. You either can't
love them-or you can"
"And we all know that you can't,
Felicia. You'll get over the scene,
whatever II was. I'm not worrying
about you. But Charlie Van zandt is
very young and you are his first ven
ture, l think And now, for a longer
OF shorter space OF time, depending
on Just how much OF a fool he is, he'll
make his mother wretched and a per
feet donkey OF himself because he
thinks he has discovered that all wom-
en- are heartless. II you had such a
thing as a conscience, Felicia Brough-
ton, I'd wish with all my heart that
you'd have to wait to see one of your
victims cured before you could find
another. And I'd hope you would
grow old in the process" / turned to
stalk from the room, for meant to
sleep on the couch in the sitting-room.
leaving Felicia my bed.
At the very door / was stopped by
a queer little sound that did not seem
to be Felicia at all. looked at the
girl and came back "That wasn't
what / came to tell you" she whis-
pered. "Can / put out the light2"
I reached up and turned It Off and
then, taking Felicia's hand, led her
TO the bed, where we sank down. Fe-
licia promptly put her head on my
shoulder and can't resist Felicia
when she euddles. any more than l
can resist pink, dimpled baby.
Don't you worry about him, Fe-
licia," said. Charlie Van zandt is
a presumptuous little weed, and de-
served pulling up from the roots"
1T isn't Charlie at all" she sobbed.
Its Rolfe Carson"
In my excitement / pushed her from
me. Rolfe Carson! / had forgotten
about him. This was too good. Could
1t be that Felicia had met and reduced
to his lowest terms the flirt par excel
lence of all fiirts Of whom had ever
heard? And with my amazement a
great Joy came to me. For, years be-
fore, Rolfe Carson had played with
my little sister, and she-well, she
wasn't a flirt. had vowed to get
even and here was my chance.
Felicia" l said, II am your friend
for life, and I tell you on my honor
that you need not weep over this
piece of work. The biter's Bitten" l
quoted.
Felicia began to sob. You don't
understand" she said. 81 am in love
with him." 1t was a positive wall, a
little cry of belplessness, and it was
genuine and turned me sick. For,
often as l had wished for Felicia's
punishment, I hated to see her suffer
in this way. But it was fine to know
that Felicia really had had heart hid
den away all this time.
"He said he knew you" she went
on, sobbingly, "that he used to know
you, and that was why came. have
Just come from the beach-he was
there-and feel terribly-as If had
been wicked all my life. Suppose
he finds out what a flirt have been.
Suppose that nasty little Van Zandt
beast tells him!"
Felicia was astounded at the reali-
cation of her own sins. l thought
moment.
How long have you known him?"
/ asked.
1.-TWO months-he's been in South
America, you know"
drew long breath of relief. And
then I saw sudden light. There is
no firt who marries, willingly and to
his or her knowledge, another flirt
might still save Felicia.
Dear" l said, and there must have
been something queer in my voice, for
could feel her jewel eyes fix them
selves on my face, you never did a
wiser thing in your life than to come
to me. But If Rolfe Carson had ever
thought you would come to me, he