Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-04-24
And her eyes looked at me through


stammered hastily. Dash it, I never
my life. What an ass l had been to
seem to notice at all!
She looked troubled. SAY, do you
mind my wearing them?" she inquired
Il? Certainly not-wen, l should
say mott" retorted, almost with in.
dignation.
"sure?" BY Jove, what ripping eyes
she had!
"Of course not" emphatically.
Her sunny head nodded satisfac-
ton. That's all right, then. was
afraid you wouldn't like it-afraid you
would think was acting little free.
But your man Jenkins-isn't that his
name?-said he thought you would
like for me to wear them"
gasped
"Jen-whats that?" l was amazed,
indignant at Jenkins effrontery He
he suggested that you wear-er-
She nodded, her glorious eyes shin
ing wistfully
You see, went to a frat dance last
night in Cambridge, she explained;
"and in the hurry this morning, some
how, one Of my bags-a suitcase
was left behind. And when I got here
tonight and began -pilfng the things
out of my other bag-well, l saw
was up tree Not thing to slip
into, you know-not so much as
dressing-gown or even a bathrobe.
Then your man saved my life-sug-
gested these pajamas. See?"
ooh, l see!"
l said so; but. dash 1t, wasn't sure
l did, for knew so devilish little
about girls.
Il must cut along now" I thought;
internal shame to be taking advan-
tage of her this way!" And then
thought l would just wait wee min
ute longer
Just then she turned toward me,
her elbow on the arm of the wicker
chair, her dainty, man4cured finger
tips supporting her chin.
you know, Mr.. Lightnut, l wasn't
sure you would remember me at all,
she said. Il was such a kid when
you saw me last"
"Oh, yes" I said, trying to recall
the rather hoydenish children I had
seen on the motor trip to Billings
home five years before. II remember
you were quite little girl-weren't
your"
l thought her face darkened a lit
tie; then her smile flashed through,
like sunshine through cloud. Her
laugh came on top, like the mellow
ripple of tiny brook-that sort OF
thing-oh, you know!
ooh, say now, Mr.. Lightnut, cut
out the josh" she demonstrated; and
l thought she grew little red. No
more for mine those sissy, grille ways
I've got well over all of that"
She tossed one knee over the other
and threw herself back in the chair
She seemed little piQued. She went
on:
81 just tell you what-there's moth
ing like a couple of years off at col
lege for toughening you! Gets all
those mammals baby ways out of you,
you bet your life, and all the slushi-
ness you get from trying to be like
your sisters Shucks!"
l caught my breath. OF course, she
had no idea how 1t sounded-this
sort of talk; it was just her innocent
frankness, her-what dye call it,
her righteousness dash it!
She continued musingly: Gee, but
was soft when / first went away-a
regular pie-faced angel-child!" Her
voice had in it sheer. Then she
Strengthened up, whirled her chair
facing me, and gave me sounding
slap on the knee. Say, maybe the
fellows l met didn't educate that out
of me mighty quick! Well, reckon
yes!" And she nodded, eying me side
wise, her pretty chin in the air.
But, dash me, l was so aghast
couldn't get out a word. Just sat there
batting at her and turning hot and
cold by turns. Came devilish near
losing consciousness, by Jove, that's
what!
OF course, l knew she didn't know
what she was talking about Hadn't
any o4oISAo JOSII, OO1 yOu hAOW1
and never had learned much about
other fellows sisters; but, dash it, l
knew something about faces, and |
would have staked my life on hers.
You can nearly always tell, you know.
But, anyhow, l thought I had better
go now.
1 got up. 81 say, you want to just
make yourself at home" 1 said And
If you don't mind, I'll see you at the
boat in the morning"
She stood up, too, looking rather
surprised. You're not going away"
"Oh, no; not out of town" | thought,
that was what she meant. l added:
and as go out, I'll stop downstairs
and have some one come up and stay
with you"
She dropped to the arm of the chair.