The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-01-11
While She
Was Ava,

why, haven't seen you for ar
age!" cried the girl with the fall hat
as she rushed at the other girl with
the golden hair and innocent blue
eyes, who was buying handkerchief
assiduously. How we'll you look!
Your summer in the country"
"Oh. didn't go to the country
said the girl with blue eyes. Il stayed
at home this year,"
What" gasped the girl with the
fall hat, in a shocked tone my dear
you don't mean to say you've passed
the whole dreadful summer cooped up
in the city, without a bit of change
or"
The girl with blue eyes regarded
her calmly. Il managed to have a
very good time," she said.
Il know" commiserated the other.
But l do feel sorry for you! When
every one you know is away it must
be hard to be patient and amuse your
self. l think 1t is wonderful that you
have stood it so we'll. should have
been bored to death, feel sure. You
know that simply must have lots of
people around me and things going
on.
Il had a perfectly glorious time at
the lake" proceeded the girl with the
fall hat. There were several men
there who simply kept me busy and,
of course, while l didn't want to make
the other girls unhappy. couldn't
help it ii they got left out a good
many times. But it is perfectly dread
full when three or four men happen to
fall in love with one the same sum-
mer!"
Il should think So" said the girl
with blue eyes. (Which one did you
take?"
The girl with the fall hat looked
annoyed. "Oh, I'm in no hurry about
that" she said. I'm not so crazy to
get married as most girls. They all
will probably be on here soon to see
me. | was so rushed that l am afraid
| rather neglected my old friends.
did write Harold asking him to come
up, but something tiresome kept him
il town. Of course, then wrote and
told him to come any time that suited
him and not to think of hurrying
back, but, some way or other. the
poor boy got delayed each time.
The head of the firm came on from
the east once and his mother was
sick another time. and goodness knows
what else interfered. felt so sorry
for him, for knew how disappointed
Harold was-well, he was"
"Yes?" queried the girl with the
blue eyes. with some interest.
The girl in the fall hat managed to
blush family. We'll, between you and
me, Harold was getting SO terribly
fond of me that couldn't help seeing
what was coming. He can't help
showing his feelings in his eyes-did
you ever notice? But, of course you
were never in exactly the same situa-
ton as ! was with him, so you would
mt notice. If there is anything l hate
to do it Is break a mans heart and
I wanted to be kind to Harold That
was why asked him up to the lake."
That's an odd way to proceed when
you are refusing a man." commented
the girl with the blue eyes.
Il didn't say l was going to refuse
him, did II" demanded with some as
perity the girl with the fall hat. "Har-
old is very nice and devotion such as
his appeals to girl with sensibilities
such as have! 1t just spoiled my
birthday picnic for me because he
couldn't be there. kept thinking of
him working away alone in town,
wanting to join me and imagining the
good time was having with other
people! | wrote him long letter to
cheer him up that: night"
He must have appreciated it," said
the girl with the blue eyes.
"Of course he did," agreed her
friend. Harold has the finest nature!
It's too bad you don't know him, well
enough to realize it. However, II
think I'm about the only one to whom
he shows his real SELF He must be
out OF town now, because I've called
up his Office every day since got
back and the telephone boy always
says he's not In. expect he's terribly
anxious to get back now that he
knows I'm here"
Harold isn't out of town." said the
girl with the blue eyes,
He isn't. How do you happen to
know that he is not?"