Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-20

Gray to go to the party the next night.
He had never invited girl to so any.
where In his life, and It was q custom
In Riverdale social circles for young
men 10 escort their girl friends and
sweethearts to all the merrymakings in
the neighborhood, and it was a very
rare occurrence that girl cared to sc
without masculine escort. 1t was an
open acknowledgment Of being with
out admirers.
OF course Florine Gray would never
be in that predicament save of her OWE
choosing, for she was the aeknowl
edged belle OF Riverdale and could
have had her pick among q dozen OF
the most eligible young men. As 9
matter Of fact every youth gathered
about the village stove that night had
asked Florine If he might escort hel
to the party-that Is, every one save
Billy Phenomenon. And Fiorine had
sweetly and graciously refused every
one without explanation, and the cha,
grined youths found solace in tbs
thought that Florine was stuck up"
and proud. Even her cousin, Sandy
Peters, had made half joking attempt
to invite Florine, but he retired In
confusion at the first shake of her sun.
ny head.
Sandy, boy" Floripe had smiled
'if you take me to the party who will
take Oracle Blake? suppose Jacob
Leonard won't mind that"
IT should say notr' exploded Sandy.
you're right, Florine. 1 guess I bet.
ter take Oracle, and you can so with
whoever you want to. I might as
well go and ask her, ehT'
Yes, do" urged Florine. ana he
went.
Billy Phenomenon knew nothing
about all this but he was thinking sc.
riously of asking Florine to go. Per,
haps she had refused all the other fel.
lows for the reason that she was hop.
ing that the city fellow who had
shown her so much attention last sum.
mer might come down to Riverdale.
He had heard through devious chan.
nels that had. had its source with the
girl In the postoflce that the city chap
had sent several picture postal cards
to Fiorine after his departure.
IF she's waiting for that fellow to
ask her and he don't maybe she'll be
sorry she didn't accept one OF the
boys" pondered Billy Phenomenon as
he dreamed along the road toward
home. "It will be too bad IL she has
to stay home after ALL His heart
beat unsteadily as he thought about
Florine Gray and realized the utter
hopelessness Of his love for her.
He was passing the Gray place now.
and his steps Jagged, as they always
did. The house set back under the
tall, bare locust trees, and a soft light
was diffused through the drawn yell
low shades. 1t was growing dark
now, and he could see something
white leaning against the private
hedge that surrounded the orchard.
It must be Florine Gray. She wore a
white sweater coat and a white cap.
Florine did not hear him coming.
She was leaning against one Of the
slender young trees inside the hedge,
and she was sobbing softly, quietly.
Billy Phenomenon stood frozen in his
tracks. Florine Gray, the lovely. fortu-
nate girl, belle OF Riverdale. crying
|
answer. The city chap had neglected
to invite her to the party. For an in
slant he longed TO annihilate the city
chap as he had yearned to do in the
summer time. In his minds eye the
air was full of immaculate neckties,
polished tan shoes and snowy panama
hats. He forgot his shyness; he for
got that he hardly knew F'lorine save
in his dreams; he forget everything ex,
cept that he loved her and she was IN
trouble.
He leaned over the hedge. "Florine"'
he called gently.
"Oh!" cried Florine sharply and turn
ed about but be could not see her face
in the darkness. who is it? What
do you WANT" Her voice yIavered
''It's me-Billy Phenomenon. I-er-I
was going to ask you If you'd go to the
party with me tomorrow night STAN
mered Billy excitedly.
Florine swayed toward him ard
grasped the hedge with little white.
cold hands. why hy-Billy, what
made you ask me?' she questioned en-
Gerly.
Because l wanted you to 60 with
me. I'd be proud to-of course you
don't know how feel about it." Billy
was talking rapidly now. His hands
were covering Florine's little cold ones.
and, wonder Of wonders, she had not
withdrawn them. Their young faces
were close together, and he could feel
the quick intake of her breath. u new
er dared ask you before, FIorine, but
I've thought lot about 1t. | don't
suppose you'd go with me with all the
! other chances you can have" He felt
a sudden depression in her silence.
"Oh, Billy Phenomenon, why haven't
you asked me before?' half cried Flo
rine. 1--WE been wanting you to. I've
he'd of going with any one every time
for year hoping you'd ask me 20 go.
And you wanted me all the timer
Yes" gssped Billy, his smooth cheek
touching her satiny one now. II want
you all the rest of. my life. FlorineT'
And their lips met across the hedge In
, a kiss OF understanding