The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-10-10
AN ARRANT FLIRT
And He Was the Most Adoring
and FOrgiving Fellow in
the World.
BY cLARIssA MAcKIE.

| Tending missiVe into the hre she step
ped on the lazily outstretched paw
of her fox terrier.
With shrill yelp of pain and In
dlgnation Bobs limped over to the
sunny bow window and licked his
paw.
Instead OF comforting him with low
ing words, Sally merely glared at her
pet and ousted Peterkin, her beloved
cat from the coolest chair,
Peterkn found refuge beside the
outraged Bobs and they took counsel
together, with many furtive glances
toward their mistress; each prepared
for instant flight in case Sally re-
newed hostilities.
But Sally had quite forgotten them.
by this time her anger simmered
down to cold hatred. She nodded her
sunny head emphatically.
u didn't believe 1t possible that ]
could hate Dick Lester-but ! do
do! To think of his daring to
b-break-k Off o-our engagement-not
even giving me ch-chance to see
him again and explain about my mo-
tor trip with Mr.. Sears. How hate
full he isl am glad that / am not 60
| ing to marry him-just fa-fancy being
titled down to such a p-perfect bear
of a hus-husband!"
The obnoxious idea quite over
whelmed Sally, and she bowed her
head and wept softly into her pink
palms.
Slowly Bobs limped toward her, one
soft ear cooked inquiringly, his brown
eyes melting with pity. Peterkin
padded silently after. him, purring
buzzily.
Peterkns cold nose on her cheek
reused Sally from her fearful medita-
tions and Bobs' paw on her knee
brought a pathetic smile to her lips.
"Oh, you poor dears!" she cooed
over them, did your missy treat you
cruelty? Well, if you only knew,
Bobs-you'd never, never like Dick
again!"
Whereupon Bobs, who had tender
recollections of Dick Lester and of
many blissful frolics with that mis-
guided young man, promptly stood on
his hind legs and squinted at his own
black nose where there should DO
placed a lump of sugar or a bon
bon.
Get down, you silly thing!' cried
Sally Grossly, and Bobs, much sub
dued, retired to the hearth rug and
kept a wary eye open for further
trouble.
Sally sorrowfully reviewed the
stormy period of her engagement to
Dick Lester. If Sally had not been
an arrant firt and Dick the most ador
ing and forgiving fellow in the world
the engagement would have lasted
longer.
Long suffering Dick had delivered
an ultimatum two months before the
catastrophe and Sally had been as
prim as a Quaker maid. But there
came a summer temptation to take
a run out to the country club with
an old admirer, Jimmy Sears, and
Sally had wickedly, l will not say
thoughtlessly, because she realized
what she was doing, thrown over
an appointment with her tiance and
gone.
OF course Dick appeared upon the
scene, black-browed and quite unap-
proachable. All Sally's attempts at
reconciliation had been in vain and
when as a final effort to soften him
she offered him his freedom-Dick ac-
cepted it, and this was his hateful let
ter she had just received.
Best for you and best for me- he
had said just like the words of the
old song.
If Sally Barton had not fc~ed Dick
devotedly, she would not have cared
a rap, for there were adorers in
plenty waiting for her smiles-but she
did love Dick, and therein lay the
tragedy.
Best for him not to marry her!"
How dreadful that Dick should feel
that way about it-why she had
grown 80 accustomed to the idea that
she was the only girl in the world
for Dick, that now she was smitten
with sudden fierce jealousy that he
really might be attracted elsewhere
and perhaps was glad to be rid of
her.
Where is Dick?" asked Mrs. Bar
ton at luncheon 81 thought he was to
lunch with US"
II don't know-and l don't care
much" quavered Sally stormily, and
her mother sighed and thought
''Oh. DEAR do believe they have
uuarreled again was sure Dick
Of all men knew how to manage
Sally, but I'm afraid he doesn't, after
all. She needs firm hand"
Sally pecked languidly at her food
and hastened back to her room when
the meal was over. She dressed
for the street and, taking the de-
lighted Bobs with her. went TO the
park.
It was late winter, with sugges-
ton Of the coming spring in the soften
ing air and the melting blue sky.
Bobs strained at his leash and made
tentative bounds after the dusty
brown sparrows.
Sally walked with her eyes on the
tree tops and the cottonwood clouds
above.
'If should ever be engaged to him
again I'd marry him at once" mused
Sally, apropos of nothing. SO 1t was
something of shock to round curve
IN the path and come face to face with
Dick Lester and Ethel Long. Dick
was leading EtnePs huge mastiff,