The Prescott daily news. (Prescott, Ark.) 1907-1941, 1913-11-08
HELEN'S TURN TO GASP |
BY j. 3. OXFORD.

enough breeze to stir the leaves. The
white road wound away like some
white-hot band.
Within the bungalow, with the
shades drawn and sense of GOODNESS
pervading the place, Helen Martin
was softly playing arias from "Eula.
l1e, the opera which had set the
music world sagog the previous win
ter.
She had begun her favorite aria of
all, when there came from the drive
way without a strident chugging, the
whir OF tires on the coarse gravel
Somebody landed heavily on the
porch; the same somebody shouted
boisterous "Hello!" The same some
body pounded loudly on the screen
door, and before she could answer the
summons, pulled 1t open and stepped
into the hall with a cheerful: ANY.
body up yet in this quiet tomb"
Helen flushed angrily as she saw
Jimmy Smith, the big, young man
who was staying at the Keiths
20. how could you!" she cried in
vexation. II was playing"
you ought to be interrupted" said
he, severely. The idea! Playing the
piano such morning as this. Fie on
you! Come on for a little run in the
car with me, will your"
81 was playing the arias from 'Eu.
lalie.' l love them!" she replied.
Bother 'Eulalie' and all compos-
ers," snapped he. I'm going down
for the morning mail. I was sure
you'd want to go with me-"
There was something very like boy
ish disappointment in his last words
20, WELL" she conceded, eff you're
going to cry about it"
Il am If you don't CO." said he.
She smilingly stepped to the hall
rack for a veil to tie down her thick
chestnut hair.
They sped down the road Jimmy
Smith ran a car at all kinds of speed
They had just entered a shady stretch
of woods. when he slowed down the
car and turned to her abruptly.
Tell me-" he said, what sort of a
man is your ideal?"
She did not Immediately reply.
Il mean. what sort of a man must
he be whom you marry" he pursued
What nonsense" she shifted
well. tell me. just the same"
20. he must be every inch a man,
and as to his mental makeup, we'll,
I htvG IL 10 hn u
and fine and-O. very fond Of music"
People who are really. really fond
of music are temperamental very
often" he reminded her APT to be
fools when they are men. Awful to
get along with and all that"
Really" she said severely.
1t was late afternoon when there
came big box of flowers with note.
I've been thinking over the re-
quirements you listed for me this
morning the note ran. and I've got
the unbounded nerve to think l fill
them in some small ways. Yours
ever, The Jimmy Smith Boy"
Helen began to laugh. Then sud
denly she stopped. Instead she flush
ed
Then she had a quick idea She
would try him out. They were giving
concert for the hospital at West
port.
They were to play and sing music
from 'Eulalie She would ask him to
take her over She would see how
he behaved.
She dispatched the note and
promptly at 7:15 the next evening
Jimmy Smith was at the step in his
car.
Really want to so over to that con-
cert?" he asked. There's bully
moon and"
Were going to the concert" said
she They're going to render quite
bit of 'Eulalie.
"Drat 'Eulalie!'" he burst out. I'm
tired to death Of it,"
The concert was given in the Or
pheum theater at Westport. Mr.. Smith
seemed to be bored by 1t. Indeed.
when It was about three-quarters
over and Nine. Brahme was singing
wonderful song. Helen, glancing at
him, was Mortified to find him with
bent head, sound asleep. A moment
later a very audible snore induced
her to nudge him into wakefulness.
This settles it," she told herself.
as he sat up blinking
The concert was finished. They
moved together down the aisle and
had nearly reached the door when
some one came pushing after them.
20, my dear, dear Meester Smit'. so
good. so vera good of you to come to