Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-09-18
BLUE EYES or ETHEL
BY FRANK II. MELooN.

indulge in, moderate letity at times.
Ethel says can and she, If anyone
does, should know.
For months before | met her at the
graduating reception of my class In
college, / had heard of her as being
"a mighty pretty girl" Now II there
was one thing which | then held in
utter scorn, it was a pretty girl. /
carried Franklin's saying of hand
some is that handsome does to the
extreme-and beyond, II may be per-
mitted the expression, held that fem
nine plainness and virtue walked
hand in hand, and that no girl who
was pretty could also be fitted for the
pedestal on which my ideal was
raised. So you see Ethel Elwell won
no anti-acquaintance homage from me
on account of her being acknowl-
edged pretty.
At the reception, however, we were
forced into each others company.
Most OF the fellows except me hap
pened to be either engaged or head
over heels in love and there was a
prevalent opinion, afterward learn
ed, that the man who had won the
highest honors IL the class of Ought
Two ought to have some claim upon
the belle OF the reception, which
Ethel undoubtedly was.
made frank acknowledgment to
her at the outset.
'As we are TO be neighbors at our
summer houses up In the old Granite
State this year, we ought to be ac-
quainted, but l promise not to keep
you from your conquest of hearts.
You must, on the other hand, count
me as an immune. | have never yet
seen the woman could love, though
have many friends among your sex.
promise, then, not to fell in love
with you, and you of course don't
have to say you won't fall in love
with me. That goes without saying.
Now let's be friends and friends
only!"
For the smallest fraction OF sec
ond the blue eyes Of Ethel looked into
mine, and then dropped shyly under
their silken fringes. Although. as /
said, am a serious minded man,
felt the queerest sensation about my
temples / had ever known. 1t was
like being under fire for the first
time.
Ethel extended her hand. quite the
white, and delicate beyond express
sion.
Thank you," she exclaimed in a
low, frank voice. Il am so tired Of
the men who fall in love with me.
tell you the simple truth when say
you are the first--the very first-who
has promised to be only friend.
You can't think how exceedingly re-
freshing 1t isl"
As we adjourned to our summer
residences in Hudson the next week
we saw much of each other after that
There was canoeing on the liquid sil.
yer of the Merrimack and there was
golf among the hills, which looked az
if they might have served as tees for
the Titans of old
The last day came, the day when
was forced to end my vacation. Ethel
and | sat in the twilight on the veran-
da of River Rest" as the E1well cot
tage was called. We occupied oppo-
site ends of the same willow seat.
And we're still friends" / said
elatedly. "Ether'-I called her that
in the spirit OF true comradeship--
you can't tell how much that means
to mel"
Il did not suppose that the valedic-
torian of his class at college would
care for even the friendship Of a girl
like mel" she answered.
steeled myself at the thought that
she might be playing with me as she
had played with others.
What is your program for tomor-
row." | asked lightly.
Boating, fishing. golflng, tennis"
she said.
with Hartley Grady" / inquired
yes. I suppose he and / will have
to strike UP a comradeship for Sep
TENDER"
This didn't please me, though I
couldn't have told why
What time are you going west?'
queried. There was a California trip
in prospect.
Papa says the Gradys are going
with us. / expect, from what he says,
we'll start about the first of October"
You'll be making an end of your
conquests soon, Ethel" / said, feeling
as If I'd been shaken in a train col
lision. laughed nervously. Per
haps you'll be marrying Grady"
'Perhaps!" She actually smiled
And, Robert, we're still friends,
aren't WEI" / remember hearing her
say, as one remembers things which
occur in dream.
Yes. "-awkwardly-"and I prom
ised not to fall in love with you'll"
Was my arm about her waist?
But II didn't make any prom
ise!" Her saying that, I remember
very. very distinctly, for it was super
latively sweet to my ears.