The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23


Betty poked the leafy mold with the
end of her chiffon parasol and yawned.
.swinburne expresses some things :
sometimes" she said, "and to my mind
the casual lover finds in his verses all
the justification he wants for any spring
love-"
Spring love-" Billy Bunting said In
4 hurt tone, IT wouldn't have told you
certainly" the girl anticipated, but
since you have made me the melancholy
confession. we might as well thresh the
matter out sensibly."
But" he demurred, II only told you
because In the position"
.'Of the detached third-a disinterested
pnlooker," Betty supplemented, you
were sure I might be able to help you"
He nodded.
/ .'something like that he assented.
you're In love wira Anne, and you're
Kicking yourself, mentally, because you
know YOU haven't played fair with Nancy
.-vhom you thought at one time you
flowed. You gave her every reason to be-
lieve that she was the whole world TO
fou. You know that?'
well" he drawled, maybe 1 did
what of it7"
Betty's laughter tinl1led on the clear
bir.
she caressed a bunch of lovely Easter
flowers and held them closely to her
heart.
.sYou poor, dear, deluded man" she
sighed wistfully "Nancy's no worse off,
40 be sure without you, for she's forgot
ten your kisses, and"
II didn't say I'd ever kissed her" Billy
Bunting interrupted quickly
"Of course not, said Betty sweetly.
pCertainiy you haven't kissed her. They
were only dream kisses, but the point
am trying to reason with you about Is
fhis: There's no cause for you to re-
proach yourself--in, well-in March-for
the state of your heart last November.
1r Anne has drifted into your affections.
with this springs apple blossoms and
sonouils, and the first arbutus. take the
dow the moment sends you; love Anne
while her fascination lasts, but don't
spoil today by corroding memories of yes
ferday-'
sThey-er-er-weren't exactly, er-er," 7"
ne apologized.
rcorroding," supplemented Betty. Ger
tainly [ know they weren't. I used the
word hoping you would correct me.
Nancy was sweet.
"I can't altogether forget" he was be-
ginning again.
''why try?" asked Betty. why strain
tn n
thing but love Anne? Nancy was yes
terdays rose Anne blossoms today;
and"
Look here. Betty Billy Bunting in
terposed, growing very serious, you are
making a joke out of what might be a
tragedy. You've quoted the Swinburne
stuff when it doesn't express the situa-
tion at ALL ] am reproached enough.
] feel like a hound-pup, because for a
time [ did weigh heavy in my mind. l
held her in my heart. I dreamed about
her-day and highland I'm not sure
that | didn't love her,
= ''Of course you aren't said Betty,
knowingly. You are generous man,
even to your own shortcomings. But
what II you did love Nancy yesterday?
You love Anne today"
"A woman can't understand" said the
man. with tone of fnality.
"Only a woman can understand" con-
fradicted Betty "You are dangerously
fascinating to women. know that, and
I'm one OF your keenest critics.
He WINGED under her cool words but
the girls face gave no Indication that
her meaning lay deeper than the sur
face.
''You know perfectly well that I was
crazy about Nancy last fall,' he said
presently. "You are my closest and nyost
confidential friend and have been since
we were kiddies. l told you everything .
You were fond of her; / knew that"
Abe girl said understandingy.
1--WE weren't engaged or-or-anythfng
pilSe that" he said, but er-er-''
II understand Betty said sympathetic
ally, but II that's the case, why re-
proach yourself?"
"well-Anne somehow Just sort of came
along Billy Bunting continued in an
apologize tone. "and she just somehow
bowled me over. 1t wasn't anything that
Nancy had said or done. but still at the