The Lamar register., 1914-12-30
WHO WAS THE GOAT?
BY DOROTHY BLAckMoRE.


1t will keep fresh for days" said Dor
Inc Fable as she pinned marigold
on the coat lapel OF young Doctor
Hanscom
I'm do 1t and you1l see me wear
1t home every night while it lives.
replied the doctor. And for good be-
havior perhaps you1l do me the hon
or OF pinning on another
Dorine nodded. Her dimples played
about her mouth when she smiled and
the sight OF them had become a very
Interesting part OF Doctor Hanscom's
summer sojourn at the Laketon hotel.
He was young veterinary surgeon
and his office and visiting hours were
not long. SO that he had had the adyan-
tage over many OF the summer men at
the hotel by getting home early. And
1t seemed almost as If Dorine waited
for him on the tennis court or on the
yeranda.
Several times on the suburban train
that took him to the city he thought
d the girls face as she had reached
up to put the little flower OF his coat
That evening while he was at din
ncr Dorine came into the dining room
with her mother. and they both wore
automobile costumes.
Dorine gave him her usual bright
smile and nod and then her eyes fell
OH his coat lapel. which was guiltless
of adornment- A slight flush burned
her cheeks and after that she gave
him only cursory glances. and when
he asked her to walk with him as he
passed her In the corridor she de.
clined almost frigidly.
For three days he did not have
conversation with her. He saw her
across the dining room with her IA
Their mother and brother, and he re-
ceiyed each time a cool little nod
from Dorine. 1t was Saturday night
at the weekly dance that he deter
mined To talk with her
He waited for her at the big dou-
BILE door leading into the ballroom.
He had fully decided to force her to
listen to him. As she came down
stairs, lovely In white dancing dress.
he met her face to face
This has been our dance all sum.
mer. Dorine. Have It with me now"
He put his arm about her and they
stepped of together in the hesitation
waltz they had learned to dance SO
well as partners
When the dance was over he led
her out through the French windows
that opened onto a secluded yeranda.
Sit down" Joe said, drawing up q
chair. Himself, he sat on the railing
facing her
Now" he began. what is the mat
teri Why have you deliberately
avoided me for days." lie paused.
Il know-it was because you thought
/ was careless about your flower
that had forgotten IT."
You were-you did" said Dorine
with asperity. And l know very we'll
why 1t was"
"Dorine-" began Joe. but she ia
terrupted him.
"Wait-let me tell you! Let me
| show you that | realize all about it
before you tell me your excuse" She
1 laid emphasis on the last word
'George-my brother-told me when
he saw me pinning it on you that you
| would never be seen wearing a vel.
| low hower-that it was the emblem
of the suffragist! So you let some
one ridicule you out of It, | did not
lin it on you because OF my views
on this woman question-though they
are very strongly in favor OF it-but
because l was beginning lowell. to
like you, and ! always give father
and George buttonhole bouquet when
they leave in the morning. II was
very foolish to do it," she said.
"Dorine Fable. listen to me-" the
| young man said. earnestly. This
sounds so funny I can hardly tell YOU
though l assure you 1t isn't funny
to me. The morning you gave ma
that flower l was called out to the
estate of Mr., Phillips to see what was
the matter with the foot OF very
ine goat. While | was looking at its
foot the animal chewed my flower OF
and the stable man who was with US
Ioared with laughter. II you doubt
this l will show you the withered
stem still pinned TO the under side OF
my coat lapel. had not out it in va.