Gilpin observer., 1915-07-15

did not pretend to disguise Dolf's
pre-eminence in the lists of love. He
gave him freely the right of way now.
He absorbed the conversation with
Larry, and left the two to gaze into
each others eyes, only Dolfs gaze
persistently wandered to the nearing
island with look of strange abstrac-
tion.
And when they had beached the
boat and strolled up the little sandy
path to the bungalow, Gwen walked
beside him slowly, confidingly, yet
Flick smiled behind them and
laughed at Larrys jokes without re-
gret.
1t appeared when they reached the
board veranda that Joan had met
Dolf before, oh, long ago, down in
dear old Richmond. Dolf stared at
beside her on the railing and dallied
with her mess of wet. clammy star
fish that she was trying to straighten
out to dry in the sun. And when she
had fretted him awhile, she took Flick
away from Gwen with one long side
long glance from her hazel eyes, and
went for beach tramp.
Il didn't know you had met Joan
before. Dolf." Gwen said imperson-
ally. Larry thinks the world of
her"
Joan is an epidemic" Dolf an
swered morosely. She swept through
our whole team when we went South
to play the Virginias They set her
in front of US to dazzle our eyes, and
pitched grounders for three days. A
fellow never exactly forgets girl
like that. you know, any more than
he does a good big bump in the road
that he hits and tumbles over. It's
what you'd call infatuation, l sup
pose" He stumbled on. regardless of
the steady. measuring glance Of
Ovens eyes. But it isn't real love.
tell you, when a fellow does find
the real thing he knows the imita-
ton"
Yet Gwen gazed musingly at the
two figures circling the island shore.
They kept very near to each other.
bending over to search for shells
among the driftwood and seaweed at
the hightide mark. Then, as II he had
caught her wireless, Flick raised him
self and looked back at her to wave
his hand.
What a really resolute. manly sort
of boy Mr. Habbeton is," she said.
Larry was telling me how good he
was to him all the year. He's very
unselfish, think. You can almost
| see by his face what sort of q man
he is. can't your"
Flick has very open face" re-
piled Dolf guardedly. He seems to
be catching the epidemic all right"
"Oh, don't know. don't think
he would be just satisfied with q
Irritation somehow. He seems deeper
than that. He told me that girls just
seemed to represent certain abstract
qualities to him. He thinks that &C.
counts for the momentary attraction.
don't you know"
"Wait till Joan finishes with him."
Dolf hinted darkly. You can see it
starting up now."
It was the end of the weeks visit,
a gorgeous night when the whole sea
| seemed gun-metal tint, and a big
| orange-colored moon came up to turn
it golden. Gwen sat pensively watch
ing a ship full rigged pass in sill
houette across the path of gold. 1t
was dark on the veranda. She sat in
the shadow OF the vines and saw
Joan and Flick-no, it wasn't Flick.
1t was too short 'and chunky for
Flick; 1t was Dolf himself. They came
out of the living room. and it looked
as If Joan were being pursued. At
the railing she stopped and backed
against 1t.
"Dolf Cramer. you ought to be
ashamed Of yourself. Let me alone"
Il won't" said Dolf. doggedly.
I've stood this as long as I'm going
to. Am l to stand around helpless
and let a cub like Flick Habbeton
walk of with the only girl l ever
loved right under my nose?"
Flick doesn't care for me that
way" Joan replied softly. "He's
simply wild over Gwen"
Gwen started to move, but hand
closed over hers from behind, and
she felt Flick's presence. The ship
had passed out of the golden path
now, but every uncurling ripple on
the beach was gilded.
"You do care, don't you. Joan"
begged Dolf. desperately. "Remem-
Der the old times back at Richmond?
How many times did propose to
you them"
Every hour" laughed Joan. III
Flick had one hundredth part OF your
courage, Dolf. Gwen would never have
wavered."
Around Ovens shoulders stole
Flick's disengaged arm, and she did
not draw her hand away when he
found II.
He hasn't talked of anything else
aver since I came" Joan went on.