Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-25

Jack Springer is coming in tonight
remarked the young woman casually
as she and her father left the dinner
table
"Wen, don't let him keep you up all
night, What time was it when he
left here the other EVENING"
'Oh, just little after IL"
st guess it was nearer IL. don't
see any sense in his staying so late,
Bertha. When I was a young blade
never hung around till H.
but papa, you lived in a country
town, where you didn't have more
than a ten minutes walk to see any
girl in the place. When a man comes
all the way here from Evanston think
he ought
Ought to get started home before
11.30 If he wishes to get down to bus
mess at a decent time the next morn
ing. I tell you what, Bertha, my dear
child, / think I've been too eemplacent
about your SWANS. I don't believe
I've chaperoned you as carefully as I
get rid of your callers before II o'clock,
I'm going to shoe them off myself"
He headed for his den.
won't you come in to see Jack ?''
asked Bertha following him,
mo: not tonight. I've got a brief
to write"
But you might spare just a few
minutes for Jack
It don't f1atter myself that young
Springer calls here to see me, Bertha, -
laughed Downs. and he opened his
desk with a strong hint of finality
Springer was in the midst of a
thrilling account of the basket ball
game he had played in the previous
night. when the cathedral chimes of
the mantel clock announced 1915.
Springer appeared obliVious to the
d
Of desire to have him say good night
before her father should appear in
wrath.
You must be pretty tired after such
a strenuous game last night" she said.
mot a bit of it. It's basket ball
that keeps me in such good condition.
1t was l that got the fellows to pro-
long the season. We are going to play
until we can begin tennis. 1 wanted to
tell you how one of those roughnecl1s
We were playing against-why, what
made you jump? Are you nervous,
Berth %
at was nothing. 1 thought I heard
something. At this time of night every
sound seems SO loud in a fat"
'FWhy, it's not late, is it? No; see
it's not quite II vet. But maybe you're
tired of this old basket ball. You see,
I'm so interested in our team that /
think everybody else is. I was aw-
I
Yes, [ was sorry 1 wasn't there. I
L" She again heard the same sound
that had caused her to jump before.
Her father was calling her, but his
voice was nearly drowned in the
chimes of the clock which were sing
ing out IL
1Well, guess I'd better go. I don't
believe you're feeling we'll tonight -
Springer rose and looked at Bertha a
little anxfously. She rose also, quick
ly, for fear he would sink back in his
chair.
ITO tell the truth, Tn not quite my
usual self tonight. But it's nothing.
Don't worry, Jack. I'll be all right in
the morning"
"Bertha!' The voice was louder now
and more insistent, but Bertha made
no answer. She stood trembling in the
hall while Springer slid into his over
voat, and she laughed meaninglessly
when he said good night, and hoped
she wasn't going to be i'll.
The street door had scarcely closed
when her father stepped forth in his
dressing gown.
Didn't you hear me calling you %
he demanded.
yes. papa, heard you''
well why didn't you answer"
''Why. why, I was going to you in a
minute"
"'But wanted to speak to you before
Jack left. I wanted you to play him
that new record I bought yesterday
the Servian folk song, you know I
think he would have liked it. I'm
sorry he's gone without hearing it."
"Why, papa, I thought you were call