Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-12-21

Then they both outgrow that foo
ishness. After that there are usual
two rivals, and she marries one q
them-that's three. And"
why do they always outgrow tina
foolishness?" His voice was unsteady
"Oh, l don't know. Ones idea
change"
Sidney was fairly vibrant with tn
zest of living. Sitting on the steps O
the little brick house, her busy MINI
was carrying her on to where, beyont
the Street, with its dingy lamps ant
poisoning ailanthus, lay the worlt
that was one day to lie to her hand
Not ambition called her, but life.
The boy was different. Where he
future lay visualized before her, heroi,
deeds, great ambitions, wide charity
he planned years with her, selfish, con
tented years. AS different as SNUG, sat
ls1ed summer from visionary, palpitat
ing spring, he was for her-but SHE
was for all the world.
By shifting his position his lips
came close to her bare young arm. II
tempted him.
Don't read that nonsense" he said
his eyes on the arm. "And-Ill never
outgrow my foolishness about you, Sid.
ney."
Then, because he could not help it,
he bent over and kissed her arm.
She was just eighteen, and Joe's de-
votion was very pleasant. She thrilled
to the touch of his lips on her flesh !;
but she drew her arm away.
"Please-I don't like that sort of
thing"
why not?" His voice was husky.
1T isn't right. Besides, the neigh
bors are always looking out of the win
doWS,"
The drop from her high standard of
right and wrong to the n~eighbors' curl
oslty appealed suddenly to her sense
OF humor. She threw back her head
and laughed. He Joined her, after an
uncomfortable moment. But he was
very much in earnest. He sat, bent
forward, turning his new straw hat in
his hands.
Il thought, perhaps" said Joe, grow
ing red and white, and talking to the
hat, shat some day, when we're older.
might be willing to marry
me, Sid. I'd be awfully good to you"
1t hurt her to say no. Indeed, she
could not bring herself to say it. In all
Ter Short life she had never willfully
inflicted a wound. And because she
was young, and did not realize that
here is a short cruelty, like the sur
seon's, that is mercy in the end, she
emporized.
There is such a lot of time before
We need think of such things! Can't
We just go on the way we are?"
I'm not very happy the way we
lre."
why, joel"
She leaned over and put a tender
Iand on his arm.
i don't want to hurt you; but, Joe.
don't want to be engaged yet. l don't
'ant to think about marrying. There's
UGH a lot to do in the world first.
here's such d lot to see and be-"
Where" he demanded bitterly.
Here on this Street? Do you want
lore time to pull hastings for your
lother? Or to slave for your Aunt
Harriet? Or to run up and down
tairs, carrying towels to roomers?
me and let me take care of |
Ou."
once again her dangerous sense of
umor threatened her. He looked SC
oyish, sitting there with the moon
ght on his bright hair, so Inadequate
carry out his magnificent offer. Two
: three of the star blossoms from the
zee had fallen on his head. She lifted
lem carefully away.
LET me take care of myself for a
nile. I've never lived my own life.
gu know what l near. I'm not IN
lppy; but l want to do something,
nd some day I shall-not anything J
l know l can't do that-hut some
ing useful. Then, after years and :
'ars, II you still want me, I'll come 1
to you"
drew a long breath and got nm
j the JOY had gone out of the sum- 6
night for him, poor lad. He V
lnced down the Street, where Pal I
er Howe had gone home happily with Y
dney's friend Christine. Palmer 7
'uid always know how he stood with |
lristine. But Sidney was not like t
A fellow did not ever caress her h
silly. When he had only kissed her h
M He trembled a little at the v
emory. c
I shall always want you," he said.
'nly-you will never come back" Y
1t had not occurred to either of them s.
this coming back, so tragically e
lsidered, was depending on an en- ii
problematical going away. Moth W
that early summer night, seemed IL
re unlikely than that Sidney would 81
be free to live her own life. The
'eet, stretching away to the north al
1 to the south In two lines of houses b,
It seemed to meet in the distance. al
nmed her In. She had been born in In
little brick house, and, as she was
i, so 1t was of her. Her hands had w
oothed and painted the pine floors: Ia
hands had put UP the Irvine on VI
lch the morning-glories In the yard
cred the fences had, indeed, with
agonies Of Stacking lime and add cI
blueing, whitewashed the fence IT. w,
She's capable" Aunt Harriet had al
mblingly admitted, watching from Of
sewing machine Sidney's strong m,
~