Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-11-17


II have done anything nef vUrce
was a-tingle with virtue and outraged
friendship.
you haven't done anything but
show me where get off,"
He sat down on the edge Of the bal
cony and stared out blankly.
III that's the way you feel about
It"
I'm not blaming you. I was fool
to think you'd ever care about me.
I don't know that feel so bad-about
the thing. I've been around seeing
some other girls, and I notice they're
glad to see me, and treat me right,
too" There was boyish bravado in
his voice. But what makes me sick
Is to have everyone saying you've. jilt.
ed me-"
"Good gracious! Why, Joe, I never
promised"
swell, we look at It in different
ways; that's all. took 1t for prom.
ise."
Then suddenly all his carefully con.
served indifference fed. He bent for.
ward quickly, and, catching her hand
held 1t against his lips.
I'm crazy about you, Sidney. That's
the truth. wish could die!"
The cat, finding no active antago-
nism, sprang up on the balcony and
rubbed against the boys quiverlng
shoulders; a breath Of air stroked tho
morning-glory vine like the touch of a
friendly hand. Sidney, facing for the
first time the enigma Of love and de-
spair, sat, rather frightened, in her
chair.
"You don't mean thatw
II mean 1t, all right. If 1t wasn't
for the folks, I'd jump in the river. I
lied when l said I'd been to see other
girls. What do I want with other
girls7 I want your
"This is wild, silly talk. You'll be
sorry tomorrow" :
"It's the truth" 6oggedly.
But he made clutch ut his self
respect. He was acting like a crazy
boy, and he was man, all Of twenty.
twOi
when are you going to the kospi.
tall" :
Tomorrow"
us that Wilson's hospital?"
"Yes."
Alas for his resolye! The red haze
OF Jealousy came again. you'll be see
Ing him every day, l suppose"
II dare say. / shall also be seeing
twenty or thirty other doctors, and
hundred or so men patients not 20
mention visitors. Joe, you're not ra.
ional."
NO" he said heavily, "Tm not. If
It's got to be someone, Sidney, I'd
rather have 1t the roomer upstairs
than Wilson. There's lot Of talk
about Wilson"
1T isn't necessary to malign my
friends"
He rose.
"Wilson had better look out. I'll be
watching. II l see him playing any
of his tricks around you-well, he'd
better look QUIT"
That, as 1t turned out, was Joe's .
farewell. BE had reached the break.
ing-point. He gave her long look,
blinked, and walked rapidly out to the
Street Some Of the dignity of his
retreat was lost by the fact that the
cat followed him, close at his heels.
Sidney was hurt greatly troubled.
She even shed tear or two, very
surreptltiously; and then, being human J
and much upset, and the cat startling
her by its sudden return, she sho0ed
II of the veranda and set an imaginary
dog after 1t. Whereupon, feeling some
what better, she went In and locked
The balcony window and proceeded up
stairs.
lie Moyne's light was still going. The
rest OF the household slept. She
paused outside the door.
Are you sleepyT'-very softly.
There was movement inside, the
sound Of book put down. Then: mo,
indeed"
II may not see you In the morning.
i leave tomorrow"
"Just minute"
From the sounds, she judged that
he was putting on his shabby gray
coat. The next moment he had opened
the door and stepped out into the cor.
ridor.
IL believe you had forgottenr
III Certainly not. I started down.
stairs a while ago, but you had visl.
tor"
"Only Joe Drummond."
He gazed down ut her quizzically.
"And-ls Joe more rcasonabler
He will be. lie knows that II
that I shall not marry him."
poor chapl He'll buck up, OF
course. But It's little hard Just now.
When TO you leavef"
Just after breakfast"
II am going very early. Perhaps"
He hcsitated. Then. hurriedly:
Il got a little present for you-noth.
Ing much, but your mother was quite
willing. In fact, we bought II to-
gether."
He went bnck into hIa rom md rc. II