Saint Mary's beacon., 1916-08-24
ALLIES

1t all began the day Eleanor Belle
turned to Robin, casual 0nlooker at
the tennis court, and said sweetly:
wont You play in this set with me,
Mr.. Deanf I'm afraid to ask, I'm
horrid player; but"
Robin had not allowed her to fin
ish. In his haste to accept. He flushed
consciously as he answered: THANK
you, very much, Miss Belle. I'd be
very much honored indeed TO play
with you"
And that is the way 1t began, for up
to that minute Robin had regarded
Eleanor Belle as an unapproachable
planet Of the upper heavens, with a
group Of satellites all her own, who
far surpassed him In brilliance and
age.
Craig Halsted and Mary Lone. on the
other side Of the net, nodded under
standlngly to one another. "Nelrs
caught another fish," whispered Craig.
But after all that wasn't the real be-
ginning either. That happened years
before one day when Robin was six
years old and Betty Wright was three.
That day friendly collie dog had
knocked Betty down and In sheer ex-
uberance Of spirits was kissing her all
over her little face when Robin came
along ON roller skates and bravely
gave the tormentor a whack with a
stick and drove him away.
Betty and Robin had grown up
chums, fighting each others battles,
sharing each others Joys. triumphing
In each others victories.
Even now, Robin flushed with con-
scious pride as he thought of Betty.
perhaps Miss Belle will let me walk
home with her and we will pass Bets
home. Won't she be surprised, though,
to see me cumming with such a
queenl"
He did walk home with Eleanor, and
they did pass BETS" house, but so
complete was his infatuation that he
didn't sec his old chum waving at him
from side porch swing.
When he Ind left Eleanor at her
eF ae vent back to Betty's, stepping
on clouds instead OF the pavement.
This time he saw his chum On the
swing.
"HelIo, Beti"
"Hello, Robi What's up between
you and Nellie BELIEF You looked as
thick as thieves going along min
ute ago." a.
"oh, we played tennis together, and
I thought I'd better take her home"
"she's older than you, Rob-"
"Not muchl Besides It doesn't make
any difference. It's all In the way you
act"
Betty was silent.
In the days that followed Robin lived
in happy haze Of unreality and
dreams. Eleanor was kind, too kind
for his peace OF mind, and she al.
lowed him to call. But he found some
Of the satellites around when he went,
That was NO fun and he rather guessed
they were making sport Of him any
way. So, knowing the power OF ridi-
cule, he stayed away and had TO con
tent himself with the telephone, notes
and messages in boxes Of candy and
flowers.
He found a willing ally In Betty, to
whom he took all his troubles. She
managed his campaign to perfection.
and kept him posted as to the golngs
and comings Of his rivals and planned
opportunities for him to meet the OBJ
ject OF his dreams.
you're a brick, Bet What on
earth would / do without your de.
clared Robin one day.
"oh, youll get along all right some
day when things get settled and you
and Eleanor are married"
Married |" he cried. do you think
she-oh, Bet, do you think she cares
for me? But really I've never actu-
ally told her that loved her."
"WeIl, why don't your You've known
her good while. and you are rich
enough to support her and you always
say age doesn't make any difference.
Why don't you tell her that you love
her? Faint heart--you know"
II believe win. Bet, this very night,
II none OF those fools is hanging
around. Say, Betty" In sudden panic,
how do you propose 20 a girlf'
She laughed. II can make your candy
and do your shopping and arrange your
meetings, but can't do your propos-
Ing. Everyone seems TO have his own
way" deinurely.
How do you known
"0h, / knowi"
why, how many proposals have you
had to talk sol" In the tone OF pat
ronizing big brother.
"Well--there's one, two, three"
counting on her fingers, -four. i've
this summer. Not so badp
Betty / didn't dream you were
such a fiirt. When has this been GO
Ing ont This doesn't sound like you.
My old chuml You" anxious
haven't accepted any OF them. have
your"
"Tm not saying"
'But-why, Betty, what would do
IL you got marriedT
would 1t make any difference2 /
cOutu SUN heip you. EleanOf could
come
Darn EIeanorl It's you I'm worry
Ing about, Betty. / don't want you
to get married. their eyes met and
held-''to anybody but me-" he fin
ished. tits you love. Betty--no one
else. I've just found II out. but It's
true. Look here. dear, you aren't
really engaged, are your
"Not precisely" she laughed. Then
added: Eleanor Is going to marry
Craig after Christmas. but don't tell
It's a secret"
Copyright. 1915, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per SYncicate.l
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grouble IN the sanctum.
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