The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1917-02-24
By SADIE OLCOTT

She won the game. and we proceeded
to the next. l had gained nothing by
my attempt to introduce q love scrtm-
mage and had given her a love game
We each made the same number Of
points and Phil cried:
Deuce"
"That's like a GIRL" l said. "On0
moment you call me love and the next
devil"
"I've called you neitherF'
She made a point and said. "VAn-
tagew
"It's all advantage with GIRL" re-
marked. "She can call a fellow love
and not mean 1t, whereas If the fellow
does any spooning he's held to a strict
accountability"
That's only when he's a desirable
parti"
She enforced the words with a ball
that hit me in the face
'I have made no such pretense."
Whether it was the sting OF her
words or OF the miserable little globe,
there was some asperity in my dis
claimer.
"Who accused you of making pre-
tense?"
Though | was endeavoring TO turn
the subject from the game to some
thing very near my heart, | could not
seriously accuse her. so | made no
reply.
"That's the end of the set" she said
Shall we play another?"
"I'd much rather sit by the fire."
She tossed her racket on the table
and, going to the fireplace, stood be
fore it, rubbing her hands as If they
were cold. They were not, as / soon
learned She knew what was coming,
and it ratified her a bit. Rather, 7
should say, she hoped for what was
coming. had worked up to the decla-
ration point a number Of times and
stuck there. It's one thing to tell a
girl you love her when she has been
struck by lightning and falls into your
arms in a critical condition; it is quite
another to do the deed In cold blood.
at any lalS' hy choI 70 hhd ul DCcn
failures.
"Why did you intimate" asked, 60
ing to her and leaning against the man
tel over the fireplace, that / am not a
desirable parti?"
81 didn't"
Stuck again.
looked through the window at the
snow piling up in drifts. If one finds
task difficult under certain circum-
stances he thinks 1t would be easier
under other circumstances. / was In a
comfortable room with a cheerful open
fire before me- but | thought | could
get out what wanted to say out in the
snow.
Lets go out and SNOWFALL" | said.
She looked disappointed, but acceded
to my request. She donned a warm
jacket and a woven hood. and we sal
lied forth.
"You stand there" ! said. III stand
here. You throw the first ball at me-"
How / was to make proposal while
pelting her | didn't know. hoped
something would turn up to help me.
1t did, but Phillis turned it up; didn't
Phil made a SNOWFALL and threw it at
me- / lodged 1t. / threw one at Phil
It went wide Of the mark She hit me
on the chin. Omething-perhaps II
was the sting-put an extra amount Of
force into my arm as threw the next
ball. / couldn't see that it had hit her,
but she put her hands to her eye and
sank down on the cold snow with IN
moan. / ran to her.
. "Phillis, dearl Sweetheart! Forgive
me! am a beast to have hurt youT
1 pulled away her hands, and she
looked at me with inexpressible sweet
ness. I kissed the wounded eye.
Now, that eye should have been
either infamed or cold or snow wet
1t was neither. A few bits Of snow
were on her shoulder. The SNOWFALL I
had thrown was squashed against the
fence directly behind her.
"Phillis. dear, let US go back to the
library"
I supported her into the house, and
we stood again before the fire
"Oh, PhiIlisr' I exclaimed. Suppose
[ had daFkened that dear eye foreverp
She shuddered
"If / had / should have devoted my
life to you. Would you have let meT'
"Yes, Bob"
l drew the sofa before the fire, re-
moved her wrap, and we sat down to
the happiest hour Of my life. The deed
was done
There should be a school for maidens
who are troubled with balky lovers.
They should be instructed to collapse.
and cOIlapsible methods should be Civ
EN- them.