Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1917-03-22
I'm SORRY"
BY EARL REED sILvERs.

and was generally more practical than
occasion demanded. He was also stub
born.
"You did do It," Althea answered. II
saw you out walking with Irene Fen
wick last night. You went by this
house."
"But didn't. 1 was in the office
last night"
II don't believe you" she snapped.
II saw you with my own eyes,"
swell, if you don't believe me, It
isn't my fault"
They were both young and these
temporary tits had come to be week
ly occurrence. Neither took them very
seriously, although on this special &C.
casiOn Althea seemed to be more angry
than usual. But Bob accepted her at
titude phllosophically.
Lets go to the MOVIES" he sug-
gested.
mo, ] won't go anywhere until you
say you're sorry"
But Althea, can't be sorry for
something didn't do. Won't you be
reasonable?"
"Very we'll" She spoke calmly, but
with decision. I'm going in the
house."
"What can we do in there2" He stlll
failed to take her seriously.
1--WE can't do anything" she an
swered, emphasizing the personal pro-
noun. "But have a book to read"
"Tll read too" He spoke lightly.
''The movies aren't any good, anyhow"
"Are you going to say you're sorry?'
"Nope." He lighted a cigarette.
"Well, then" she spoke slowly. I'm
afraid that I'll have to say goodnight"
GAN right, We'll both say it." He
smiled whimslcally. But what shall we
say 1t TOT"
ITO each other" She held out her
hand. Goodnight, Bob"
Goodnight, Althea"
He expected her to laugh and change
the subject. But she didn't; instead,
she turned abruptly and entered the
house. Bob, rather puzzled, waited
until the cigarette had burned to the
smallest possible stub. Then he walk
| ed over to the window of the library
and peered inside. Althea was no.
where to be seen. Slightly resentful,
| he pursed his lips and whistled softly.
But she did not answer the signal {;
all was silent. Suddenly growing an
cry, he stamped across the porch and
down the steps, lingering at the gate
in the faint hope that she would call
him back. But no summons came.
Head held high, cheeks flushed angrily,
he made his way homeward.
He thought that she might possibly
telephone him the next forenoon, but
in this he was also mistaken. Althea
seemed to be very much in earnest in
her resolution.
Finally he told his stenographer that
he was through for the day and left
| the office.
"a round or two of golf will fix me
up finely" he said to himself. II need
little diversion"
At the Country club he was unable
to find anyone to play with him, so he
started off alone. The links were de-
serted except for one lone figure that
lowered near the third hole. 1t was n
girl, and she looked vaguely familiar.
After Bob had reached the second hole
he discovered that it was Althea. His
heart beat a trifie more quickly.
"She plays much more slowly than
do" he said. 'Tn probably catch her
near the fifth hole"
But the girl had evidently seen him,
for she followed the ball with unneces-
sary swiftness, and Bob, lolling along
in the rear, did not materially decrease
the gap between them.
'If she only weren't so stubborn" he
unused, 1--WE could play the round to-
gether."
At the seventh hole she sliced into
the rough, and had difficulty in finding
the ball. Bob was only about 100 yards
away when she resumed playing, and
he was forced to wait until she was the
full two strokes ahead.
She sliced again at the eighth tee,
sending the ball into the rough far to
the left. Bob, taking this oppOrtu-
nifty to Ego through" hurried to the tee
and drove hastily. But the ball, in
generally did when Bob was driving,
sliced to the left. In n remarkably d.
rect line, it scared for the exact spot
where Althea was standing.
''Fore!"
Bob put all the strength of his lusty
lungs into the call. The girl looked up,
and attempted to dodge, but it was too
late. The ball struck a stone in front
of her and bounded swiftly, striking
her just above the knee.
"Oh" she said, and bent down to
nurse the injured leg.
Bob ran forward at full speed. She
looked at him half resentfully.
"Althea," he said, "Tm sorry. didn't
think for n moment that would slice
in this direction,
Suddenly her face broke into smiles.