The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-06-27
the old, old STORY
BY EARL REED S!LyERS.

Spring whispered q few magic words
to the heart of Dennis McCarty, and
Dennis straightway conceived sudden
longing for the companionship of Let
tie Kellogg. Lettie was the only girl
Dennis McCarty knew. And so Den
MS ran a rOugh-tOOthed comb through
a shock of curly Blond hair, and be-
took himself in the direction of Let
ties home.
1t takes all kinds of people to make
up world, including the patriot who
gets married in order to escape mill
tary duty, and so the KellOggs and the
Gordons lived in happy ignorance of
one another. But spring plays strange
FRANKS upon the heart of youth; and
al the very moment when Dennis Nc
Carly set sail for the Kellogg tene-
ment, Percival Gordon 1eaped into his
high-powered limousine and directed
his car toward the mansion of Lor-
raine Pennington.
Dennis noticed him as he turned into
the exclusive Parkway drive and
promptly forgot all about him. Plod-
ding his way down California street,
on the far end of which Lettie lived,
Dennis had other things to think
about.
Miraculously, Lettie was sitting on
the small front porch when Dennis
reached her home.
"You're looking fine tonight" Den
mis- remarked. How'd you like to take
walk up the driver
Lettie assured him that she would
like it very much. Arm in arm they
strolled down the dimly lighted street,
turned into Parkway drive and made
their slow way in the direction of the
lake. 1t was a silent walk for the
most part. Having found Lettie, Den
mis- didn't know exactly what to say to
her. Strange dreams encOmpassed
him; dreams which to do with buying
furniture on the installment plan, with
giving Lettie his weekly pay envelope,
and with returning home from work at
night to find Lettie in the kitchen, her
face flushed and her lips framing a
welcome.
He experienced q sudden desire to
tell Lettie something about it, but
somehow his tongue Glove to the roof
of his mouth whenever he attempted
it. They came finally to the end of
the drive. A single path wendell it's
way among the shadows along the
shore Of the lake. They both stopped.
"ShaI we go on?" Dennis asked.
eyes, let's"
They went on. The path was hardly
broad enough for two and so it was
necessary for Dennis to hold his COM
panion's arm more tightly than ever.
But Lettie smiled at him when he
helped her over a particularly difficult
spot, and, taking courage, Dennis
the girls slim waist. Then he held his
breath.
Nothing happened. Lettie's head
dropped ever SO slightly toward Den
ued. From somewhere upon the lake
came the sound of merry laughter, and
Dennis snatched his arm away as if it
had been stung by a bee.
They came to a bench which was
nestled among some bushes at the very
edge of the water. Actuated by the
same purpose, they both stopped.
Shall we sit DOWN. Dennis asked.
eyes, let's"
They sat down. Dennis permitted his
arm to hang gracefully over the back
of the bench, and Lettie sat demurely
at his side, her hands in her lap, her
eyes gazing out into the blackness of
the water. Nonchalantly Dennis picked
up one Of Lettie's chubby hands and
examined it critically.
"Gee!' he remarked. you've got
pretty hands,"
"They amt any different from any
other hands, are theyY
eyes; they're nice and SOFT"
Gall girls are"
''No, they amt"
Lettie sat up suddenly.
''How do you know?' she demanded
Dennis REDEEMED.
'T-I don't know much about it," he
explained, "but my sisters hands amt
like yours, and neither is my moth.
er's.''
There was a silence. Then:
Gee, it's a great night, amt it,"
"Just grand"
Fol Of FIR,
n.y."
"What do you mean, sort OF
funny?"
"Well, I don't know" A pause. "Gee,
14ettie, you got nice hands,"
Like 'em?"
Eyes"
Suddenly, from out of the darkness
of the lake, canoe glided almost
noiselessly and bumped against the
bank directly beneath where Lettie
and Dennis were sitting. Lettie moved
little farther away, and both strained
their eyes for a glimpse of the two fig.
ures sitting in the canoe. They could
see nothing, but presently a mans
voice pierced the silence.
you've got the most beautiful hands
I've ever seen," it said. 81 just love to
touch them.'
aren't they the same as any other
girls? a soft voice questioned.
II don't know anything about any
other girls hands, but I do know that
yours are the most beautiful in the
world"