The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-10-01
I'M IA IA m m IA IA m IN IA n ezMat
ssSTORY MINUS PLOT
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nm n m M na n N IA n n VI
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

heard the town clock strike the hal
hour. He knew that the lights In thu
parlor chandelier now filtering through
the finely webbed curtains and tracing
a graceful pattern OH Roses rount
cheek would snap out in somewhat les
than five minutes. Ten-thirty was
Papa Ford's hour. Never had Rose
looked so adorable, never had parting
seemed cruel. BERTHE sighed.
"Well, Rosie, guess I'll have to go
Time seems awfully short"
what time are you talking about
"Why, the time I've been here this
evening, Of course"
"Oh! I'm glad you've enjoyed it."
"Well, haven't your"
"M-yes. It's been very pleasant"
pleasant! You talk as though
you'd been at sewing society,""
SAY, BERTHE, if you're trying to pick
fight you may as well go. l hear
papa, anyway"
BERTHE was instantly contrite. Eek
cuse me, didn't mean 1t, Rose"
There was step in the vestibule.
But 1t was Roses mother this time
who called.
Rose, your papa went out with the
Reinemans in their new car and hasn't
come home yet. My head isn't any
better, so I think I'll go to bed. l
wonder If Bert would mind staying a
little longer. I sort of hate to close
up the house till papa comes. don't
think he'll be late"
Oh, ecstasy! oh, blessed words !!
BERTHE longed to kiss the hem of her
gown. He cleared his throat man.
fully.
Eyes, I'll stay, Mrs. Ford. Don't
you worry"
And Rose supplemented: you may
as well turn out the lights mamma.
They seem TO hurt my eyes"
The lights went off and there was
quiet, ecstatic peace.
Bert wondered If he could possibly
be awake, To test reality, he lighted
q cigarette.
"Nice, isn't it?" he remarked.
"What?"
"Just to be here" He had thought
of casually, quite accidentally laying
a hand on hers as it lay beside him In
the darkness, but he lost courage.
"Say, Rose, do you want to go to
the Stepamore club picnic?' he sup
plemented instead.
I'm going"
Excuse me-"
That's all right. Thanks for ask
ing me anyway"
II thought there was plenty of time
two weeks"
II promised a week ago.
II hadn't an idea there were so
many worshipers at your shrine"
"That's not polite. Besides there |
aren't so many dozen that you can't |
count. I'm going with the same per-
son to both, If that's what you're dying |
to find out"
''That-that Dixon, I'll bet a jit-
neyw
Don't call him that Dixon He's
been awfully nice to me-"
"Why. he's old--too old for you,
Rose"
HE isn't-he just looks distin-
guished, and you're-youre jealous"
distinguished Good night Just
because he's mustached like a Magyar
and wears glasses and lives in New
York"
Bert Patton, you're horrid l think
I'd better go in and look after mamma,
anyway. Good night"
He caught her hand in both of his.
"Rose, Rosie, dear, don't go. Sit down,
won't you?" He pulled her gently to-
ward him. She yielded finally and sat
down. He slipped an arm boldly
around her.
"Rosie, dear, love you!" ,
"Why Bert Patton!"
"Yes, I do, Rose. I adore you. Clear
crazy about you. You don't care about
that New York fellow, do your"
81 don't know. Papa seems to like :
him. That's what he's here for. Papa q
wanted somebody reliable for a good r
place he has open, and Mr.. Dixon came {
to see about it."
Lucky dog" sighed BERTHE. i
But you, Rose? Oh, say, Rose, be 7
ny girl, won't you? Can't you say q
Vou-love me? / love you!"
II don't know. You see, papa"
Suddenly a horn sounded and car u
stopped at the curb. r
"There's papa now! Rose sprang {
lp. u
Mr.. Ford came, up the path slowly Z
imping, and the car slid away.
"Oh, that you, Rosie? Waited up, :
lid you? That's nice girl. And Bert
'atton? Well, | declare! Mamma in n
ed? Don't tell her. We had an acci-
ent. No, not much hurt-just my
DOT. but we might have been killed,
IL of us. 1t was that young ass, Dix
n, out joy riding, ran into us, the
DOL Catch me giving good job TO
scatterbrain like that. Don't have
i'm around again, Rosie. / don't like r
I'm. Come in now, grille. It's late.
ay goodnight TO Bertl'
Il wonder" said BERTHE that night ca
s he stepped blithely homeward fo
trough the darkness. "if / just W
ouldn't lasso the particular star l sat
nder tonight and wear il on my lapel.
UGH luck T.
Sometimes there is a story without
plof rrr