The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-01-05
a thrilling mystery story about a
man who lost his courage and the
girl who helped him to find again

was outraged.
''If you're sleepy"
| Don't be silly. love having you.
sat up late last night, reading. ]
wonder what you think of this: One
of the characters in the book I was
reading says that every man who
who cares for a woman leaves his mark
on herw
"Every mani How many men are
supposed to care for woman, any
howw
swell, there's the boy who-likes her
when they're both young"
A bit of innocent mischief this, but
Joe Strengthened.
"Then they both outgrow that fool
ishness. After that there are usually
two rivals, and she marries one of
them-that's three. And"
'Why do they always outgrow that
foolishnessT His voice was unsteady.
"Oh, I don't know. Ones ideas
change"
Sidney was fairly vibrant with the
zest of living. Sitting on the steps of
the little brick house, her busy mind
was carrying her on to where, beyond
the Street, with its dingy lamps and
blossoming ailanthus, lay the world
that was one day to lie to her hand.
Not ambition called her, but life.
The boy was different. Where her
deeds, great ambitions, wide charity,
he planned years with her, selfish, con-
tented years. AS different as SNUG, sat
isfed summer from visionary, palpitat-
ing spring, he was for her-but she
was for all the world.
By shifting his position his lips
came close to her bare young arm. 1t
tempted him.
'Don't read that nonsense" he said,
his eyes on the arm. "And-I'll never
outgrow my foolishness about you, Sid
ney."
Then, because he could not help it,
he bent over and kissed her arm.
She was just eighteen, and Joe's de-
votion was very pleasant. She thrilled
to the touch of his lips on her flesh
bur she drew her arm away.
please don't like that sort of
thing"
"Why notY" His voice was husky.
'It isn't right. Besides, the neigh
bors are always looking out of the win
dows."
The drop from her high standard of
right and wrong to the neighbors' Curl
osity appealed suddenly to her sense
of humor. She threw back her head
and laughed. He Joined her, after an
moment. But he was
very much in earnest. He sat, bent |
forward, turning his new straw hat in |
his hands.
II thought, perhaps" said Joe, grow
ing red and white, and talking to the |
hat, "that some day, when we're older,
you-you might be willing to marry |
me, Sid. I'd be awfully good to you"
1t hurt her to say no. Indeed, she
could not bring herself to say it. In all
ler short life she had never willfully
Inflicted a wound. And because she
was young, and did not realize that
here is a short cruelty, like the sur
yeon's, that is mercy in the end, she
"There is such lot Of time before
We need think Of such thingsI Can't
We just go on the way we are?"
I'm not very happy the way we
are.'
"Why, Joew
She leaned over and put tender
land on his arm.
81 don't want to hurt you; but, Joe,
don't want to be engaged yet. I don't
want to think about marrying. There's
such a lot to do in the world first.
There's such lot to see and be-"
"Where?" he demanded bitterly.
Here on this Street? Do you want
nore time. to pull hastings for your
1other? Or to slave for your Aunt
Harriet? Or to run up and down
tairs, carrying towels to roomers?
larry me and let me take care of ,
ou."
Once again her dangerous sense Of ,
umor threatened her. He looked so !
oyish, sitting there with the moon ,
ght on his bright hair, so inadequate !
, carry out his magnificent offer. Two :
r three of the star blossoms from the ,
zee had fallen on his head. She lifted :
hem carefully away.
LET me take care of myself for @
lille. I've never lived my own life.
GU know what I mean. I'm not I'M 4
Apply; but / want to do something.
nd some day I shall-not anything s
Ig; know can't do that-but some t.
ling useful. Then, after years and b
ears, If you still want me, I'll come
aek to you" "
He drew long breath and got up.
IL the joy had gone out Of the sum- y
er night for him, poor lad. He Il
anced down the Street, where Pal O.
er Howe had gone home happily with
Idney's friend Christine. Palmer Ia
ould always know how he stood with
hristine. But Sidney was not like II
at. A fellow did not even caress her N
lsily. When he had only kissed her is
m He trembled little at the N
emory.
II shall always want yoL," he said. =
)nly-you will never come back n
= 4 L. !