The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-08-17
I.D0N'T.CARE GIRL
BY EARL REED SIIVERS.

Jim Nicholas stood on the porch OF
the Country club, his eyes following
the figures of Margaret Randolph and
Dick Willever as they merged into the
darkness of what was known as
Lovers lane. He watched them I'M
til they disappeared into the shadows.
and then, with sigh, he turned and
made his way to the swinging couch.
The porch was deserted. From with
In the club came the sound of soft mu-
sic The orchestra was playing Keep
Your Eyes on the Girlie You Love"
"Wen,"- Jim thought to himself
rather bitterly, chats Just what have
been doing, but when the girl you love
takes a moonlight walk with another
fellow, it's better not to have eyes"
Only the day before he had told Mar
garet that life without her would be
hardly worth the living.
"Marguret," he had said suddenly,
IL love you"
She had looked at him for a moment
with startled eyes and then the peal of
her hearty laughter had sounded dis
cordant with the silence of the evening.
"Jim" she had said you don't mean
vt, surely? Not your"
"NVhy not me?' he had answered re-
sentfully and ungrammatically.
@'But jim, why do you love me?" she
had questioned.
"Because I do" he had answered sui
lenly. Don't you care at allY"
I'm known as the I-dont-care
girl,'~ she had replied; land, to tell
the truth, Jim, don't know now
whether ! care or not"
SIS ii because of someone elsew he
had persisted.
perhaps it is" she had answered.
'Two years ago. when Dick Willever
went to New York to get rich and
famous he asked me If I would wait
for him, and / told him that / would.
1t wasn't exactly promise, but 1t was
half promise-and tomorrow night
Dick Isl coming to the dance at the
Country club"
"And you think, maybe, that you care
for hima'
Maybe do but tomorrow I'll know,
and then I'll give you your answer"
Jim Lad gone home directly after
that Tie had somehow managed to
live through day of mingled doubt
and mystery, but in the evening when
he had called at Margaret's home in
his runabout the girl had met him with
n smile in her eyes. She had acted as
II there was not d care or a trouble in
The world.
Jim had danced the first waltz with
I, 4
made his appearance and had led her
OFF through the shadows of Lovers
lane. 1t seemed to Jim as If they would
never return.
o~-aav,ay ne esp1ed them walking
slowly up the lane He noticed with
sigh of relief, that they were walking
farther apart than the occasion de-
manded,
Jim arose as they approached the
porch and offered his arm to Margaret.
With brief nod at Dick, she accepted
the proffered arm and accompanied her
escort into the club. Jim led the way
to the swinging seat on the porch.
"Wellw he said questioningly.
"Well, what?"
"You said that you would give me
your answer after you had seen Dick
again. You've seen him. haven't you?"
Eyes, he's rather good-looking, isn't
he?" she parted.
Hes very good-looking," he an
swered honestly. "a blame sight more
so than | am"
"Well," Margaret remarked noncom-
mittingly. "There are looks, and then
there are looks"
Jim glanced at her quizzically, but
her face was impassive.
az don't think it's quite fair to be
putting me off like this" he said.
"Surely my question deserves an an
swer."
For a moment the girl was silent /;
then she turned impulsively toward
her companion.
"Do you know what Dick and l were
talking about during our romantic
walk?" she asked.
"Of course not"
ave were discussing another girl"
"What other girl?'
'The one he is going to marry"
"Whatl" Jim's heart broke the
''Yes," Maragret continued calmly
"He told me that Glenwood had grown
provincial to him since his experiences
in New York. and that this town and
the people in ii were not quite the kind
he is accustomed to-"
what about his promise to your"
"He had forgotten all about it,"
For a moment Jim was silent; Their
he ventured glance at the girl beside
him. The old I-don't-care look was In
her eyes.
what do you think about It'll" be
asked.
Margaret tossed her head contempt
uously In the irresistible manner which
had first attracted Jim.
"Oh," she answered evenly, Il don
care"
She tried to glance away, but Jim