Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-09-28
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::STORY MINUS PLOT.
BY LOUISE OLIVER.


languOrOuS, moonlight night In mid
summer, a night ON which hearts in
stinctively seek q mate and linger long
ingly.
BERTHE Patton on the Fords' front
porch, swinging slowly In the green
willow seat, shifted uneasily when he
heard the town clock strike the half
hour. He knew that the lights In the
parlor chandelier now filtering through
a graceful pattern on Roses round
cheek would snap out In somewhat less
than five minutes. Ten-thirty was
Papa FOrds 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 aboutr
why, the time I've been here this
evening, of course"
"Oh! I'm glad you've enjoyed it."
swell, 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
a fight you may as well go. l hear
papa, anyway"
BERTHE was instantly contrite. SIX
cuse me. l didn't mean ii, 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 l think I'll go TO bed. l
wonder If Bert would mind staying a
little longer. l sort of hate to close
up the house till papa comes. I 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.
"Yes. 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
a cigarette.
mice. isn't it?" he remarked.
"What?"
"Just to be here" He had thought
of casually, quite accidentally, laying
hand on hers as 1t 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.
'Tm going"
Excuse me-"
"That's all right. Thanks for ask
ing me anyway"
81 thought there was plenty of time
two weeks"
81 promised a week ago."
81 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. Til bet a it
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-you're Jealous"
distinguished Good night Just
because he's mustached like Magyar
and wears glasses and lives In New
York.
Bert Patton, you're horrid! think
I'd better 20 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 PattOnl"
"Yes, I do, Rose. adore you. Clear
crazy about you. You don't care about
that New York fellow. do you?"
IL don't know. Papa seems to like
him. That's what hes here for. Papa
wanted somebody reliable for a good
place ne has open. and Mr.. Dixon came
to see about it,"
Lucky dog" sighed BERTHE. The
question of INCOME had been the one
that doomed big In his dreams Of hap
piness.
But you Rose? Oh, say. Rose, be
my girl, won't you? Can't you say
sOu-lo7e me? / love you!"
II don't know. You see, papa"
Suddenly horn sounded and a car
stopped at the curb.
"There's papa now! Rose sprang
up.
Mr.. Ford came up the path slowly
limping, and the car slid away.
"Oh, that you, Rosie? Waited I'D,
did you? That's nice girl. And Bert
Patton? Well. l declare! Mamma In
bed? Don't tell her. We had an acct
dent No, not much hurt-just my
foot, but we might have been killed,
all of us. 1t was that young ass, DIX
on. out Joy riding. ran into us, the
foo, Catch me giving a good job to
a scatterbrain like that. Don't have
him around again. Rosie. don't like
him. Come in now. grille. It's late.
Say goodnight to Bert!"
IL wonder" said BERTHE that night