The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1917-12-01
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
sssToRY MINUS PLOT.
sy LOUISE OLIVER.
- . p p . . = . .

II was half.past ten on q dreamy.
dangerous, moonlight night In mid.
summer, n night on which hearts In
stinctively seek mate and linser long.
ingly.
Berthe Patton on the Toras' 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 altering through
the finely webbed curtains and tracing
4 graceful pattern on Roses round
cheek would snap out in somewhat less
than i've minutes. Ten-thirty was
Papa Ford's hour. Never had Rose
looked so adorable, never had parting
seemed cruel. BERTHE sighed.
swell, Rosie. guess I'll have to go.
Time seems awfully short"
"What time are you talking aboutT
"Why, the time I've been here this
evening, of course" ,
'Ohi I'm glad you've enjoyed It."
swell. haven't your"
"M-yes. It's been very pleasant"
-Pleasant! You talk AZ though
you'd been at sewing society"
"say, BERTHE. II you're trying to pick
a fight you may as well 60. I hear
papa, anyway"
Berthe was instantly contrite. "Ex-
cuse me, didn't mean 1t, Rose"
There was a step In the vestibule.
But 1t was Roses mother this time
who called.
uun,a ,nur n.oo ,.vont mt With thA
Relnemans In their new car and hasn't
come home yet. My head isn't any
better 10 think I'll 20 to bed.
wonder II Bert would mind staying a
little longer. 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. -
"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 OF and there was
quiet. ecstatic peace.
Bert wondered II he could possibly
he awake, To test reality. he lighted
a cigarette.
"Nice. isn't It'll" he remarked.
"Whatf"
"Just to be here" He had thought
Of casually, quite accidentally. laying
hand on hers as 1t lay beQde him in
the darkness. but he lost c6urage.
"Say. Rose. do you want to 20 to
the stepamore club picnicr he sup
plemented instead.
tim going" ,e
Excuse me-"
'sThat's all right. Thanks for ask
ing me anyway"
II thought there was plenty Of time
two weeks"
II promised week ago"
n hadn't an idea there were %
many worshipers at your shrine"
'That's not polite. Besides there
aren't 30 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 IT.
ney!"
"Don't call him that Dixon Hes
been awfully nice to me-"
"why, he's old-too old for ycu,
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 horridl 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 your He pulled her gently to-
ward him. She yielded finally and sat
+, down. He slipped an arm boldly
around her.
''Rosie, dear. love your
"Why, Bert Pattoni"
'Yes, I do, Rose. adore you. Clear
crazy about you. You don't care about
that New York fellow, do your
II don't know. Papa seems to like
him. That's what he's here for. Papa
wanted somebody reliable for q good
place he has open, and Mr.. Dixon can't
to see about It,"
Lucky dog!" sighed Berthe.
'But you, Rosef Oh. say. Rose. Be
my girl. won't your Can't you say
you-love me? l love youi"
II don't know. You see, papa"
Suddenly horn sounded and car
stopped at the curb.
There's papa nowi Rose sprang
mp.
Mr.. Ford came up the path slowly
llmping. and the car slid away.
'AOh, that you, Rosie1 Waited up.
did your That's nice girl. And Bert
Patton? Well. I declared Mamma In
bedr Don't tell her. We had an acci-