The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-09-06
CHAPTER v.
Mr.. Parohsr and Love.

~. fAhJh len, tuut uuuhppy
" gentleman. having been driv-
en- indoors from bis own
porch, had attempted to read
''Plutarch's Lives" In the library; but,
owing to the adjacency Of the porch
and the summer necessity for open
windows. his escape spared only his
eyes and not his suffering ears. The
house was small. being but half Of Q
double one. with small rooms, and the
''parlor." library and dining room all
about equally exposed to tho porch
which run along the side Of the house.
Mr.. Parcher had no refuge except
bed or the kitchen. and as he was
troubled with chronic insomnia, and
the cook had callers In the kitchen, his
case was desperate. Most unfortu-
nately. too. his reading lamp. the only
one In the house. was a fixture near a
window, and Just beyond that window
sat Miss Pratt aud William In sweet
Inconsistencies, while Miss Parcher
entertained the overflow, consisting Of
Mr.. Johnnie Watson. at the other end
Of the porch.
Listening perforce to the converse
ton Of the former couple. he found 1t
impossible to sit still In his chair.
Sometimes he gasped. and other times
he moaned a little.
"Oh, cute umsv' came the silvery
voice OF Miss Pratt from the likewise
silvery porch outside, underneath the
summer moon. 'Darlin' Flopit, look !
Ickle boy Baxter goin' make limitations
Of darlin' Flopit again. See! Ickle boy
Baxter puts head one side. then other
side, just like darlin' Flopit. then banks
just like darlin' Flopit! Ladies and
'entlemen. limitations Of darlin' Flopit
by ickle boy Baxter"
"Berp- werp! Berp-werpr' came the
voice OF William Sylvanus Baxter.
And In the library "Plutarch's LIVES
moved convulsively. while with with
ing lips Mr.. Parcher muttered to him
self
more. morer' cried Miss Pratt, clap
ping her hands. do It again. ickle
boy Baxter!"
"Berp-werp! p-werp-werp!"
"WOrdr' muttered Mr.. Parcher.
Miss Pratt's voice became surcharged
with honeyed wonder. "How did he
learn such marv'lous, marvlous imita-
tons Of darlin' Flopitf He ought to
actor, oughtn't he. darlin' Flopit? He
could make milyums and milyums Of
dollarlies. couldn't he. darlin' F1opitY
Williams modest laugh 6isclaimed
any great ambition for himself In this
line. "Oh, I always could think up
limitations OF animals. things like that,
but | hardly would care toto adop
the stage for a career. Would-yOur
There was a thrill In his voice when
he pronounced the ineffably significant
word "you."
Its my dreamr' she said
William. seated upon n stool at her
feet. gazed up at the amber head d.
vinely splashed by the rain of moon
light. The fire with which she spoke
stirred him as few things had ever
stirred him. He knew she had just re-
vealed side of herself which she re-
served for only the chosen few who
We're capable OF understanding her,
and he fell into blissful rapture.
1T was wonderful Of you to say that
TO me-" he said. ~ shall never for
get it,
It's my dream" Miss Pratt exclaim-
ed again. with the same enthusiasm.
Its my dreamr'
you would make glorious &C.
tress" he said.
At that her mood changed. She
laughed laugh like a sweet little
girls laugh mot James, and. setting
her rocking chair In motion. cuddled
the fuzzy white doglet I'm her arms
tickle boy Baxter t'yin' fatterbox us.
tunnin' Flopit! No'ty, no'ty hatter-
boxr'
"No. no." William insisted earnestly.
II mean II. But-but"-
"But whatcumsT"
What do you think about actors and
actresses making love to each other
On the stage? DO you think they have
10 really feel II. or do they just pre-
cndi"
WELL" said Miss Pratt welchtily.
sometimes one way. sometimes the
other"
Williams gravity became more and
more profound. ayes, but how can
they pretend like thatY Don't you
think love is u sacred thing. Cousin
Lolai"
Fictitious sisterships, brotherships
and couslnships are devices TO push
things along well known TO seventeen
and even more udvanI ed ages. On the
wonderful evening of their h,st meet
ing William aud Miss Pratt had cozily
arranged TO be called respectively
"lckle boy Baxter" and Cousin Lola"
Thus they had broken down the tedi-
GUS formalites Of their first twenty
minutes together
Don't you think love is sacredr' he
repeated in his deepest tone.
"Ess." said Miss Pratt
II do!- william was emphatic. Il
think love. Is the most sacred thing