The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1917-09-06

Jim considered himself girl-proof.
Yet on the evening Of the annual
outing of the Republican club Jim was
destined to meet his fate. The day
had passed along rather uneventfully;
he had managed to secure good seat
on the trip to the island, and haV-
ing once reached the boat landing he
had fastened to the beach and had
spent the entire day in bathing suit.
But when the big excursion boat start
ed on its return trip Jim began to feel
the STRINGS of vain misgivings.
A big silver moon hung over the
water, faint breeze rippled through
the waving hair of three girls sitting
near him, and from the shadows came
the sound of soft voices. For time
Jim sat in the low Of the boat with
his bachelor friends and tried to per-
suade himself that his pipe was all
that he needed to make the evening q
perfect one. But his honest heart told
him that he was deceiving himself,
that what he wanted was girl with
laughing eyes and jest or two on her
lips. He arose restlessly ard started
to walk toward the stern. In every
conceivable nook he could glimpse
dark figures, sitting surprisingly close
and making surprisingly little noise.
They awoke in Jim vague memories OF
other nights when he, too, had sat in
the shadows.
But suddenly, from q little nook ct
the end of one Of the small passage
ways, came the sound of. sob. Jim
stood still and listened. It came again,
girls sob, expressing misery such as
only youth can know. Jim turned and
made his way into the shadows, find
ing in the very farthest corner Of the
niche the huddled figure Of a. girl.
There was something vaguely falnil-
lar about her, and jim hesitated O
moment before addressing her. But
another stifled sob caused him to touch
her lightly on the shoulder. us there
anything I con DOT" he asked.
The girl raised her head and turned
tear-stained face toward him. And
then Jim received a shock. It was
Mary Foster. Gone was the proud
toss of her head, gone the supercili-
Gus stare Of her big blue eyes. She
looked very much like helpless child,
and Jim's heart went out to her.
.I'm Jim Higgins" he announced.
saint there something I can do?"
Mary's eyes opened just little
wider. -
care you the boy across the street?''
she asked. " H.
Jim's heart leaped just bit at her
words. He had had no idea that she
knew him from Adam.
eyes," he said, II live across the
street. Now tell me what's the mat
ter?'
The girl half turned on the straight
backed chair and wiped her eyes.
Nothing very much," she answered.
II came to the outing with Jerry Ly-
ons and he wanted me to come here
and talk with him, and wouldn't, and
so he went away"
'And you want me to get him
agHin?"
A hint of the Mary Foster of old
was manifested in the girls sudden
chHnge Of manner.
mo, I wouldn't have him back for
a hundred dollars" she exclaimed. II
never want to see him again."
"Then how are you going to get
homer"
Mary looked at Jim helplessly.
II don't know"
Jim exercised his prerogative as one
Of the stronger sex.
~ know how you're going to get
home" he announced. Tin going to
take YOU"
Mary's hand grasped his arm i'm
fnlsive]y "Oh, do you mind?"
II should say didn't mind" Jim's
whole body thrilled at that trusting
clasp of Mary's hand. "Supposing we
take,~a ~ walk.
The girl hesitated.
my eyes are wet and wouldn't
want people to see me-" she answered.
"Would you mind just sitting here2'
Jim assured her earnestly that he
wouldn't mind at oil, and so the girl
moved over slightly and they both sat
on the chair that was made only for
one. One silver moonbeam rested fair
~ on Mary's brown hair. Jim's fingers
touched it lingeringly. There was
something about Mary which was
different from any girl lie had ever
known.
He liked the blue of her eyes and
the proud way she carried her head!
MARY" he said softly, you're one
OF the prettiest girls I've ever SEEN"
Which all goes to show that good
deal in life depends upon ones point
- ~~Q~