Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-09-06
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ssSTORY MINUS PLOT
- IA
N BY LOUISE OLIVER. IA
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BY LOUISE OLIVER.


| SUMMER, d hight on winch hearts III
stinctively seek a 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
the finely webbed curtains and tracing
a graceful pattern on Roses round
cheek would snap out in somewhat less
than five minutes. Ten-thirty was
Papa Ford's 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 about?
"Why, the time I've been here this
evening, of course"
ooh! I'm glad you've enjoyed it."
swell, haven't your
"M-yes. It's been very pleasant"
pheasant! You talk as though
you'd been at sewing society"
"Say, BERTHE, if you're trying to pick
fight you may as we'll 60. / hear
papa, anyway"
BERTHE was instantly contrite. 'Ex-
cuse' me, didn't mean it, Rose"
There was a step in the vestibule
But it 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 I think I'll go to bed. I
wonder if Bert would mind staying
little longer. I 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.
eyes, I'll stay, Mrs. Ford. Don't
you worry
And Rose supplemented: "You may
as we'll 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.
"Nice, isn't it?'' he remarked.
"What?"
"Just to be here" He had thought
of casually, quite accidentally, laying
a hand on hers as it 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"
II promised week ago"
81 hadn't an idea there were so
many Sworshipers 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 jit-
ney"
'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 go in and look after mamma,
anyway. Good night"
He caught her hand in both of his.
"Rose, Rosie, dear, don't 60. 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, I love your
"Why, Bert Patton!"
eyes, I do, Rose. adore you. Clear
crazy about you. You don't care about
that New York fellow, do you?"
ST don't know. Papa seems to like
him. That's what he's here for. Papa
wanted somebody reliable for good
place he has open, and Mr.. Dixon came
to see about it,
LUCKY dog!' sighed BERTHE.
'But you, Rose? Oh, say, Rose, be
my girl, won't you? Can't you say
you-love me? I love you"
81 don't know. You see, papa
Suddenly a horn sounded and 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.
ooh, that you, Rosie? Waited up,
did you? That's nice girl. And Bert
Patton? Well, declare! Mamma In
bed? Don't tell her. We had an acct
dent. No, not much hurt-just my