The midland journal., 1917-01-12
a thrilling mystery story about a
man who lost his courage and the
girl lwho heLpedhhn to JnadH again


was outraged.
SH you're sleepy"
'rDon't be silly. love having you.
! sat up late last night, reading. I
wonder what You think Of this: One
of the characters in the book ! was
reading says that every man who
who cares for q woman leaves his mark
on her!"
'sEvery mani How many men are
supposed to care for a woman, any
howw
"Well, there's the boy who-likes her
when they're both young"
A bit Of innocent mischief this, but
Joe Strengthened.
''Then they both outgrow that fool
ishness. After that there are usually
two rivals, and she marries one Of
them-that'S three. And"
| "Why do they always outgrow that
IfoolishnessY His voice was unsteady.
"Oh, / don't know. Ones ideas
change"
| Sidney was fairly vibrant with the
zest of living. Sitting on the steps Of
the little brick house, her busy mind
was carrying her on to where, beyond
the Street, with its dingy lamps and
blossoming ailanthuS, lay the world
that was one day to lie to her hand.
Not ambition called her, but life.
| The boy was different. Where her
future lay visualized before her, heroic
deeds, great ambitions, wide charity,
he planned years with her, selfish, con-
tented years. As different as SNUG, sat-
fsfied summer from visionary, palpitat-
ing spring, he was for her-but she
was for all the world.
BY shifting his position his lips
came close to her bare young arm. It
tempted him.
''Don't read that nonsense" he said,
his eyes on the arm. aAnd-Tll never
outgrOw my foolishness about you, Sid
ney."
Then. because he could not help it,
he bent over and kissed her arm.
She was just eighteen. and JOe's de-
vOtion was very pleasant. She thrilled
to the touch Of his lips on her flesh !;
but she drew her arm away.
''Please-I don't like that sort Of
thing"
"Why not2" His voice was husky.
sit isn't right. Besides, the neigh
bors are always looking out of the win
| dOwS."
The drop from her high standard Of
right and wrong to the neighbors' Curl
osity appealed suddenly to her sense
of humOr. She threw back her head
and laughed. He joined her, after an
uncomfortable moment. But he was
very much in earnest. He sat, bent
forward, turning his new straw hat in
his hands.
81 thought, perhaps" said Joe, grow
ing red and white, and talking to the
hat, shat some day, when we're older,
you-you might be willing to marry
me, Sid. I'd be awfully good to you"
1t hurt her to say no. Indeed, she
could not bring herself to say 1t. In all
her short life she had never willfuIIy
inflicted wound. And because she
was young. and did not realize that
there Is a short cruelty. like the sur
geon's, that is mercy in the end, she
temporized.
'sThere Is such a lot of time before
we need think Of such thfngsl Can't
we just go ON the way we are9"
"rm not very happy the way we
are"
"Why, Joer'
She leaned over and put a tender
hand on his arm.
II don't want to hurt you: but, Joe,
don't want to be engaged yet. don't
want to think about marrying. There's
such lot to do in the world first.
There's such lot to see and be-"
"Where?" he demanded bitterly.
"Here on this Street? Do you want
more time to pull hastings for your
mOtherr Or to slave for your Aunt
Harriet2 Or to run up and down
stairs, carrying towels to roomers?
Marry me and let me take care of
you."
| Once again her dangerous sense Of
humOr threatened her. He looked so
bOyish, sitting there with the moon
light on his bright hair, so inadequate
to carry out his magnificent offer. Two
or three Of the star blossoms from the
tree had fallen on his head. She lifted
them carefully away.
'Let me take care of myself for a
while. I've never lived my own life.
You know what / mean. I'm not un-
happy; but want to do something.
And some day shall-not anything
big; know l can't do that-but some
thing useful. Then, after years and
years, If you still want me, I'll come
back to you"
He drew long breath and got up.
ALI the joy had gone out of the sum-
mer night for him, poor lad. He
glanced down the Street, where Pal
mer Howe had gone home happily with
Sidney's friend Christine. Palmer
would always know how he stood with