The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-02-01
4 CHANGE OF MIND
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

II love you!"
I'm sorry, Hart. I'm afraid I've
known it, but it was too late TOTO do
anything. I'm sorry, oh, so sorry.
Can't we be JUST very good friends
as we've always been?'
He moved restlessly. "That's the
trouble. lin just u person you've
grown used to and now you can't as
sociate me with love. If I'd come
along stranger and gone at it right
I believe l could have won you. Like
Clark Latshaw," he added.
"Hart!"
I'm right more or less" recklessly.
you've been a different person since
he came and maybe you don't know 1t,
little girl, but I said good-by to my
chances after / saw his valet and
French car
you're saying horrid things-things
you've no right to say. think we'd
better 60 back"
Forgive ME, Aleen. I'm brute.
It's all right, little girl. Forget what
I've said and forgive if you can. I
want you to be happy, that's sure.
Only remember this, Aleen, if you ever
need me I'm ready for a home run ev.
cry time. Promise!"
II promise on one condition."
"Yes?"
'"That you'll do the same!"
"A man never needs help from q
woman"
HE may. Promise any way. Re
member you're my best friend, Hart"
"Al right. l promise"
A few days later Aleen was return.
ing from the lake to open the city
house for the family. With her on the
Pullman was Clark Latshaw, who
found that he was suddenly called to
New York on the same day.
Aleen had worried about Hart, and
his remark about Clark had set her
. thinking. Could it be possible that
she did care for his money?
But an hour of conversation on the
train opened her eyes and it brought
relief. mo, it's not his money I like"
she decided, cts his mind. I'd no
idea he knew so much and could talk
Of so many things"
So she banished dull care and SET
tied herself to enjoy the rest of the
ride.
Clark was calling her attention to
cloud effect around mountain
peak, like fluffy white plumes around
purple-cocked hat, when the door of
the stateroom at the end of car opened
and they heard baby cry.
A quick frOwn of annoyance crossed
Clark's face. II wish they'd shut that
door," he said, as the wailing kept up
and showed no signs of diminishing.
"Poor little thing!" Aleen couldn't
aelp saying. 1T sounds like just a
little bit of thing. 1 imagine it's
lard travelling with babies!"
And then appeared the tiny offender
N the arms of a very red and wild.
OOking man.
"Hart!" cried Aleen in sympathetic
surprise, while q smile of ANNOYED
amusement appeared on Clark's face.
Hart did not see them ut first, but
started to pace the aisle With the fran
:lc air of u person who, having done
all he can with the head, throws rea-
son to the winds and uses his feet in.
stead.
"Of all fool things!" declared Clark.
Let him alone. Why doesn't he take
t buck and shut the door? Where's
is mother?"
Il think it's his sisters baby. It's
very new and I can't understand I"
puzzled Aleen.
The cries were coming nearer. Aleen
sprang up and met the disturbers in
he aisle on their return trip.
Give me the baby, Hart" she com.
minded.
mo. thank you. I'll not trouble YOU"
ne said. Clark's disappearing, half.
hooking face nettled him, and it stung
aim to see them together.
She held out her arms. "But you
promised" she reminded him sweetly.
He thought an instant. "There are
times man needs woman's help"
came back to him. He dumped the
crying bundle of pink and white into
her arms with relief.
ITS sisters youngstcr. She's sick
and they're sending the baby to spe-
:ialist for something or other. Just
At train time his nurse had somebody
lie and she couldn't come. There was
nobody but me to bring him, so /
Jumped in and came but don't know
much about babies. lists awfully
good of you.''
Aleen in the instant before she took
the baby had a comprehensive glimpse
Of the two men. Hart-big, boyish.
awkward and tousled and smelling
strongly of sour milk, but with it all
tenderness and pity in his face for
the little mite he held; Clark-im.