Courier Democrat., 1917-11-08

fOunQatlOn IN TACT lie was SaClSuCu tnat
no rival farewell poem would be offer
ed her. and so it may be that he
thought "In Dream" might show her
at last in one blaze Of light what her
eyes had sometimes heetingly intimat-
ed she did perceive in part-the diff
ference between William and such ev-
eryday. rather we'll meaning, fairly
good hearted people as Joe Bullitt
Wallace Banks. Johnnie Watson and
others. Yes, when she came to read
"In Dream" and to "look back upon it
all' she would surely know-at last!
And then. when the future four long
years-while receiving his education
had passed he would go to her He
would go to her. and she would take
him by the hand and lead him to her
father and say. Father. this is Will
iam." :,
But William would turn to her, and,
with the cd dancing light in his eyes,
"No, Lola" he would say, mot Will
liam, but lckle Boy Baxter. Always
and always just that for you, oh, my
dear"
And then, as in story and film and
farce and the pleasanter kinds of
drama, her father would say, with
kindly raillery, "Well, when you two
young people get through you'll find
me in the library, where have a
pretty good business proposition to
lay before, you, young man."
And when the white waistcoated,
white sideburned old man had. chuck
ling, left the room William would slow
ly lift his arms. But Lola would move
back from him step-only a step
and after laying finger archly upon
her lips to check him, "Wait, SIR" she
would say. II have a question to ask
you, SIR
What question, Lola?"
This question, SIR" she would re.
ply: "In all that summer, sir, so long
ago, why did you never tell me what
you We're until | had gone away and
it was too late to show you what l
felt? Ah, lcllle Boy Baxter l never
understood until l looked back upon it
all after had read In Dream on the
train that day! Then 1 k1,eao!"
And now, Lola?" William would say
"Do you understand me noao9"
Shyly she would advance the one
short step she had put between them
While he, with lifted. yearning arms
this time destined to no disappoint.
ment-
AT so vital moment did Mrs. Bax
"er knock at his door and consoline
reverie cease to minister unto William
He started, placed the sacred box Out
of sight and spoke gruff1y.
"What you want?"
I'm not coming in, Willie," said his
mother. II just wanted to know
thought maybe you were looking out
Of the window and noticed where those
children went-Jane and that little gir
from across the street-Kirsted, hel
name must be-
"No; l did not"
II just wondered" Mrs. Baxter said
timidly. Genesis thinks he heard the
little Kirsted girl telling Jane she had
plenty Of money for car fare. He
thinks they went somewhere on q
street car. 1 thought maybe you 10.
ticed wheth'-
II told you did not.'
Call right" she said placatively. 81
didn't mean to bother you, dear"
Following this there was silence
but no sound of receding footsteps in.
dicated Mrs. Baxter's departure from
the other side of the closed door.
"Well, what you want?" William
shouted
"Nothing-nothing at all,' said the
compassionate voice. 'I just thought
I'd have lunch little later than usual
not till half past THAT is, if-well, !
thought probably you meant to go to
the station to see Miss Pratt off on the
O'Clock train.''
:How'd you find out she's going at
o'c2ock?'
"Why-why, Jane mentioned it,
Mrs. Baxter replied, with obvious
timidity. "Jane said"-
She was interrupted by the loud, des,
perate sound Of Williams fist smiting
his writing table, so sensitive was his
condition. This is just unbearable!
he cried. "Nobody's business is safe
from that child!"
'Why, Willie, don't see how it mat
ters IT,
He uttered cry. "No! Nothing
matters! Nothing matters at all! Do
you s'pose | want that child, with her
insults, discussing when Miss Pratt is
Or is not going away? Don't you know
there are some things that have no
business to be talked about by every
Tom. Dick and Harry?"
"Yes, dear" she said. II understand,
of course Jane only told me she met
Mr., Parcher on the street, and he men,
toned that Miss Pratt was going at /
o'clock today. That's all I'--
"You say you understand" he wall.
ed, shaking his head drearily at the
closed door, "and yet, even on such a
day as this, you keep talking! Can't
you sec sometimes there's times when
fAarann nArtt OF M &nppl1.