Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-08-20
R0BERTA'S HEART
BY JACK LAYTON.

1919 WSbIeF NcWSPaPeH OhAOA.l
Roberta's heart was broken. AT
Aeast, that is what she tod herself, as
she sat reading for the seventh time,
Harold Lathrop's letter. To have an
engagement ended because of some
jealous misunderstanding, would not
have been half so bad, but 70 be told
in cold blood that the adored one had
ceased to care, this was sorrow and
humiliation complete.
WED better eau it off," was the sue
cinct expression of Harold, ''all you
care about is the convenience of rid
ing around in my car, sometimes you
scarcely look at me, and anyway
there's a girl That was the better
part of it-another girl.
Critically "Bobbie" examined her
own piquant face in the mirror. What
she saw there could not have been dis
couraging, for dimples flashed out to
mock at the tears in her eyes.
"n," she soliloquized, Il could only
make him sorry" Then in sudden in
SEPARATION she jumped to her feet.
"The very thing" she murmured,
and began a search for a last Sun
days paper. Yes, there it was, the pic
ture of a society girl in company with
the handsome aviator who had taken
her aloft in his machine. Perhaps If
Bobbie could find that airman and per-
suade him to announce her name as
his next daring passenger, Harold
Lathrop might realize that broken
heart can drive q girl to reckless
lengths.
1t was not at all difficult to find the
aviator, but more difficult to win him
20 her purpose. Though deferential to
a degree, the br0ad-shouldered man of
nerve. was stubbornly insistent upon
having the consent Of Roberta's father
before taking her up in his flight
through the air. And this consent Ro-
berta knew to be beyond the possibili-
ties. Courteous In his refusal Mr..
Coverly, took time to show the girl the
ing her thereafter through the yards.
But Bobbie was not convinced Of fail
ure. Indeed, now that she had seen
the strong face of the flyer, had sensed
the calm power of his personality, fear
departed from the planned adventure,
leaving a new and delightful antici-
patton. She must go. How wonder
full to be sailing on through the clouds,
high above the turmoil Of the city, ST.
lently like flying bird, and with that
firm hand upon the WHEEL
Again Bobbie sought the man as he
fingered about the airplare. His up
ward glance at her appearance was
surely not one of annoyance.
"0hl please" begged the girl, in
brief eloquence.
For one moment Coverly hesitated,
and was lost.
For many days Bobbie went about
with the appearance of a guilty child
enjoying some hidden sugar plum, but
her name as an air passenger, did not
appear in the paper. 1t was only in
the silence of the night that she had
time to remember her broken heart
Upon one of the occasions, in the &C.
elusion of her room, she drew toward
her pen and paper. To what purpose
was the long flight through the air,
If Harold knew not of its daring. She
must tell him and warn him also of
the proposed longer fly she was still
to take Then no doubt, in remorse
he would come back, back, to beg her
for his sake, to risk no more the life
that had been to him so precious. But
someway, as BObbie paused, the pathetic
picture failed to bring the usual tears.
Instead her truant thoughts flew be-
fore her to the yards where the air
ship lay, and to that serious Drowned
face which never seemed to tire of its
study.
What was 1t he had said last eve
ming of going to aid his country? And
how valuable would his service be?
That steady thinking mind, his brav-
eryl Bobbie sighed as she penned the
note.
Dear Harold:
Tomorrow afternoon am taking a
dangerous fight in an airplane over
West End Park. accept your decree
that our rather hasty engagement
should end. Enclosed find ring-Ro-
berta."
And when she had sealed the letter
and the ring, with praiseworthy inter-
est for the possessor of i broken heart,
Tlahkta iaI ha,. ~
upon the following afternoon Mr.. Har-
old Lathrop presented himself at his
former sweetheart's home. When Ro-
berta's mother learned the cause of
the lovers return, her anxiety was
greater than her accusations.
The poor desperate child" she
moened, 1--WE must find her at once.
West End Park, did you say? Take
me m your car Immediately, Harold.
Oh, that we may be in time"
Two very white-faced people has
tened across the broad stretch of land
leading to the waters edge. No ascent
had been made that day, an officer In.
formed them. Mr.. Coverly was ex.
pected to return shortly, would they
waltz
So, in the car close to the roadway
mother and false lover waited. Soon
they were rewarded and relieved by
the sight Of small approaching car
At the side of a mans uniformed fig
ure sat Bobbie laughing and glowing
why. mother" she greeted. "Why
mother-and Haroldp
Robe<ta's mother was at her side In
an instant Promise me. DEAR" she
entreated, "that you viii not take thi;
foolish trip"
And Bobbie kissed her. Il won't,
she said; 'Mr Coverly and were mar
ried az hour ago; he is leaving tonight
In his eountry's service"