The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-22
ROBERTA'S HEART
BY JACK LAYTON.


Roberta's heart was broken. Al
least, that is what she told herself, a.
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 to 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-snother 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.
IF" she soliloquised, II could only
make him sorry" Then in sudden In
spivation she jumped to her feet.
THE very thing" she murmured,
and began a search for a last Sun
days paper. Yes, there II was, the pic
ture of society girl in company with
the handsome aviator who had taken
her aloft in his machine Perhaps IL
Bobble could find that airman and per-
suade him to announce her name as
his next daring passenger, Harold
Lathrop might realize that a broken
heart can drive a girl to reckless
lengths.
1t was not at all difficult to find the
aviator, but more difficult to win him
to her purpose. Though deferential to
a degree, the broad shouldered man of
nerve, was stubbornly insistent upon
having the consent Of Robertns 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
workings of the great machine, escort
ing her thereafter through the yards
But Bobbie was not convinced of fail
use. 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,
lea wing 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. |
lentiy like flying bird, and with that |
firm hand upon the wheel!
Again Bobbie sought the man as he
fingered about the airplane. His up
ward glance at her appearance was
surely not one OF annoyance.
"Oh! 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 guilty child
enjoying some hidden sugar plum, but
her name as an air passenger, did not
appear in the paper. 1t was only in
he silence of the night that she had
lime to remember her broken heart.
Upon one of the occasions, in the Sc
'lusion Of her room, she drew toward
Ter pen and paper. To what purpose
vas the long flight through the air,
T Harold knew not of It's daring. She
must tell him and warn him also OF
he proposed longer 'fy, she was still
o take. Then no doubt, in remorse
'e would come back, back. TO beg her
or his sake, TO risk no more the life
hat had been 10 him so precious. But
omeway. rs Bobbie paused, the pathetic !
'icture failed TO bring the usual tears. (
instead her trusnt thoughts flew be-
ore her 10 the yards where the air a
hip lay, and TO that serious Drowned d