South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-22
do YOU REALIZE WHAT \ RO-
MANTIC FIGURE YOUR lid
ERLY ADMIRER, MIR.
CORDON ISg"

ETSLH ADMIRER, MIR.
GORDON, IS?"
Would YOU prefer 10 so UP on the
top deck, or stay down here?'
could not tell from Dickys tone
which of the places he mentioned he
would rather sit. but / resolved no.
90 try 20 find out L had found since
ms marriage 20 Dicky that one OF
the things he liked best about me
was my habit OF answering proEpt-
ly. without hesitation. any gGery he
made as 10 my preference in things.
so ] spoke without hesitation.
The upper deck by all means.
brought my sunshade on purpose"
We threaded our way through the
crowded parlors and the sheltered
lower decks on the big Hudson river
steamer People were madly rush
INK about trying TO secure choice
seats. where they would be shelter
ed from the autumn breeze, and yet
able TO see the shores Of the river.
What a meal for a hungry squir-
relt" Dicky commented satirically.
These people are all here because
they want an outing on the river,
then they try 10 get seats sheltered
so that no breeze can reach them"
I'm glad they're so foolish
I responded lightly. as we mounted
the last flight of stairs leading 10
the upper deck Just suppose they
were all as sensible as we are. this
deck would be so crowded we
couldn't get a seat
Dicky threw back his head and
laughed heartily.
Good comfortable working phil
osophy YOU have there" he com
mented. You'll have your choice
of seats up here. Where do you
want TO sit?"
Just as near the front OF the
boat as I can get" I returned.
How are these p
Dicky adroitly stepped in front Of
four vapid looking youths and girls,
and placed two deck chairs i'm the
very bow of the boat II was a niche
in which the two chairs just fitted
costly
Events i'm Retrospect.
The shril voice Of one Of the girls
in the quarter Dicky had forestalled
rose in expostuiation
What did youse let that big stiff
get ahead of youse tor?" she de-
manded Of her escort.
Jaw, cut il out, Jen," The depre-
catory masculine voice replied. "I
couldn't help the guys getting in
there first: besides. there isn't room
oh
way. If we put our chairs just be
hind them we can all four sit to-
gether. I thought that was wha,
you wanted"
1T was" Jen admitted Then her
voice rose truculently. But I hate
20 see a swell get away with any
thing like that"
AS she subsidized. still grpmbling.
into a deck chair directly behind US,
Dicky's knee nudged mine gleefully.
Terrible this eternal clash be-
tween the mawsses and the
I clawsses." he drawled. with a wink
that nearly convulsed me: aren't
YOU glad YOU have your station in
life definitely settled"
I smiled happily at his nonsense.
I II meant more 20 me than Dicky's
light talk usually did, for he had
been distract and moodily silent at
intervals since the dipSer at the
Hotel Sydenham the evening before.
when he had brought the mysteri-
Gus Mr. Gordon TO our table
j knew that he had wondered at.
and had resented the cordial invi-
tation ] had given Mr.. Gordon TO
come to our home I wondered at
myself Things looked very differ
ent 10 me in the bracing autumn air
of the morning than they did in the
pronunciation atmosphere Of the
luxurious Sydenham grill
The night before Mr.. Gordon's
mellow tones had poured into my
ears the story OF his early love for
my mother and father. his recogni-
tion of my remarkable resem blance
to my mother. and his pursuit OF me
until he had found out my identity.
The recital had thrilled me. swept
me from my usual poise and self
/ possession.
When 10 his plea Of loneliness and
his tremulous request to be allowed
to visit us sometimes Dicky had
/ presented merely an unsmiling FOR
NAL. courteous assent. I had THROWN
discretion TO the winds and lad told
I the melancholy and mysterious
I stranger that I would gladly well
/ come the opportunity to have him
/ tell me Of my mothers youth.
What Dicky said.
Mr. Gordon had left our table di-
/ rectly after my invitation, telling
Dicky that when we returned from
our trip 90 the CatskiHs he would
call upon us
Dickv had not mentioned his name
since. but 7 knew that he did not
like the interest ] took in the man.
+ 7 knew it was not ordinary jealousy