South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-22

dainfully alcof from the ardent
glances of her admirer. From all
appearances. they might have been
total strangers; but Jack Hardy, re-
membered what the girl seemed de
termined 10 fOEget-that she had all
but promised 10 love, honor and
obey" him at one time.
Il was by accident that they had
both boarded The express at Bath
il was fate which had placed them
N the same car and in opposite seats
so Hardy thought. Instead OF as
sisting fate. Betty, foolishly proud
tossed her little head. and refused
him recognition in her decision TO
continue the old quarrel She was
the same passionate, piQuant Betty
framing her fresh cheeks. which
bore the gypsy tan OF an evident So
jOurn at the shore
So she was still angry: that, at
least was better than indifference.
Hardy reflected. How vexed she had
been on the memorabl day OF their
disagreement. How trivial had been
the cause, a mere expression Of dis
approval on his part Of her alleg-
lance 10 the suffrage movement. He
flushed with the remembrance Of her
addressing the street throng in
Union Square, from the yellow
draped tonneau OF a touring car.
With her eager face. the soft ca
dences of her rich voice, she had at
tracted crowds. If not converts. It
maddened Hardy then: now he un-
derstOod and forgave. a he watched
Betty with her war knitting. She
had required some outlet for her
flaming youth II was suffrage then.
Red Cross now. An electric fan
droned monotonously breaking the
stiffness of the car. without affecting
the mercury. Hardy turned the
pages Of Holliers Weekly idly; 1t
only aggravated without amusing
him. Girls and happy families ev-
erywhere. They pursued him in
magazine advertisements. and on
the billboards outside breakfast
{ foods vIctrolas, rugs and motor cars
Haunted their pictures of domestic
bliss. If only something, or some
body. would turn up TO break the
ice of Betty's hostility. But. lack
ing the faith Of Micawber. and un-
able TO bear her naughty glances
longer. Hardy rose TO seek consola-
ton i'm a smoke.
The girl regarded his retreating
figure somewhat wistfully, then
pulled down the shade with a defiant
jerk. shutting out the hot sun, and
the drearily undressing scenery of
inland Maine Finally her knitting
dropped. and she had half closed
her eyes i'm drowsy "Reminiscences
when conversation in the seat be-
hind and the mention of Hardy's
name brought her suddenly TO atten-
ton.
He'll be coming back soon" a
mans voice said.
You're sure he has the papers 90
another asked.
Positive Wen get them at any
cost. Persuade him off the train at
DENLY Juncuon-there' a stop for
water"
Telegraph Thompson"
/ Sure He'll be there with the
machine. once get Hardy in tt
There Re comes now" the sec
ond voice interrupted.
Instinctively, without reckoning,
/ Betty had risen 10 her feet, and now
approached Hardy She couldn't de-
ny him friendship at a time like this,
/ and he must be told at any cost.
! Hardy greeted her joyfully. and
listened in some amazement 10 her
well-timed warning, repeated in the
! seclusion of the observation plat
form. Their little games off now,
! he exclaimed in appreciation,
thanks TO YOU! You see" in eX-
PLANTATION, I'm chief witness for the
/ prosecution in an important forgery
trial which comes off in Boston. I've
got the papers which will ruin the
! defense" They soon left the intri-
cate subject of trials for more in
I teresting topics. There was "A two
| years gap in their acquaintance to
be accounted for. No. she was not
married, nor even engaged. She had
given up suffrage electioneering the
war had dwarfed such things TO in
| significance And so on.
1t was dark when they had fin
ished dinner together and the train
drew up at DENLY Junction. Hardy
suggested a walk on the station plat
form for a breath of air during the
ten-minute wait. Betty hesitated a
moment, then assented laughingly-
Just 10 tantalize the plunderers, %
she said Nevertheless. she leaned
imperceptibly toward Hardys pro-
tecting figure as they descended into
the feebly illuminated darkness OF
! DENLY Junction.
The station was quite deserted
There was no waiting motor. no visi-
BILE Thompson. They didn't look
like buccaneers. Jack" Betty looked
about obviously while Hardy
WINGED.
Don't be angry. dear he began
I've a confession TO make Had @
create a thaw somehow. and there
was no chance for me unless you
made the first advances. So we
that Is, Carey, Winthrop and myself