The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1918-04-13
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
s:sToRY MINUS PLOT.
sy LOUISE oLIvER.
!annnnnAnAnaV

1t was half-p4st ten on . creamy
dangerous. moonlight night in mid
summer, q night on which hearts In.
stinctively seek Q mate and linger long
ingly.
BERTHE Patton on the Fords' front
porch. swinging slowly In the green
willow seat. shifted uneasily when he
heard the town clock strike the half
hour. He knew that the lights in the
parlor chandelier now altering through
the finely webbed curtains and tracing
graceful pattern on Roses round
cheek would snap out In somewhat less
than i've minutes. Ten-thirty WAS
Papa Ford's hour. Never had Rose
looked 30 adorable, never had parting
seemed cruel. Berthe sighed.
swell. Rosie, guess ri have to 80.
Time seems awfully short"
"What time are you talking aboutr
"Why, the time I've been here this
evening. Of course"
"ohi I'm glad you've enjoyed It"
swell. haven't your
"M-yes. It's been very pleasant"
PLEASANT You talk a. though
you'd been at q sewing society"
"say. BERTHE. II you're trying to pick
fight you may a. well 20. I hear
papa. anyway"
BERTHE was instantly contrite. "Ex-
cuse me, I didn't mean II, Rose"
There was 4 step In the vestibule.
But It was Roses mother this time
who called.
'Rose. your papa went out with the
Reinemans In their new car and hasn't
come home yet. Ny head isn't any
better. 30 I think I'll 90 to bed. I
wonder II Bert would mind staying Q
little longer. I sort Of hate to close
up the house till papa comes. I don't
think he'll be late"
Oh. ecstasyi Oh. blessed wordsi
Berthe longed to- kiss the hem Of her
gown. He cleared his throat man-
fully.
Eyes, I'll stay. Mrs. Ford. Don't
you worry"
And Rose supplemented: You may
as well turn out the lights. mamma.
They seem to hurt my eyes"
The lights went of and there was
quiet. ecstatic peace.
Bert wondered II he could possibly
be awake. To test reality, he hxhted
. cigarette.
"Nice, isn't itr' he remarked.
"Whatr"
"Just to be here" He had thought
Of casually. quite accidentally. laying
q hand on hers a. It lay beoide him In
the darkness, but he lost e6arage.
"Say. Rose, do you want to 90 to
the Stepamore club pacnicr" b. s1p.
plemented instead.
I'm going"
Excuse me-
that's all right. Thanks f-e ask-
Ing me anyway"
II thought there was plenty Of time
two weeks"
II promised week ago"
II hadn't an idea there were %
many worshipers At your shrine."
that's not polite. Besides there
aren't 10 many dozen that you can't
count. I'm going with the same per
son TO both. II that's what you're dying
to nnd out"
.That-that Dixon. ri bet q IT.
neyi"
Don't call him that Dixon.' Hes
been awfully nice to me"
"why. he's old-too old for you.
Rose"
"He isn't-he Just looks distin.
suished. and you're-you'rs Jealous"
"Distinguishedi Good night Just
because he's mustached like q Magyar
and wears glasses and lives In New
York"
'Bert Patton. you're horridi think
I'd better 20 In and look after mamma.
anyway. Good night"
He caught her hand In both Of his.
"Rose, Rosie, dear. don't 20. Sit down.
won't your He pulled her gently to-
ward him. She yielded finally and sat
down. He slipped an arm boldly
around her.
~Rosie. dear, I love youi"
why, Bert PattonT"
"Yes. do. Rose. I adore you. Clear
crazy about you. You don't care about
that New York fellow. do your
II don't know. Papa seems to like
him. That's what he's here for. Papa
wanted somebody reliable for q good
place he has open. and Mr.. Dixon cana
to see about It."
LUCKY doGi" sighed Berthe.
'But you. Rosef Oh, say. Rose, b
my girl. won't youf Can't you say
you-love mel love youi"
II don't know. You see. papa
Suddenly horn sounded and Q car
stopped at the curb.
''There's papa nowi Rose sprang
up.
Mr.. Ford came up the path slowly
limplns, and the car aid away.
"Oh, that you. Roster Waited up,
did your That's q nice girl. And Bert
Pattonf Well. declared Mamma IN
bedf Don't tell her. We had an acci.
dent. No. not much hurt-just my