Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-07-11

teacher about to greet her pupil; her
hair curled about her ears in a de-
lightful style that reminded one, some
how, of yellow spring things. And her
eyes were altogether too dangerously
blue for a teacher to possess, especial
~ If she wears a blue dress that ac-
%centuates their color. Justine was
twenty-seven years old, but she looked
about sixteen when she came down
into the little clearinghouse parlor
to greet Curtis Pratt, her ex-pupil.
The tall soldier who was seated by
the window rose upon her entrance.
thereby revealing himself to be very
tall indeed, and of much broader pro-
portions than she associated with lit
tie Curtis Pratt.
"Why, how you have grownT ex-
claimed Justine. 81 didn't think"
And then, with widening eyes, she
saw that this was not her Sunday
school pupil at all. He had e
looked like that, with such a straight
nose and such very brown eyes. He
had been a blonde.
"Why you-yOu aren't Curtis
Pratt" she accused him breathlessly.
It was the soldiers turn to look sur
prised.
Eyes, I am, begging your pardon.
I'm very much indeed Curtis Pratt. l
remember you, even if you don't recall
my face. Once when we were very
young we went to the same picnic, and
I fished you out of Fairview Creek.
Don't you remember that day."
Justine sat down quite suddenly.
"Why, yes" she faltered, Il remem-
Der that. I remember you. too
only"
"Only what?"
I'D forgotten that your name was
Curtis. l guess 1 got you mixed with
your younger brother, the one taught
in Sunday school. l thought l was
writing to him."
Benny? Benny is out at camp, but
he has measles just now. I'm sorry II
I've disappointed you. Perhaps Benny
can come next time"
There was a fiat note of hurt in his
voice, a rather wistful something in MS
eyes as he looked at her.
mo, nor she exclaimed hastily.
I'm not at all disappointed. I'm
glad it was YOU"
And then she blushed at what she
had said, a delightful pink blush that
wen very we'll with her springtlme
frock.
$50 an l." said Curtis Pratt.
They spent the afternoon together
in the park, and they had supper to-
gether at. a quiet restaurant. More
than once Justine felt the envious
ewes of some other girl fixed upon her,
the ewes of some girl who envied her
the company of so fine-looking a sol
der: lust so had she herself felt Oh
so many Sundays past. But now, now
she felt sorry for them, those othei
girls. For something told her thai this
was only the beginning of a grea'
many other Sundays that were u
come.
do you know" said Curtis Pratt
az they walked slowly home to hel
clearinghouse, "that l have for
gotten you since that day of the picnic
so many years Ago.. 1 had to leave
town soon after, for school and col
lege, and I never caught more thai
glimpses of you in vacations. But Pv'
rowan forOoffon
Neither have l." she assented soft
ly. "That is, I've eve forgotten tn
boy who fshed me out Of the creek
And his name"
"At least, you remembered hi
name" Curtis agreed with a little
laugh. Fate didn't let you forget IT
and l think she had a reason. May
come again next SundayT
EYES," she agreed happily.
"And the Sunday after?"
Eyes"
"And the Sunday after thatT
gives, If you still want to-"
"Want to! 1 guess by that time III
be wanting to come oftener than Sun
day. I'm sure Of it."
well" said Justine with a con
science-stricken little sigh, II guess
I've forgotten all about poor Benny
Give him my best wishes, won't you
Butt don't think he would have
cared very much for a card from his
Sunday school teacher, anyway. I'm
horrid, but I'm glad he never got it!