The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-02-05
DICKS RETURN
~ MARY c. BRIGGS
ilIIIIIlIIIIIIlIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlIIIlIIIIIIIIIIl
Copyright, 1919 by the Mcclure Nsws
paper synaicate)


tCopyright. 1913. by the Mcclure News
paper synaicats)
There, the last lesson II over. but
just know I'll never dare parlez-vous .
single word when there's anyone
around" sighed pretty Constance.
flushed and bright-eyed from her brisk
walk home from the French class.
As Constance sat before the fire her
thoughts few forward to the coming
dance, to be given In honor of Dick
c.. who had just returned from
"over there" and then backward to
her last meeting with Dick.
II was the night before he had left
for camp and her mother was giving
party In honor of Constance's eight
eenth birthday. Early In the evening
Dick had drawn her aside and told her
that he wished TO leave the party
early In order to spend as much time
as possible with his mother. but asked
her permission to come again before
he left. There was n certain closeness
to his hand-clasp, and In his eyes, as
he gazed into hers, there was pc
culiar intensity that left her startled
and tingling to her finger tips, happy
but too GREATNESS to speak.
And then, in the midst of This par
adise, Jack H came TO claim her
for the next dance. Relieved at any
excuse to get away and stop the food
of color rising 10 her face, she quickly
swung into the fox trot with Jack, but
not before she saw the look of hurt
disappointment in Dicks eyes. This
was the look that had haunted Con-
stance for over year now. for Dick
did not come back after the party nor
had she ever seen or heard from him
since. Why had he not written? Sure
ly he must have seen that she had left
him for the dance with Jack only to
cover her confusion. But the fact re-
mained-he had not cared enough for
her TO even write. And Constance
wiped tear Of despair from her eyes.
Then she recalled how a certain pic
ture Of herself had disappeared from
the library table that night, and how
they never had been able to find II af-
terward. At first she had almost dared
to hope that Dick had taken 1t, but
common sense told her that man who
went soldering could not carry 10
inch, full-length portrait concealed
about his person, no matter how much
he loved the girl and besides. Dick APP
parently did not care and had forgot
ten her.
Ehe night OF the dance came and
Constance had never been more daz-
zling and brilliant. She had deter
mined TO be the perfect butterfly IL
ent she was to his lack Of attention
that year OF absence, and her merry
laughter and gay French repartee,
wonderful recommendations for the
little French professor. made her the
belle of the ball.
II was not until late In the evening
that Dick was able TO secure q dance
with her, and then, when the dance
was half over, utterly oblivious of her
graciousness in allowing him a whole
dance, he led her from the ballroom
out to the cool veranda.
do you know why l asked you tc
come out here where we can talk?' he
whispered as soon as they were alone.
Once more Constance felt the same
emptiness in the region where her
lungs ought to be, although she could
hear herself fairly wheeling. Once
more she was struck dumb. though all
sorts of bright French retorts chased
through her mind. but refused to cross
her lips, she gave one big stifled
gasp. however. as Dick continued:
Its because you're the only girl I've
met this evening who hasn't made me
want to duck for my little French die
tionary. When chaps been hearing
and only half understanding a foreign
language for over year, you've no
idea how good IL seems to hear his
mother tongue spoken by a familiar
voice.
Besides" he continued. II want 20
return this to its proper owner. al
though must apologize for Its condi-
tion," and he drew from his pocket 4
small, beautifully chased gold frame,
containing a small picture of herself
cut from the one long missing from her
library table. Pointing to m ugly bull
let scar on the frame. he continued
hurriedly:
'Once this little frame saved my
life." and he showed her where the
bullet still lodged. and many other
times this sweet face and the thought
Of her ut home saved me from much
wsrse- Constance, I had intended to
ask for the subject Of this little picture
before / went away. but my foolish
Jealousy sealed my lips. New Tn re-
turning the picture. may I not claim
the originalf"
AT last Constance found her voics.
and the words that she spoke were
French. not the brilliant repartee she
NJ ~xt~~A brit llkx1~