South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-21

Inc llTsL sensation was over ana
the excitement had died down 70 an
agitative ripple which increased
whenever Roddy appeared in public.
or course. Roddy would always be a
hero 10 the people OF his home town:
and the story OF his marvellous es-
cape from a German prison. and his
adventurous flight 10 the Swiss Dor
der would become lengendary. But.
FOR the present. the bashful young
soldier found his honors hard 20
bear.
Then there were the girls. Oh. how
Roddy had always avoided the be-
wildering, ensnaring. fearsome ways
OF these young destroyers OF mascu-
line peace OF mind. But. in this in
stance, the masked batteries OF Gu
Did had been cunninRly guarded
against. Artfully circulated JUNIORS.
backed by an air Of pensive reserve
and a picture which the returning
soldier had picked up in Paris on his
homeward way. had successfully es-
tablished Roderick Sayres as a man
whose heart was already lost 10
Fallsport femininity.
Roddy chuckled as he looked at
the picture in the privacy OF his own
room.
Good work. ma belle, YouTl
keep EN- at "A distance with those
big dreamy eyes and that queer lit
tie smile OF yours. won't you Mys-
FERROUS looking. as II you knew
something and wouldn't tell. That's
u secret. ma-mon-what'Il l call
you? Cherie-I guess that's the
word. Let's keep EN- guessing.
Cheriet"
The picture was that OF a pretty
French girl in sitting pose. with
hands clasped and eyes slightly up
raised. The gown was white ana
diaphanous. and the couture sim
pie. almost austere. The young sol
der returned the pictured smile with
a good humored grin as he set the
card upon the mantel.
You're the only girl I ever loved.
Cherie." he declared. eft was a
lucky day for me when we met. I
know the girls OF Fallsport. one of
EN- would have been sure to capture
little Roddy II he'd come back heart
and hand free. Sure thing!"
Seated in an easy chair. with his
pipe lighted, he recalled the days Of
social living in FallspOrt before the
war. II seemed years ago. Rojeric5
Savres had lived so intensely since
hat time. But II was really only
"a short time. F~allsport girls were
much the same as ne remembered
them: only Marian Howland's little
sister. Fiji, had amazingly grown up.
She had been a somewhat hOyden-
ish school girl when the Sayres and
Howlands exchanged social ameni-
ties. and Roddy had come to realize
that the cool. quiet way OF blonde
Marion covered Vaccinations as
deadly as those Of her more fam
boyant sister coquettes. More dead
". perhaps: for on that last moon
lighted night on the Rowland YER
anda, when Roddy had gone to say
good-by. something in Marian's
melting sweetness and in the unveil-
ing Of her proud spirit had almost
carried him off his feet.
Now Marian was married; and
Fiji. grown up. was entirely differ
ent from her elder sister. She was
hovdenish no longer. but she was
refreshingly guileless and outspok-
On. a wholesome, athletic girl. free
from small vanities and disdainful of
small articles. Fiji, grown up, vas
entirely different from other girls
Roddy had known. Somehow she
stood out from the ~harrassing
shades Of the past.
All good girls-Fallsport girls
but not for me-" Roddy yawned and
stretched his arms as he reflected.
Tie grinned again at the picture on
the mantel. Between you and me.
Cherie. all girls are pests OF a sort.
especially for a bashful fellow like
me-. He eXhaled a Jig whiff of
smoke. "No. I'll take that back, +"
lie amended. 'Fifi Rowland isn't a
pest. But He pointed a finger
-"if il wasn't for YOU, Cherie, she
might be. Sure thing
He laughed and went carelessly
ON his way. And in the shadowy
road. cool and sweet in autumnal
twilight. he met Fiji Rowland. She
wss returning from q game OF golf
at the Country club.
Walking. and alone after a
came o." Roddy questioned wonder
iuslv.
Who'd ride when they could
walk? Knocked Fiji. And I love to
ice alone sometimes. oh. you need
not run away. This might not be
one OF the times"
She spoke I'm a hearty. open fash
ION way. with a straight. sunny
lance from her clear eyes.
"I've had enough OF the club So
cicty today. How delightful the air
IS. and look at the sky, Roddy. How
dear and peaceful all this must seem
20 YOU now" she said. and her voice
Foftened. 'It is too had your little
- -