South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-01
The Worm Turns
By w. VI. sEEFoRD.

~ craving for flattery. for some
new, absorbing interest in the tire
some routine of her life. II was
like Watching risky kitten play
ing with a ball OF bright worsted.
one could always stoop down and
take the kitten or the ball away.
The affairs were usually soon over
and afterward. Dick would chuckle
over Jeans obvious oyertures 10
make up with him. 1t was evident
that she thought he was too i'm
mersed in the big issues of life TO
notice her pranks. And Dick never
dIsillusioned heri When she came to
him. cuddliag up in his arms, he in
variably felt a happy little thrill Of
possession, little pity for the other
man who was never 20 really 10
have her. after all. But for some
iDexplicable reason, the case with
Bob Brooks seemed a bit different.
Dick and Jean were chaperoning
gay party at young Brooks hunt
ing lodge in the mountains, where
most Of the guests were paired off
I'm romantic fashion. All of them
knew that Bob had invited the
pretty artist. Patricia Moore, for
himself. for il was an Acknowledged
fact that the two had been engaged
for months. But after a day or 50.
in the mountains, Bob had eyes only
for the dashing chaperOn.
On the hast night OF the house
party, they were having a big marsh
InalloW toast before the Black Jack
logs that burned in the wide mouth
cd fire place in the comfortable liv-
ing-room. Bob sat on a floor pill
low at Jeans feet, laughing a great
deal. looking up at her in reckless
fashion. seeing that she was Well pro
Nided with nicely Drowned marsh
mallows on bits of faky cracker.
Dick told excellent stories, waited on
all the girls, moving from group 10
group with the charm and ease of
man of the world. pat, as the
artist was lovingly called, sat at
one side Of the hearth in a wide
winged chair, upholstered in deep
>blue that matched the color of her
eyes. once in a while, she touched
a ukelele, weaving a magic spell
For the first time, Dick felt
strangely disturbed over jeans in
discretions. Under the guise OF light
banter. he tried to analyze his own
emotions, to understand his change
of attitude. He kept looking at
Pats face, at her somber, brooding
eyes that at times, seemed to flame
like the logs on the old brass and
irons. He felt a great, over power
ing sorrow for her. little resent
ment flared out against Jean. What
business had she. a married woman,
to take the girls lover and leave her
alone, Inundated IN a crowd or her
friends? He had no more feeling
about Bob himself than ne would
have had about clumsy puppy that
had, somehow, got himself in the
way.
Dick tried to do for Pat all the
little things that mean so much to
girl. He toasted marshmallows for
her, asked her opinion about
everything discussed, praised her
singing, made her feel her impor-
lance in the crowd. Once Bob got
to her and Dick was relieved. hop
ing that the BOY would do his duty
as host even if he had forgotten his
lover like attitude. But IN a few
minutes time. Bob was back at Jeans
feet. Dick glanced at Pat, saw the
hungry, yearning lock in ner eyes.
He leaned over her chair.
Cant you dig up a warm coat
somewhere and go down TO the
spring with me. Pat? It's moon
light. a wonderful sort of night. I've
notion that you and / will enjoy
it,"
She flashed him a pleased look
OF acceptance and they went out to-
geIher, unnoticed by the hilarious
crowd in the room. She enveloped
herself in a big blue coat and pulled
soft velvet tam over her curly
brown hair Dick caught her arm
and laughing, stumbling. slipping,
they ran down the rough path 10
the spring.
The moon rode high In the sky,
sending a dazzling light that silvered
the tips of the pines stretching away
in an unbroken line down the noun
tain side. Here and there. in the
valley below, like fitful fire-1ies,
lights showed dimly IN peaceful;
farm houses A little whispering
wind went signing through the
trees.
They sat down on a huge boulder
that jutted out at one side OF the
spring, talking Of art, OF music. poll
tics. of the vagaries of life and love.
Dick turned and looked at her there
| beside him.
DO you know, Pat, that I've new
er had chance TO get acquainted
with you until tonight and Yet, I've
seen a lot of you for years?
That's funny. / feel that way
about you, too. We have tastes in
common, as people say. haven't
WEI" she laughed musically. There
was not the faintest trace OF I'M
happiness In her voice.
Dick marveled a little at that.
wondered about it. You can meet
people casually at home for years
and never really know anything
about them. Then chance will throw
you together at some out Of the way
place like this and suddenly you'll
wake up 10 the fact that you've
been missing something out OF life,
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