Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-04-24
HOW HE MET HER

BY J. n. lie ROY.

per Syndicate
Joseph was very conscientious
young man. A. boy he had been
known at baseball 10 dispute the de-
cisiOn 81 an umpire In his favor. Even
the ordinary social lines were repel-
liant 10 him.
With such character there vas only
one thing that the young man could
| ultimately become.
Shortly after he became a reviewer
OF fiction FOR the Sun il happened that
he met Florence. Florence was Jolly
Southern girl, and had NJ compsrstive-
y early age been left an orphan. 10
was shortly after Florence had become
goyerness that she and Joseph met.
Her face was wholesome and practical
rather than beautiful. For some weeks
he never told her his love Then ons
afternoon he took her 10 hear an ora
torio. II may have been the effect OF
the music or Of the tea and toast ut ths
Eastman cafe afterward or OF the long
ride 10 Baltimore over he Washington
pike.
The fact remains that when they
climbed into the touring car ne called
her Miss Bordeaux. ana when they
parted al the end ~ the Journey he
called her Florence. one night there
Was an air OF mystery about her
shorty she said, you will see me
in new light, Joseph.
II would not have you different"
said Joseph
East side OF Mount Vernon bridge,
about six tomorrow, said Florence.
Right said Joseph
The next morning there was brought
10 his room a large parcel OF novels
from the Sun. He groaned. because
they meant work. and even the reading
OF novels is not pleasant II you are
paid for IT,
He tore his mind away from romance
In real life and settled down TO ro-
nance as IT i written. and the very
first volume that he picked up was en-
titled My Love OF Bygone Days" by
Florence Bordeaux This. then was
the new light in which Florence was
10 appear. She had written a novel
and he was 10 review 10.
He wondered II the editor Of the Sun
would stand an entire column about
m unknown genius. Joseph almost
regretted that ne had discovered three
unknown g~niuSrS the week before; IL
was likely 70 spoil the market.
He noticed the name of The publish
ers with regret. Florence would have
done better 10 have consulted him.
Then he read the book ana buried his
face In his hands. tor that novel by
Florence Bordeaux was about the most
putrd thing In fiction that had polluted
his chambers for the last Is months.
II was wrong every where il was
wrong all through. There Is no worse
thing on earth than bad historical
novel and this was "a very bad his
turical novel
Here, then was conflict between love
and duty Duty was scratched and
love walked in. BY the evening he had
written column hailing Florence Bor-
deauX as the greatest genius that the
century had yet seeh But his heart
was broken. For once he had not been
conscientious He could not live with
that stain upon his soul So he de-
termined 10 meet Florence on Mount
Vernon bridge, take one long last fare
well. then send of the review and then
leave town and his growing reputation
as literary critic forever.
Florence was little late for her
appointment and looked very pleased
with herself
Well, ne said why did you not
confide in me? Why did you not tell
me you had written book7 Possibly
my practiced judgment might"
What on earth are you talking
aboutf ! have not written any book.
/ shouldn't be SO silly"
Then some one else with your name
has"
Has she? What cheek" She still
laughed at Joseph, somewhat inouir-
lngly. He had an uneasy sense that
She was expecting him TO say some
thing and THAI he was not saying IL.
We'll he said. what did you mean.
then, by saying you were going to ap-
pear In new light
IF you happen to be blind" she
answered rather snapplshly. II cant
give you new eyes :"
Don't be- cross. dear. Let's see-its
he same jacket you always wear, and
he same skirt"
"Oh don't bother. I've got my hair
lone differently, and I've got a new
nat. | don't want TO talk about IL. II
'ou take no interest in my appearance
here's no more 10 be- said"
The rest of his interview with-FIor-
nee was far more pleasant But Jo-
eph's column review of the novel by
Ter namesake was reduced 10 two lines
N the subject of literary rubbish.
And he was still conscientious.