American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-02-21
The
Plain Kind


pyrlght, Moclure Newspaper syndicate.J

the road OF romanee. Neither IL a
pug nose, nor stringy hair OF q rusty
hue. But Martha had them all, n
was not given a part in Cupid's drama
That is she bad no part In II until
Well, this wal the way Of It;
Perched behind the desk in Eagle
Heights hotel Martha watched the
summer lnds WOO the summer ~lassies'
and her little heart. which really was
very big. thumped away unnoticed
and neglected. Perhaps If she had
obtained a polished personality at a
finishing school she might have made
herself interesting to the knights from
the big town but Martha's father con
sldered a high school education sur
fclent for his hotel clerk. specially
since people went there In quest oil
the rustic.
Nevertheless, Martha often dreamed
when she sat at the edge of WhllOon
lake In the light of the NOON, h a she
had a knight Of her Own-sometllmes
two Of them.
Harold Kingsley came to Eagle
Heights for "A months recreation from
his literary labors. He was tall ana
slim, almost to the point Of lnnkiness'
and he had black hair and deep brown
eyes from which n soul seemed to
shine.
When he came along the behch
Martha was throwing sticks Into the
water for n white fox terrier TO chase.
Harold stopped and watched, standing
some distance behind the girl, so she
did not become aware of his pres
ence.
"Come on, Knight" she adm0nlshed,
and the dog emerged from the water
holding a Jagged stick, which he
dropped at the girls feet. Then
Knight spied Harold and went to him
just as a Sinking spell seized him.
"oh, ] beg your pardon" Martha ex'
claimed, when she turned and saw
Harold brushing drops OF winter from
his clothes. THAT IL, knight begs
your pardon"
Harold laughed lightly and reaching
down, patted the terrier regardless
OF the l%atter's dripping skin.
Don't bother about the apologies
he demonstrated. ~ can dry out again.
BESIDES, this is not my best suit. !
hive another-honest."
From TINT time they were friends
the three of them. Nearly every eve.
ming they were together, walking
along the tanbnrk paths In the woods
or seated In u secluded nook on the
lake shore.
Sometimes he talked to her of the
big town and the sights he had seen
on his travels; at other times he read
or reclted poetry,
As the days rolled past their rela'
lions became more intimate, and fire.
quently they talked of personal things
The man proved fascinating beyond
her most imaginative dreams ol
knights aud she held an attraction fol
him to which none of the patrons Of
the hotel, who were bound TO notlc'
what went on, could reconcile them
selves, especially the feminine Gle
ment, which was In the majority.
one night Harold grasped Martho'
hand and told her;
Martha. somehow, I've come t.
care for you n lot
"Why2" she wanted TO know. "Wh.
do you like met | know | am no
good looking. and l have just iouds 0
freckles,"
lie was silent, while he watched
star blink from afar and wondere
whether people lived on II.
'Because you are so natural" b
finally said. you're n0t the least b
artificial, like most girls | know. fo
are not tainted from contact with III
world. You are just yourself, and 70
don't try TO be anything else. And d
o know, I'm rather fond of frecklc
particularly that one on the end {
your nose"
The next night-lt was nearly
month since his first appearance
Eagle Heights-his manner was G
tlrely different. He answered her
monosyllables and appeared wrapp'
In thought.
"why are you so very different {
night2'' she asked. They walked I
and came TO che steps of the hot
yeranda before he answered:
'Ill tell you, To-day receiv'
word that Elizabeth Ross, the girl
am engaged to marry, is coming he
tomorrow. She expects to stay Sc
eral days, and then ! am 10 20 ba'
with her. | hated to tell you"
She left him there on the steps a
went to her bed, where soon she W
sobbing herself to sleep. He went o
on the dock and found a bench a
sat smoking his pipe for u full ho'
thinking.
Elizabeth Ross took the place
storm. Attired in clothes that We
the last word in style, she swept II
the hotel, greeted Harold with an e
brace and a kiss, and complained
cause the best room already vas
eupied and she had to put up with
0acond hest.